Veterans Affairs Committee on April 27th, 2026

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

It is a policy of the government that was established in 1945.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Feel free to elaborate a little on the policy change, the justification for the change and when it's to come into effect.

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

The policy, as I said, was enacted to support the needs of soldiers who were returning home from the war in 1945 and connect them with employment in guard services.

As we've mentioned, today our veterans cover a wide range of skills. They are highly trained individuals, highly educated individuals, and each of them is in a unique and different experience, based on their service and what that has looked like.

We are looking to expand our opportunities for employment for veterans, to meet them where they are in their needs, in their availability and in a career of their choosing, one that meets what they would like to do. This can include guard services. It may also include a number of other opportunities.

We will be working to support veterans through the veterans employment strategy that has been developed, as we move forward and implement it, and we'll continue to work with the Corps of Commissionaires to offer opportunities in guard services for veterans as well.

The time frame for the change is that the policy would be coming to an end in March 2027.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

Just to be clear, when the policy comes to an end in March 2027, security services at federal government properties will be open to the market. Is there any reason that they wouldn't be able to bid for those contracts?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

It will be an open and competitive process, yes. The Corps of Commissionaires could choose to submit a bid for one of those contracts, and I would expect or anticipate that the Corps of Commissionaires would have the expertise and the knowledge to be able to submit a competitive bid.

[Sean Casey, Liberal, Charlottetown, PE]

I want to come back to a comment that was made, I think in the preamble to a question from Mr. Richards, with respect to the bureau of pensions advocates and the Association of Justice Counsel. The comment talked about the likelihood of a five-year delay in the processing of appeals through the Veterans Review and Appeal Board.

I expect your officials may be interested in this question, but I'll ask you first. Feel free to move it over if you like.

Have there been discussions with the association, and does the department share the view of the association that delays of up to five years are likely?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I feel the officials would be the best ones to respond to that question, so I will let them respond.

[Mitch Freeman, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance Branch, Department of Veterans Affairs]

I would highlight a couple of things in this regard.

First, I'm not a big fan of the hypothetical aspect of a five-year explanation in that regard. In fact, the Department of Veterans Affairs takes the situation very seriously, end to end, from a veterans' benefits point of view, including from the time of application through decision....

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

I'm sorry. You're out of time. Mr. Casey is out of time.

I apologize. I should have acknowledged the signals. When I do this, it's because you're actually out of time, Mr. Freeman. On that note, I will have to interrupt you, and I apologize sincerely.

We do have five minutes left for the minister's appearance, so I think we'll do two, two and one to be fair, so two minutes, two minutes and Madame Gaudreau for one minute.

I'm not sure who's starting.

I'm sorry, Ms. Wagantall.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Thank you so much, Chair.

Minister, during the silent no more testimony, I don't know if you've read it or not or listened to it, but a young woman new to the armed forces was gang-raped, and when she attempted to get help was basically put in jail for over a week on the base, with no communications whatsoever, then escorted to another city to a hospital to get assistance.

Then, in the end, she had to fight very hard to get any care. As a matter of fact, it was the pension advocates who located her files in a place totally not related to where all files should be protected and available.

If those pension advocates are losing funding and we are now going entirely only to a civilian court to have these individuals who faced military sexual trauma get assistance and have their cases heard, will the pension advocates have the funding and the support of Veterans Affairs to assist those veterans? They are there as a tool for the veterans, and their support is being clawed back. Are they available? Just give a yes or no, please.

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

First, I think it's incredibly important to acknowledge the courage of the individuals who chose to come forward and share their stories.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Thank you, I appreciate that, but I have limited time. Please, will the pension advocates be available for those individuals taking their cases to court? Just give a yes or no.

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

As I've mentioned, the bureau of pensions advocates will continue to be available as a free resource for veterans.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Okay. Thank you, Madam Chair.

I understand that as a yes. Thank you. I hope to see that.

Can you also just quickly mention something on this? In response to all the feedback that we got at this committee on spouses and families getting mental health care in their own right, is there funding being set aside for that with this budget, yes or no?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I look forward to receiving the report on suicide from this committee and to reviewing the recommendations that come forward.

[Cathay Wagantall, Conservative, Yorkton—Melville, SK]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Thank you very much.

I believe that for two minutes we have Mrs. Hirtle.

[Alana Hirtle, Liberal, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister, good morning.

As you know, we've been doing an entrepreneurship study for veteran entrepreneurs. In the time that we have, can you clarify for veterans and our colleagues what the national veterans employment strategy represents and how you're driving to modernize and operationalize this strategy?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I've had the opportunity to speak about the veteran employment strategy, but also the entrepreneurship opportunity for veterans a few times. It is something that I think is tremendously important as we support veterans in connecting with the career of their choosing that meets their needs where they are right now. Of that, veteran entrepreneurship is an opportunity on which I think we can continue to work with veterans to explore and to meet their needs.

I've had the opportunity to speak with a few veteran entrepreneurs now who have shared the positive impacts that entrepreneurship has had for them in terms of being able to adapt to their needs and give them the flexibility. In some cases, it has allowed them to continue to serve in a reserve capacity while growing their business, which has been a tremendous example.

I know that this is something this committee has been studying as well and that a report will be forthcoming with recommendations, and I look forward to reading that as we move forward and build out the strategy to meet and work with veterans.

[Alana Hirtle, Liberal, Cumberland—Colchester, NS]

Thank you.

Very quickly, is this relevant to the work that you're going to be doing over the next 12 months?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Yes, it is incredibly relevant to the work that is being undertaken right now. I look forward to sharing more updates.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Thank you very much.

For the last minute, I'll turn it over to Ms. Gaudreau.

[Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, Bloc, Laurentides—Labelle, QC]

Many veterans are wondering about the Prime Minister's level of interest and commitment toward them.

My question is simple: What is the situation?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

We continue to look at and to make investments in protecting Canada and investing in our security and our sovereignty. The veterans are a key component of that, as the individuals who have served this country, who have stood up for Canada and who have defended our sovereignty. We will continue to move forward with recognition of the modern-day veteran and the contributions they have made to Canada.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

That concludes our first hour with Minister McKnight.

As always, Minister McKnight, thank you very much for joining us.

I will suspend, and then we'll go into the second hour. Thank you.