Chair, we continue to struggle here, because veterans across this country, and almost everybody else, seem to be well aware that there are a number of different areas where there are cuts being faced, yet we had the minister continue to sit here and tell us that there aren't cuts. There's clearly a need for this committee to do a study on the budget cuts.
I move the following, and it's been on notice since February 19:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs undertake a study of 10 meetings to study the effects of the federal budget cuts proposed in budget 2025 as it relates to veterans services; that as part of this study the committee examine the proposed changes in legislative definitions related to long term care, the proposed cuts to medical cannabis reimbursement, the recent layoffs from the bureau of pensions advocates, RCMP pension changes and any other related topics; and that for this study the witnesses include, but are not limited to:
a) The Minister of Veterans Affairs
b) The Parliamentary Budget Officer
c) The veterans ombud
d) The Royal Canadian Legion and other veteran organizations
e) Veterans
f) Veterans service providers
That the committee report its findings and recommendations to the House and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee request a government response to the report.
I'm moving this, obviously, in response to what we've heard here from the minister, but also because there is a need for this study to happen. If, in fact, what the minister is telling us is true, I see no reason that the government would have any trouble supporting such a motion, so that it can be cleared up. There's certainly a lot of doubt out there—if we even want to put it nicely—about what is happening.
I won't get into a whole lot of details about the motion, because I'd like to see it pass, and we can then use the time to question the officials.
For anyone who's watching today, as I've already said, should this be something...the government has nothing to hide, they should have no trouble supporting this motion. If they do have something to hide, well, you may see attempts to adjourn debate. You may see a filibuster. Who knows?
It's very clear to everyone in Canada that they're soon to have a majority at committees, based on what they're doing right now, and they may want to avoid facing scrutiny on these cuts. However, should they have nothing to hide, I would think they would have no trouble supporting this.
I move that motion. I hope we can get support for it and that we can have a study. We're talking about 10 meetings, which I know is lengthy, but it's also talking about five different areas of cuts—that's a couple of meetings per cut. I don't think that's too much to ask. I move the motion, and I hope we can pass it.