Veterans Affairs Committee on April 27th, 2026

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

There have been no cuts to the benefits offered to veterans through Veterans Affairs Canada.

[Eric St-Pierre, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

With regard to the caregiver recognition benefit, I think it accounted for a 6.5% decrease in funding. Can you comment on that decrease?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

As we know, not all veterans have the same experience. Each of them is unique. Each of their needs is unique. As such, the ebbs and flows within our programs and services will adjust based on the needs of the veterans at a given moment. Specific to that program, I have officials with me, and they may be able to add more specifics to the caregiver program if you wish.

[Eric St-Pierre, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Thank you.

I think, during your testimony, you mentioned the national monument to Canada's mission in Afghanistan, which is a wonderful project. Can you comment quickly on the construction schedule and when you plan on undertaking the construction of this new monument? Also, can you comment on the estimated costs for this project?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

This monument has been many years coming forward, and it is a significant step that we are reaching the sod-turning in the coming weeks. I think this is an important step that we are moving forward with, and construction will be commencing as we undertake that, with completion expected sometime in 2028. I know invitations were extended to the ACVA committee members to be at the sod-turning, and I hope everyone will have a chance to join us.

[Eric St-Pierre, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Thank you. We look forward to joining you in the coming weeks.

I have a question on the Last Post Fund, which basically ensures that low-income families can provide proper burial for deceased veterans. The funding fell from around $12 million in 2018-19 to about $6.7 million in 2026-27.

In 30 seconds, can you quickly comment on this decrease?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Again, as I mentioned, veterans and their needs will be, at any given point in the cycle of their relationship with Veterans Affairs, at their own individual stage. For specifics like that, I would turn to the officials, who may be able to add more detail.

[Eric St-Pierre, Liberal, Honoré-Mercier, QC]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Thank you.

Maybe we can pause that for the second round.

Thank you very much.

Ms. Gaudreau, you have the floor for six minutes.

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

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Thank you for being here, Minister. It's a privilege to be able to ask you questions. They will mainly focus on what veterans tell us when they visit us or contact us. Therefore, you won't be surprised that we're talking about Quebec veterans.

I looked at the latest figures from the Quebec Veterans Foundation. Obviously, a large proportion of veterans come from Quebec, and the majority of them are francophone. In 2024‑25, as part of the fund for veterans and their families, $14.3 million was distributed across the country. However, while Quebec accounts for nearly 23% of the veteran population, Quebec organizations received only 2% of the total funding. I would very much like to understand why this disparity exists.

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I would like to ask for a clarification, because it may be a translation issue.

You were mentioning the fund that distributed $14.3 million. Was that the veteran and family well-being fund?

Okay. Thank you. I just wanted to be sure.

The veteran and family well-being fund is, as you mentioned, a fund that has funds available to support projects that support and focus on veteran well-being and care. We fund activities that include research, programs and other things that bring veterans together. There is a robust and rigorous process for receiving and reviewing applications to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria of the program.

As it specifically relates to Quebec organizations, I would turn to my department officials to specify how that is divided between Quebec and the rest of Canada. They could provide insight on that.

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

Actually, I'd like to know what the criteria are, because the organizations that haven't received funding will want a second chance. It's truly unacceptable that Quebec organizations received only 2% of the total funding. Not a day goes by that I don't hear about it. Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Furthermore, Minister, let's not forget that Ontario, which accounts for about 30% of the Canadian population, received 60% of the funding. Even Manitoba received a bigger share of the funding than Quebec. So something needs to be clarified, and I'd like to see it resolved quickly.

Now, in your opinion, is $3.33 per veteran in Quebec adequate funding?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I'm not sure what the $3.30 per veteran refers to.

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

That's what the funds allocated to Quebec represent in proportion to the number of veterans. I just wanted to bring this to your attention. I did the math and wondered how we could possibly provide adequate, ongoing services to our veterans with only $3.33.

What would be the concrete steps—

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Ms. Gaudreau, wait a moment. I've stopped the clock.

If I understand correctly, you did your own analysis to arrive at the $3.33 figure. I wonder if the department could send us, over the next few weeks, more detailed information on the amount each Canadian veteran receives, including veterans from Quebec. I'm just a little surprised, Ms. Gaudreau. I don't mean to dismiss your math, I just want to make sure we're using the right figures on the committee.

Minister, if you and your team could provide us, over the next few weeks, with the average amount allocated to each Canadian veteran based on the services they receive, we would appreciate it. I assume that this amount varies from veteran to veteran, depending on the services they receive, the complexity of their case and where they live, but it could help us clarify the figure mentioned today.

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

Absolutely, Madam Chair. It's a matter of taking into account the clientele in each province and consequently, the francophone clientele. With these figures, we'll be able to make the necessary adjustments.

Now, if adjustments are actually needed, what do you intend to do in the future to address this discrepancy?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I don't have those numbers with me, so I will look to the department to speak to that.

In the past, we've had conversations about the availability of services to francophone veterans and about ensuring that they have access to services in the language of their choosing. We are a bilingual country. Whether they are francophone veterans in Quebec or across Canada, we want to ensure they have access to that service.

We know that, as recently as September, the average turnaround time for a francophone veteran was slightly better or at least on par with that for an anglophone veteran. I think the difference is 0.9 weeks, where the francophone turnaround time was slightly less. We also know that 30% of Veterans Affairs employees who are making disability decisions are either French or bilingual, to meet the needs of our veterans who choose to have communication in French.

Is there the opportunity to continue enhancing these services? There is always the opportunity to grow and improve.

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

[Inaudible—Editor] adjust, but that's okay.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

You can come back to this in the next round. Thank you very much.

We'll now move on to the second round of questions.

We have Mrs. Wagantall for five minutes.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Minister, you are also the Associate Minister of National Defence, and I'm sure you're aware of what's been happening with Bill C-11.

The Arbour report was in the recommendations word for word, and it is four years old. She would not come to committee. Others did testify, along with our veterans.

I would really appreciate you coming on record today to indicate whether you support erasing the work of the national defence committee and the testimony of the women veterans who contributed to it.

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I would like to clarify something. You mentioned about not appearing before the committee.

Was that in reference to me or to somebody else?

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

No, it was Justice Arbour.

Please go ahead, quickly.

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

Thank you for clarifying that.

I stand with continuing to support women veterans in their experiences, ensuring that they are heard and their unique experiences are represented, and continuing to work with the government to address those needs.

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

That answers the question. Thank you very much. I appreciate it.

The department plan of 2026-27 states that VAC “will keep tracking progress on recommendations from the Invisible No More report by the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs” and the Women Veterans Council “will continue to share insights and recommendations to help [VAC] address the unique needs of women Veterans.”

Six of the 12 members have announced they're stepping down. Five of eight of those are veterans. Three of the six remaining members—who are wonderful—are Royal Canadian Mounted Police representation.

With this mass resignation of women from the veterans council and your government now scrapping all of the amendments made to Bill C-11, which were done with input from those same veterans, what do you have to say to those women who've been reaching out over the actions of your government?

How do you actually plan to rely on the work of the Women Veterans Council in the future?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I thank all members of the Women Veterans Council for their commitment and their contributions to a voluntary advisory council. The insights that they offered and the impact they made during the first year were significant. We are—