Veterans Affairs Committee on Oct. 8th, 2026

[Doug Wentzell]

I would say that our process is very much geared to monitoring in real time to ensure that we make those necessary investments.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Thank you very much, Mr. Wentzell.

Mrs. DeBellefeuille, you have the floor for one minute.

[Claude DeBellefeuille]

Thank you very much, Madam Chair.

Mr. Freeman, you told us that your team would conduct the study on recognizing sexual trauma in a military context within a reasonable time frame. Now, “reasonable time frame” is the language of public servants. Let's speak in the language of veterans. When you say “reasonable time frame”, are you talking about weeks, months or years?

[Mitch Freeman]

When I talk to veterans about MST, what I highlight is that Veterans Affairs Canada has services and supports available. We have a dedicated unit to process MST to ensure that veterans are not retelling their story or being retraumatized from their story.

[Claude DeBellefeuille]

I have a few seconds left. We're talking about recognition. We're not talking about studies. We're talking about the recognition of sexual trauma in a military context as a significant factor associated with suicide. You're not answering my questions, and I'm deeply disappointed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Thank you, Mrs. DeBellefeuille.

Now, for the one and a half minutes we have left, I have Madame Chatel.

[Sophie Chatel, Liberal, Pontiac—Kitigan Zibi, QC]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Dave Morrow came to our committee this week, and he said something very important. Veterans, more than anything else, need a rewarding career for their mental health and because they want to continue to serve their country. They are very proud to have served their country, and they want to continue to have a meaningful career in their civilian life.

I want you to have an opportunity to give us your take on what you are doing to help them find a rewarding career.

[Doug Wentzell]

Veterans have contributed in the most meaningful way to this country during their service. That contribution, as the member noted, continues post-service. The department is very focused on employment supports for veterans. We currently have around 1,000 active participants in a number of workshops that we deliver through our career transition services that are specifically focused on making the transition into the civilian workplace, entrepreneurship or other opportunities.

We also take opportunities to recognize the contributions of veterans to the labour market. We've been highlighting veteran entrepreneurs and trying to emphasize the work we can do to support them in all phases of their lives, including post-service. We're looking forward to doing more.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Thank you very much.

I would like to thank the three of you and the entire team behind you for the extraordinary service that you are providing to our veteran community.

I would also like to wish all my colleagues a happy Thanksgiving weekend.

I will dismiss our witnesses, but I need you a little longer for some housekeeping.

Our next meeting will be on Monday, October 19, 2026. We will resume the study on the civilian recognition of military skills.

Before seeking a motion to adjourn, I would like to seek agreement to adopt two study budgets that were distributed yesterday. The budgets are for the funds for this meeting's study on the supplementary estimates and for our ongoing study on the civilian recognition of military skills.

Does the committee agree to adopt these budgets?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Thank you very much.

Again, I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving.

Thank you very much.

Does the committee agree to adjourn?

[Some hon. members]

Agreed.