Veterans Affairs Committee on Oct. 8th, 2026

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

I call this meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number 43 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs.

Before we begin, colleagues and Minister, I would like to take a minute to recognize the departure of three former members.

Due to recent changes to committee membership, our former vice-chairs, Mr. Blake Richards and Madame Marie-Hélène Gaudreau, are no longer members of the veterans affairs committee. Through his contribution and commitment to the committee, Mr. Richards helped ensure that the interests of Canada's veterans were consistently reflected in our work.

I also want to acknowledge the contribution of Marie‑Hélène Gaudreau. Through her ongoing engagement and constructive collaboration, she has helped advance the work of this committee and advocate for veterans and their families across Canada.

I will also note the departure from this committee of Mr. Sean Casey, the former parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs. Mr. Casey served on the committee for seven and a half years while representing Charlottetown, which he continues to do very proudly, a community that holds particular significance for Veterans Affairs Canada as the location of the department's national headquarters.

Mr. Casey, we want to thank you for your contributions all these years.

Our thanks also go to Mr. Richards and Madame Gaudreau.

[Some hon. members]

Hear, hear!

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Pursuant to the motion adopted on June 8, 2026, the committee is meeting to study the supplementary estimates (A), 2026-27.

To keep things orderly, I would like to go over a few rules for witnesses and members.

Before speaking, please wait until I recognize you by name.

For interpretation, use the earpiece and select the desired channel.

All comments by members and witnesses should be addressed through the chair.

For members in the room, if you wish to speak, please raise your hand. The committee clerk and I will manage the speaking order as best we can. We appreciate your patience and understanding in this regard.

I have the immense pleasure of welcoming the Honourable Jill McKnight, Minister of Veterans Affairs, who is joining us for the first hour. The minister is joined by Deputy Minister Nancy Gardiner, who will also be here for the first hour.

We also welcome the following representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs, who will remain with us for the second hour of the meeting: Jonathan Adams, acting assistant deputy minister, chief financial officer and corporate services; Mitch Freeman, acting assistant deputy minister, strategic policy, planning and performance; and Doug Wentzell, senior assistant deputy minister, service delivery.

As usual, we will begin with the minister's remarks. We will then proceed to a round of questions from committee members.

Minister McKnight, the floor is yours for five minutes.

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Colleagues, thank you for inviting me to share an update on the supplementary estimates (A) for Veterans Affairs Canada. It is a pleasure to welcome colleagues who have joined this committee. I look forward to working with you on behalf of Canada's veterans.

At Veterans Affairs Canada, every investment ultimately comes down to one purpose: ensuring that veterans and their families receive the support they need when they need it. For 2026-27, Veterans Affairs Canada accounts for $8.17 billion of the government's $502.8 billion planned budgetary spending. As the government's second-largest contribution towards NATO's 2% defence spending guideline, this investment underscores Canada's continued commitment to those who have served our country, while maintaining our NATO obligations. Behind every dollar is a veteran, a family member or a caregiver counting on support. For a veteran living with a service-related injury, it can mean access to treatment and rehabilitation without the added burden of financial stress.

For family caregivers, it can provide financial assistance to help a veteran.

For a veteran facing mental health challenges, it can mean access to professional care, treatment and support. For a veteran transitioning to a civilian career, it can mean translating their military skills and experiences into a meaningful career.

On a practical level, this funding is a game-changer. The services they need will be there when the need arises.

As you can see, the department’s budget will increase by $2 million, to $8.173 billion.

The first item in the supplementary estimates (A) supports a national outreach campaign to help more veterans and their families learn about the programs, services and benefits available to them, including financial assistance, career support, education and mental health services.

The campaign highlights veterans' stories. These are real-life experiences of service and transition. It's a simple, personal and easy-to-understand message.

Our goal is simple: help more veterans recognize themselves as part of the broader veteran community and ensure that they know where to turn for support. For some veterans, knowing where to turn for help can be an important first step in reaching out. That's what we want the campaign to do: make the first step a little easier.

That's what this campaign is all about: making that first step a little bit easier.

The second item in the estimates will support veterans facing immediate crisis. The $800,000 transfer will ensure that the veterans emergency fund remains available to veterans across Canada facing situations that threaten their safety, health or well-being. Since launching in 2018, the fund has provided timely financial assistance to veterans and their families during moments of urgent need. On average, more than two veterans receive essential support every day through the veterans emergency fund. Our government remains committed to ensuring that no veteran is left without access to urgent support when they need it most.

These estimates represent a modest increase to the Veterans Affairs Canada budget, but an increase nonetheless. It is important to be clear about what these estimates demonstrate. Funding for Veterans Affairs Canada continues to increase, ensuring that veterans and their families can count on the programs and services they rely upon when they need them most. This investment in veterans is a reflection of our commitment to ensuring that Canada's veterans never have to face life's challenges alone.

This fall, we will continue strengthening service delivery, expanding employment opportunities for veterans and increasing awareness of the programs and services available to them, but our responsibility does not end there.

Our work doesn't stop there.

We must also ensure that the contributions of veterans are recognized, not just on Remembrance Day but also every day of the year. We have a responsibility to ensure that future generations of Canadians understand their service, their sacrifice and the lasting impact that veterans have had on our country. As we approach Veterans' Week and Remembrance Day, I encourage all Canadians to wear a poppy, attend a ceremony and thank a veteran.

Remembrance is more than a moment. It is a shared responsibility we must pair with action. It is a responsibility to honour those who've served, support those who continue to carry the effects of that service and ensure that future generations understand the sacrifices that helped shape our country. Together, by supporting veterans, sharing their stories and expressing our gratitude throughout the year, we can ensure that every veteran knows their service mattered and their sacrifices are remembered.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Thank you very much, Minister McKnight.

Now we will open our first round with six minutes for Mr. Barrett.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON]

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Through you to the minister and her officials, thank you for being here.

Minister, my questions relate to the departmental plan for 2026-27, which you referenced in your opening. As of March 31, Veterans Affairs had 36,491 disability benefit applications pending. Of those, more than 9,359 were already beyond your department's service standard. Is that your understanding?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

That aligns with the numbers that I'm familiar with.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON]

Your own departmental plan says that you are reducing or cutting staffing in the disability benefits program by approximately 20% between this fiscal year and next fiscal year. Is that also correct?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I disagree with your assessment that we are cutting staffing. There is a reduction in staffing related to the completion of temporary funding, which was coming to its end as part of its sunsetting. I disagree with the assumption that we are cutting staffing. In fact, through the budget we have made an investment in service delivery, stabilization and modernization, with the $184.9 million that was part of budget 2025.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON]

Minister, is it correct, then, that you've had a net increase or that your staffing numbers have stayed the same?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

The sunsetting funding that came to an end was completed as of March 31. The service delivery and modernization are allowing us to ensure that we maintain additional staff, who were on term contracts, to deliver services and benefits for veterans.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON]

You have thousands of veterans waiting too long for benefits—I would say that “we” have thousands of veterans who are waiting too long for benefits that they've earned. The disability benefit staffing has seen a reduction. You've called it “sunsetting”, and it's by 20%. The concern that I have and that I'm looking to drill down to is, how does that help to clear the backlog?

Will you guarantee today that the changes being made—“sunsetting” or however you'd like to characterize it, even if differently from how I've read it in the departmental plan—won't increase the number of veterans waiting beyond your established service standard?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

We continue to work towards improvements on delivering for the service standard, acknowledging that there is still more work to do. Since 2021, we have seen a reduction in the number of weeks that a veteran is waiting for first applications, from an average of 39.7 weeks down to below 20 weeks in Q1 of this year. Part of why we have the investment in service stabilization and modernization is to work with the team members we have in order to deliver more timely decisions for veterans so that we can continue to improve on the service delivery standard.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON]

Thank you, Minister.

How many disability benefit applications are beyond your service standards today? Just give the number, if you have it, please.

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

As that's a very specific number, I'm going to turn to my department officials, as they will have that available.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON]

If you have it, I'd like the number only, please.

[Doug Wentzell, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Service Delivery, Department of Veterans Affairs]

As of June 30, we have 9,675 over the service standard.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON]

You have 9,675.

Minister, by what date will your department meet its 16-week service standard for 80% of disability benefit decisions?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I would again turn to the department officials.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON]

Minister, is that something you've directed them on, a date or goal that they need to meet?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

As I mentioned, that's part of service delivery, modernization and stabilization—the work that is being undertaken right now.

Again, I would turn to the officials to address that more specifically.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON]

If I can, I think that's a question I can get into with officials during the second hour.

With my last minute, I just want to get some clarity from the minister with respect to ceremonies and services organized for Remembrance Day by the Royal Canadian Legion that traditionally include prayer or benediction. The government's new policy restricts religious language and spiritual reflections at certain military and commemorative events. What I'm looking to find out is, if the Royal Canadian Legion organizes Remembrance Day ceremonies, including the national Remembrance Day ceremony, will there be any impact, consequence or discipline for military chaplains who offer a prayer at these events?

[Jill McKnight, Liberal, Delta, BC]

I appreciate the question about commemoration. It's an incredibly important part of the work we do. Veterans Affairs Canada has a long-standing working relationship with the Royal Canadian Legion, in addition to a number of organizations that participate in the commemorative experience.

As it relates specifically to a specific ceremony, I would turn to the department officials.

[Michael Barrett, Conservative, Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands—Rideau Lakes, ON]

The question is, are they allowed to pray?

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

The time has expired.

I'll just say, on a personal note as the chair, that I attend my own Legion, and we pray every single year, so it has not changed.

Thank you very much, Mr. Barrett.