Veterans Affairs Committee on Oct. 23rd, 2025

[Robert Olson]

From CMHA Alberta's perspective, we have the OSI-CAN program, which is peer support. We understand that there is a gap in peer supports for veterans. If those kinds of programs that we and others offer were shored up, it would enhance veterans' feelings with regard to dealing with mental health issues, because we often hear that veterans prefer dealing with one another. They prefer dealing with those who have dealt with similar struggles.

Peer supports are definitely an avenue to enhance and strengthen.

[Tatiana Auguste, Liberal, Terrebonne, QC]

Regarding the Centre de prévention du suicide de Québec, has the CMHA taken other innovative suicide prevention approaches, more specifically regarding the problems veterans and former first responders have had?

[Robert Olson]

I'm having difficulty hearing the question, sorry.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Can you repeat your question please, Ms. Auguste?

[Tatiana Auguste, Liberal, Terrebonne, QC]

Right. I will ask it more slowly.

Regarding the Centre de prévention du suicide de Québec, has the CMHA taken or overseen, one way or another, other new or innovative suicide prevention approaches designed specifically to fix the problems veterans and former first responders have encountered?

[Robert Olson]

Taking into account the lived experience element that has been drawn into a lot of our initiatives and resources that we crafted with Atlas, as well as families, I think those are two elements that have not been robustly investigated and added in the past. That's an innovation that I think we have added to the mix with our work with Atlas.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Thank you.

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

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I am going to speak in French.

[Robert Olson]

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Is the sound good?

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Right.

Ms. Gaudreau, you have the floor.

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

Thank you.

I am simply going to give you time to explain why you think the seven lines of effort put in place in 2017 are inadequate, unless I misunderstood.

[Robert Olson]

Oh, I did not.... I said those are the seven objectives that were in the original 2017 CAF-VAC strategy. I didn't say they're inadequate. They've done some work. I believe 50% of those sub-actions in the seven lines have been accomplished, so that's not nothing.

We are hearing, though, that there are still gaps and deficits that need to be addressed in relation to veterans. The CAF-VAC strategy would benefit from a national strategy, which would bolster this priority strategy or else augment it with other actions for veterans within the strategy. It's doing good work; it's just that it needs some bolstering.

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

Did you hear the testimony given by Ms. Veilleux, who explained the overall operation of the system and where it falls short when it comes to intervention and treatment for veterans who have trouble continuing to perform their duties and seeing what comes next?

[Robert Olson]

This was in the last round? No, I didn't hear it. However, I can totally agree with that, yes, that we are waiting for—

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

Perfect.

Have you seen the film Out Standing?

[Robert Olson]

Not yet. I have heard of it, yes.

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

Right.

[Robert Olson]

I will aim to see it.

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

Okay.

I have one other question to ask you. Do you have any evidence as to what may happen in the case of intersectoral data about gender? I am trying to find information about suicide prevention issues among women, indigenous people and the LGBTQ2+ community.

Is there any published data about that?

[Robert Olson]

Are you asking if there are data on suicide deaths for these?

Unfortunately, in Canada we don't parse the details, and that's one of the suggestions that we've been pushing for, more granular death data because it's not presently parsed in ethnicity or occupation. Sexual diversity might be a little more difficult to ascertain at time of death. Any efforts to bring more clarity to an individual who dies by suicide and the specific circumstances and characteristics that one has is always welcome. We're lagging in Canada on that.

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

Right. Thank you.

Can you tell us about the culture of silence in the Canadian Armed Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and among our veterans?

[SM Sansouci, National Government Relations Lead, Canadian Mental Health Organization]

I'll take that one.

As a military spouse of a veteran and active forces member, I want to thank this committee for this important study.

The Canadian Mental Health Association's centre for suicide prevention is not directly linked to the Canadian Armed Forces or Veterans Affairs, so it would not be appropriate for us to speak to that culture that you mentioned.

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

Thank you, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Marie-France Lalonde]

Thank you, Ms. Gaudreau.

For a final round we'll start with five minutes.

Mr. Viersen, please go ahead.