Madam Speaker, today I would like to again raise the concerns I expressed last February with regard to the protection of our veterans' privacy.
At that time, I spoke about the now well-known case of Harold Leduc, a member of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. The board conducted a campaign to discredit him by disclosing his confidential medical information on more than one occasion. The main criticism levelled against Mr. Leduc was that he ruled too often in favour of the veterans. It is understandable that, as a result of this horrible story, I would question the true independence of this board.
I asked for an independent investigation into the matter, because he was not the only person whose privacy was breached. There had been a number of horror stories prior to his. The department had promised that this would not happen again and we had been assured that access to confidential information would be better controlled. There was talk of new disciplinary measures, and a privacy action plan was announced with great fanfare. However, nothing improved, because Harold Leduc's privacy was violated after the government's action plan was introduced, which was an indication that the flaws still existed and were probably greater than we had imagined.
This government is not serious about this issue. It is making massive cuts to services, and meanwhile, the chair of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board is using taxpayers' money to take a trip across the Atlantic with the minister's approval.
The hon. member for Sackville—Eastern Shore—a favourite of veterans since he has always been happy to defend their cause for more than 15 years—explained how the ombudsman criticized the chair for not giving veterans the benefit of the doubt. It is truly horrible to see such cases. Veterans really must be given the benefit of the doubt. As the ombudsman noted, it is not done. This is really a problem. However, I have no doubt that the trip taken by the chair of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board was one trip too many.
Since the Conservatives did not keep their promise to reform the Veterans Review and Appeal Board, or VRAB, the time has come to dismantle it and establish an independent judicial inquiry on the violations of privacy.
The ombudsman's lastest report is very clear in this regard. This government did nothing to reform VRAB and ensure that it was meeting its obligations and showing respect for veterans and their families.
Moreover, veterans have lost confidence in what the government can do for them. From what I have read in La Presse, there are many cases.
There is so much wrong with the veterans board. One article is headed:
There is a high level of distrust, disdain among veterans of Veterans Review and Appeal Board.
There are many, many cases like this. The families are also writing letters to complain about it, and journalists are calling for an investigation. But the government does not hear any of it. It does not see this distrust and it is leaving veterans isolated. This is a very bad choice.
The Conservatives are going to say three things that are false.
They are going to say that services to veterans will be maintained, but that is false. When you cut the budget as they are doing with these massive cuts, obviously services will not be maintained. Obviously, services and benefits for veterans will be reduced.
The Conservatives are going to say that the NDP has voted against all their measures and against the 2012 budget. Yes, we voted against this budget, because it has nothing in it for veterans, and we stand behind our veterans.
The Conservatives are going to say they hold veterans dear. That is not the case. We do hold them dear, because we are proposing to do something for them. We stand behind them and we stand up for them.