House of Commons photoLost his last election, in 2015, with 33% of the vote.
Veterans December 5th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, we make no apologies for reducing bureaucratic expenses at Veterans Affairs Canada. The opposition wants to increase government bureaucracy.
We are increasing the front-line support for Canada's veterans. We recently announced eight new front-line mental health clinics for Canada's veterans.
While the NDP defends unions, we are defending Canadian veterans, and we will continue to stand up for Canada's veterans on this side of the House.
Veterans Affairs December 5th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, we are making investments to help support Canada's veterans when it comes to mental health issues and challenges.
Our recent announcement helps Canada's veterans, and here are some of the initiatives we have introduced: the road to mental health program; the mental health first aid program; and the new operational stress injury clinic in Halifax, with satellite offices across the country, including in St. John's, Chicoutimi , Pembroke, Brockville, Kelowna,Victoria, Montreal, and the greater Toronto area. We are also expanding the military family resource program for medically released Canadian veterans and their families.
Who will continue to stand up for Canada's veterans? This side of the House.
Veterans Affairs December 5th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, we make no apologies for reducing bureaucratic expenses at Veterans Affairs Canada. The opposition wants to increase government bureaucracy. We are increasing front-line support for Canada's veterans. We recently announced eight new front-line mental health clinics for Canadian veterans.
While the NDP defends the unions, along with the Liberals, we are defending Canada's veterans.
Veterans November 28th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, we are responding not only to the needs of today's veterans, but also to the needs of veterans in the future. As I mentioned, there were only four operational stress injury clinics when our government took office. We have already put in place 13 operational stress injury clinics across the country. Just last Sunday we announced eight additional satellite offices across this country, the major one being in Halifax.
We will continue to stand up for Canada's veterans.
Veterans November 28th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, the Auditor General clearly said that Veterans Affairs has put in place important mental health supports. Access to mental health support under the rehabilitation program is timely.
At the same time, we accept all recommendations put forward by the Auditor General, including where he suggested that there are some unnecessary delays in the paperwork and the application process. We will address that. The department is already working on those initiatives.
Veterans November 28th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, the member opposite can yell and scream all he wants, but I am sure that what Canadian veterans and Canadians would like him to do is to start standing up for Canada's veterans, especially when it comes to standing up and voting in favour of the initiatives that our government brings forward, such as the eight new clinics that were announced just last Sunday, which will help not only veterans but also still-serving members and members of their families.
Our government has a strong record. On this side of the House we will continue to stand up for Canada's veterans.
Veterans November 28th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, we thank the Auditor General for his report. I want to point out the Auditor General has recognized that Veterans Affairs does, indeed, have a robust health strategy in place. We have put in place mental health support and have provided rehabilitation to our veterans in a timely manner. At the same time, the Auditor General did point out that there were some unnecessary delays, which the department and our government are working to address.
Veterans November 28th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, of course, we all know the record of the opposition when it comes to standing up for Canada's veterans. Any initiative our government brings forward to help Canada's veterans the opposition has opposed.
We will continue to invest when it comes to veterans' benefits and services. This is exactly the reason why last week we announced eight new operational stress injury clinics right across the country, so there would be more places for veterans and their families to get the help they need.
Veterans November 28th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, the reason we are investing millions of dollars in veterans' benefits, services and mental health is because on this side of the House we take the issue of mental health services very seriously when it comes to our veterans. This is exactly why we are putting more operational stress injury clinics right across the country, more health care professionals, more places for veterans and still-serving members to get help. We are expanding the treatments right across the country.
Veterans November 28th, 2014
Mr. Speaker, we take not only the mental health of our veterans very seriously, but also members of the Canadian Armed Forces and members of their families. This is why we announced an investment last Sunday of eight new additional operational stress injury clinics, the major one being in Halifax and the other satellite offices right across the country.
This is in addition to 13 operational stress injury clinics that we have already implemented since taking office. Under the Liberals, there were only four. There will now be 25.