Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair, and good morning to all. I appreciate the invitation to appear before you today to discuss issues surrounding transition from military to civilian life. I am joined by my director general of operations, Ms. Robyn Hynes. It is my understanding that you are currently studying programming and best practices from like-minded countries around the world.

National Defence committee  I think, at the end of the day, it doesn't matter the construct of the entity that's handling the issues. I think it's the process and procedures we'll put in place. To collapse both departments...are we going to create a monolith that no one can handle? I think no matter what we do, there must be clear lines of responsibility, easy to understand interpretive policy, and process that is member focused.

National Defence committee  I think the recommendations we put forward will do exactly that. The recommendations are, the wording and the phraseology I just used, member-centric. The member has a malady. They have reached universality of service, and are about to release. Well, here's their comrade. This person is going to guide them through to the point where they are taking off the uniform, but before they take off the uniform, this person will tell them what their financial situation looks like, where their medical care is coming from, and what other options may be available for them and their family.

National Defence committee  I'm not sure if it will reduce the number of requests, but I do believe it will reduce the amount of time it takes to process the requests. We have had a consistent, on average, 1,500 to 1,800 medically releasing members over the last number of years. It seems to be consistent. It seems to stay at that number.

National Defence committee  I think there's still much that we can do. I do believe we are data rich and knowledge poor. I believe we can determine which trades, which occupations, will result in maladies. I think we know that. Paratroopers, for example, have bad knees and bad backs. I think there is a lot that we can do.

National Defence committee  I think all issues are fixable. For the home equity assistance program, I think the threshold of proving a 20% reduction in the value of your home may be a little unreasonable. Look at Alberta this year and what has happened and what is going to happen to house prices because of the price of oil, which has nothing to do with the Canadian Armed Forces but will have an impact on members who happen to buy or sell a home in that area.

National Defence committee  It's not for me to say how.

National Defence committee  First of all, there is a Veterans Affairs ombudsman, Mr. Guy Parent. I think that would be a question best asked of that office or the Department of Veterans Affairs. From my experience, I think you're going to hear that because of the previous cuts in staff, the backlog arrived.

National Defence committee  As for an update on Valcartier, the first piece of business to get accomplished was to have medical assessments done on the survivors of that tragedy and then to put cure plans in place to ensure that they had what they needed to move forward in the immediate future. My last update is that almost all of those medical plans have been done and are working forward.

National Defence committee  You're getting way outside my purview of authority, but I have heard that there is concern. People are seized with it; they are aware. I don't think it's something they're trying to hide or run away from.

National Defence committee  Yes, we have. Those engagements will usually come from a member who is serving in a particular region, or on a wing or a base, who has discovered something. When we run into it, once the local chain of command is engaged, action comes very quickly, with remediation or segregation of that type of material so that it's not harmful.

National Defence committee  Our office is an office of last resort, but I also offer the service to every member of the defence community. At any point in time, if you're going through a process or have questions about a policy, you can call our office. We will help educate, inform, and get you in touch with the right people.

National Defence committee  It has been brought to our attention on numerous occasions. They usually come at us from the forum of operational stress injuries, where the member will know that there's something not quite right and is a little reluctant to go the chain of command. I also have to say that I think the Canadian Armed Forces over the last several years has done a tremendous job in removing that stigma.

National Defence committee  God bless our friends in the media. They've raised many of the issues that are current and important. They report what it is they see. That message is being received by Canadian citizens. It helps influence the parents of these young cadets or young civilians who are thinking about joining the Canadian Armed Forces.

National Defence committee  One of the major concerns we hear from transitioning members is the fact that they have to talk to multiple people. There can be two case managers. There can be two rehabilitation programs. It's just the complexity of what's there. When I speak about a concierge, let me be very clear.