Veterans Affairs committee  They can come to us two days after they leave or 30 years later. Really, there isn't a huge difference, because women who left the military 30 years ago still wear the uniform, in a way, as do women who left two years ago. I say that based on my own experience, but also based on my observations.

Veterans Affairs committee  There are definitely differences. Men in the Canadian Armed Forces often have a larger network. They have more colleagues, and they engage in activities with them on a regular basis. They'll go out for a beer or play golf, for example. Their social network is very well developed.

Veterans Affairs committee  That's exactly why we exist. We offer women transitioning out of the military to meet a new group of women. They sit down together for a weekend and they talk about their stories. They tell their stories. They're very vulnerable. So they forge a very deep friendship within this new group.

Veterans Affairs committee  I think they've always had that concern. However, there were never any services that gave them the opportunity to create friendships between women who had the same experiences, who had evolved within the same environment, an environment with a specific culture. We give them that opportunity.

Veterans Affairs committee  First, we need to reduce the bureaucratic burden associated with the transition, meaning the amount of paperwork and forms that women veterans have to fill out. Second, there has to be a good support network that certainly includes support from women on a number of levels: medical, physical, mental and emotional.

Veterans Affairs committee  I'm also the founder and CEO of Pepper Pod, a veterans resource centre. Over 300 women have graduated from our lifeshop program. As part of this program, we offer a healing weekend to women who are veterans or who will become veterans shortly, or to women who are military spouses or members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or RCMP.

Veterans Affairs committee  Mr. Chair, I'll begin by correcting my title. I'm the honorary lieutenant colonel. Good afternoon, Mr. Chair and members of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs. Thank you for inviting me here again to present to this committee. I can't think of a better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than with 12 of my favourite politicians.

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes.

Veterans Affairs committee  So many of the VAC and military programs have been designed for men and adapted to women. This has a huge impact on women's bodies with regard to equipment. The rucksacks were not designed for women. This is changing. There's new armour, bodysuits and body armour, that's coming out, but the women today who are retiring have been wearing equipment that was designed for men for 30 to 35 years, and that's had an impact.

Veterans Affairs committee  I will echo Ms. Douglas's comments. I've had some interaction with them. One of the recommendations I made to them was for them to go upstream with some of the things that women are suffering today with the military and to see how we can prevent them to avoid casualties in the future.

Veterans Affairs committee  I would say that, in 2022, it's time to use the right terms to define ourselves. In French, we are vétéranes, anciennes combattantes. The time has come to prioritize inclusion, and it's time for inclusion to trump the masculine.

Veterans Affairs committee  I mentioned one with regard to using the correct names for us as veterans. I often hear that we are “female veterans”, but men are just “veterans”, so let's correct that. We are all veterans. If we're going to identify them by gender, we can do both. The other recommendations are to reduce the delays for disability claims and to provide access to some of our veterans who are in distress.

Veterans Affairs committee  I don't know if this question is addressed to me. Perhaps Sergeant Usherwood would be better positioned, or maybe Madam Douglas or Madame Laverdure, to respond to it.

Veterans Affairs committee  Specifically for the LGBTQ2+ community, there are probably just two. Overall, there are seven or eight service dogs for women coming through. They have been a great help. One of the comments I have heard is that it takes a long time for them to get their dog. I myself have applied for a dog and have waited forever.

Veterans Affairs committee  First of all, I'm going to correct you. We're not guys. We are women.