Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, thank you. To add to what Mr. Meincke has said, this is absolutely foundational harm going right to the centre of gravity of what the department is all about. I would want to hear “yes” to the things Mr. Meincke mentioned, but I think I would want to hear a plan in the immed

Veterans Affairs committee  I'll try to be brief. Thank you for the question. My experience with getting help.... I wandered in the woods for about four years of my life where I did not work. PTSD grasps so seamlessly with your own sense of self, it's like the devil touching you on the sleeve. It's almost

Veterans Affairs committee  Well, I'm not sure. From what I've heard today and what I know about Veterans Affairs, I'm not sure that they're harnessed to adequately deal with it. The apologies I've seen in the press.... I agree with the earlier comment that, if this was my department, I would be making,

Veterans Affairs committee  Absolutely not. My eyes have been really opened with what other folks have brought forward this morning. I don't stand by those comments, knowing what I know now. I'll tell you one thing about MAID. I lost my dad on May 25 through medically assisted death, after a long fight wit

Veterans Affairs committee  I spoke about money and budgets earlier, and I almost regret doing so. It becomes so cliché. What I would encourage VAC to do is be more interested in the leadership function of their own department, be more interested in their own people and in developing them and supporting the

Veterans Affairs committee  I've often felt, when I'm talking to VAC trying to represent myself and soldiers, that you are really talking about a foreign country in terms of the constituency you represent. I feel that there are courseware and educational opportunities that would communicate what this regime

Veterans Affairs committee  The first thing I would advise is a focus on professional education and professional development of the caseworkers themselves. I know that budgets are tight, but we do not spend enough on this government department. When you talk about the disposable income that the Government

Veterans Affairs committee  My answer would be the exact same. Absolutely, yes, this is a great country, and this entire planet needs more Canadian soldiers and Canadian servicemen. I believe that fundamentally. I've seen it in the different places I've served, from Kandahar to Cambodia. However, it would

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you. I'll be brief so that we can run the table this time. Yes, I'm astonished that these conversations are not recorded. You cannot pick up a telephone and return a call to Veterans Affairs. You cannot call your caseworker or try to get back to the same desk. It's so prec

Veterans Affairs committee  I'm sorry, Mr. Chair.

Veterans Affairs committee  The last point I was going to make was that the My VAC Account, as has been indicated, is an excellent written summation of most—or at least the front end of most—conversations with Veterans Affairs. I'll leave it there.

Veterans Affairs committee  Thank you for the question. I find that $140 million surprising. I didn't talk about myself during the opening five minutes. I'm in my office. I work in the provincial public service here, in Alberta, but, for four years of my life, I did not work. I lost both my parents during

Veterans Affairs committee  Good morning. It's a real pleasure to participate in this deliberation with this committee. It's a real honour. I'm hoping that I can make a valid contribution. I think there's a lot for the committee to pull apart, and I do confess that I may not be the best in terms of bein