Veterans Affairs Committee on May 8th, 2024

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

I call this meeting to order.

Welcome to meeting number 94 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veteran Affairs.

Today, the committee is looking at the main estimates 2024‑25 and the subject matter of the supplementary estimates (C) 2023‑24.

Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format.

We're pleased to welcome the Honourable Mona Fortier, who is joining us by video conference. Pierre Paul‑Hus will also be attending the meeting.

We have new guidelines for the acoustics in the room. As you will have noticed, the microphones are now farther apart. This isn't because of COVID. It's simply to avoid any interference. You can also see that the earpieces have been placed in a specific position next to you. Avoid bringing the earpiece close to the microphone. This causes disruptions or interference, which can seriously harm the interpreters. Hence the need for special measures. When you have the floor, take extreme care to keep your earpiece away from the microphone. When you aren't speaking, please turn off your microphone and place your earpiece on the table. On behalf of the interpreters, thank you for your co‑operation.

Lastly, I would like to remind you that all comments should be addressed to the chair.

I would now like to welcome the Minister of Veteran Affairs and officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

For the first hour, we have with us the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, member of Parliament and Minister of Veterans Affairs. From the Department of Veterans Affairs, we have Paul Ledwell, deputy minister; and Steven Harris, senior assistant deputy minister, service delivery branch.

Minister, you have five minutes to give your opening remarks. The committee members will then be happy to ask you questions through the chair. You now have the floor.

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Minister of Veterans Affairs]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair and colleagues, thank you for inviting me here today. I'm always pleased to have the opportunity to brief the committee on government business, especially as it relates to veterans and their families.

First, I would like to briefly inform you about two important events that my department, Veterans Affairs Canada, held in Montreal in March—the national stakeholder summit and the Women Veterans Forum. I believe all of you had received invitations. Again, it was really well attended.

More than 300 veterans, stakeholders and community partners attended the two events, with the opportunity to attend in person and online. At both events, we heard directly from the community on key topics. The feedback we received from veterans and stakeholders is invaluable to the work we do to make sure that everyone has access to the supports and services they need.

I'm also pleased to report that the government again recognized, in budget 2024, the need to take care of Canada's veterans. The government is investing in the veteran and family well‑being fund, in telemedicine services and in the commemoration of veterans.

Last year, our government also made significant investments to improve application processing times. This gives veterans more timely access to the services and benefits that they need.

In the main estimates, the budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs increased by $229 million compared to last year, bringing the department's total funding to $6.21 billion for fiscal year 2024‑25. This change reflects the government's ongoing commitment to veterans and their families.

As you know, Mr. Chair, the majority of Veterans Affairs Canada's programs are demand driven or otherwise known as quasi-statutory. In this case, the bulk of the increase comes from an additional $202 million to cover a higher demand or increased expenditures related to the income replacement benefit, additional pain and suffering compensation and housekeeping and grounds maintenance.

The balance of the $229-million increase can be attributed to $23.1 million in new funding for collective bargaining and the Logan class action final settlement agreement and $14.8 million to an overall increase in clients and expenditures in treatment and health care.

For the 2023-24 supplementary estimates (C), VAC requested and received $14.1 million in additional program funding to provide services to eligible veterans and their families.

As well, $2.5 million in additional funding will support the refurbishment of the Newfoundland and Labrador national war memorial to construct a tomb of an unknown Newfoundland soldier.

In addition to this funding, Mr. Chair, you will see a $55.6-million transfer from vote 1 to vote 5. This reallocation of resources is related to our annual quasi-statutory adjustment and will allow the department to meet the demand of the program.

The estimates also include a transfer of $2.9 million from the Veterans Review and Appeal Board to Veterans Affairs Canada. This amount will fund the services that the department provides to the board, in order to further improve application processing times.

This additional funding constitutes a significant and necessary investment in the health and well‑being of our veterans and their families. It will help our government continue to provide the care and support that they need and deserve.

Thank you again for inviting me to speak today. I look forward to answering the committee members' questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Minister.

We'll now move on to the first round of questions.

Mr. Richards, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Mr. Chair, I would like to—

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Hold on, Mr. Richards.

Mr. Desilets, you have the floor.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Given that the meeting started a bit late, when can we expect it to finish?

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

I think that we have the resources to hold a two‑hour meeting. We'll meet with the minister and guests for the first hour.

[Luc Desilets, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Good. Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

You're welcome.

Mr. Richards, you have the floor for six minutes.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Minister, there are a lot of very frustrated veterans in this country right now. Not only are veterans struggling to get the benefits and services they need and deserve from your government and from Veterans Affairs to deal with the physical or mental injuries they've suffered as a result of their service to our country, but, like many Canadians out there right now, there are also far too many veterans who are homeless, who are having to use food banks, because of the cost of living crisis that your government has created. I talk to food banks often that tell me these food banks that serve our veterans specifically cannot keep enough food on the shelves to serve those veterans.

They're hurting. They're struggling. There are far too many veterans who are suffering from mental health issues and addictions, all because they cannot afford to live any longer.

In the short time you've been minister, the committee has requested three separate times that you to come and appear to be held accountable to veterans through the members of this committee. On all three occasions we've requested that you come for two hours to answer for your government's policies and to speak to veterans. This is their opportunity to hear directly from you and to have you questioned on their behalf by the members who sit on this committee.

On all three occasions, you've come for only one hour of the two hours requested of you. I have to wonder how any veteran can have any confidence that you're going to show any respect for their needs, their desires and what they're looking for in terms of solutions when you can't even find two hours of your time to come and answer their questions.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Excuse me, Minister.

I have to say to the members of the committee and to the witnesses, please address your questions and answers through the chair.

Otherwise, I'll need to stop your comments.

Minister, you have the floor.

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB]

Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.

First and foremost, again, it's an absolute privilege for me to be here with all of you today. This is my third committee appearance here at the veterans affairs committee. On the two first occasions, I was here for a two-hour period. I was more than happy to do so.

More importantly, I think, Mr. Richards, since I've taken on this role as the veterans affairs minister, I have made it my number one priority to meet with veterans across the country. I have met hundreds if not thousands of veterans, and personally wanted to hear their issues and their concerns. When I talked earlier about the forum and the summit that we held in Montreal, I spent four days there, for the totality of those summits and the forum, to hear first-hand about the issues and struggles our veterans are facing, and to find out their priorities.

To accuse me today of not paying attention to veterans I think is a bit rich on your part, because, again, I take this job extremely seriously. My number one priority is to make sure that veterans have access to the services and benefits they need. I will continue to meet and listen to veterans when I can.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

You take this job so seriously that you're willing to come for only one hour to answer the questions that veterans have. I hear every day—I know that many members of this committee would hear the same—that veterans are frustrated. They're hurting. They cannot get the help they need. They're waiting not months but years, in many cases, to try to get the services they need and the benefits they need. They are just not getting it from your government. They're not seeing even the basic respect.

I want to speak to that basic respect for just a second. We have a situation where many of the veterans who served this country in Afghanistan are frustrated. They feel disrespected. Many of the families of the 158 Canadians who gave their lives in Afghanistan are feeling the same way. A monument was supposed to be created for the men and women who served in that mission. Right now, because of the interference of your Prime Minister, that monument has been delayed. No one knows when it will be built, and veterans are feeling frustrated. They're feeling disrespected.

We have a situation here where this committee is trying to get to the bottom of that situation. We've been trying for months now to get the documents to be able to figure out what exactly caused all of these delays. Liberal members of this committee have filibustered and have found every tactic to try to avoid that from happening, and yet we're simply asking for something that will help clear up this issue for veterans.

Minister, you could show that respect to veterans right here today if you would just commit—I'm asking you to do so—to provide the documents, the communications, since November 8 of 2021, between your department and your office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs, between the department and the Privy Council Office, and between your Minister of Veterans Affairs office and the Office of the Prime Minister.

Would you commit to providing those documents today so that we can get to the bottom of this on behalf of our veterans?

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB]

Mr. Richards, once again, the issue of commemorating Canada's mission in Afghanistan continues to be a priority for me and the government. That is why we continue to work forward and to move forward with respect to the erection of this monument—a monument that is very important, as you indicate.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

Minister, the question was about whether you were going to provide those documents to be able to get to the bottom of the situation that caused this delay. It's a simple yes-or-no question. Would you provide those document, yes or no?

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB]

With respect to the work that the committee is doing, I believe you are undergoing a committee study on the matter. Once again....

The chair is telling me that I'm done.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Yes. The time is running.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Banff—Airdrie, AB]

That's convenient.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

I will now go to Ms. Hepfner for six minutes, please.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I would like to thank the minister for being here and answering our questions.

In another appearance, Veterans Affairs Canada officials told us about the telemedicine pilot project.

Our veterans and their families have sacrificed so much for our country. We have a solemn and sacred duty to support our veterans, who have served courageously and honourably.

We know how hard it can be for a veteran transitioning to civilian life to find a doctor. When they were in the Canadian Armed Forces, a number of veterans received their health care directly from the forces. Telemedicine is a good way to make health care more accessible. That's why I was happy to see this pilot project in budget 2024. I also know that the Conservatives have already stated that they wouldn't support the extension of the telemedicine pilot project.

Can you tell us more about this measure and why it's important for veterans?

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB]

Thank you, Ms. Hepfner. Your French is excellent.

Again, we're pleased to see additional investments in budget 2024. As you said, our telemedicine pilot project, which focuses on veterans leaving the Canadian Armed Forces for medical reasons, will ensure that they have access to medical care.

The pilot project has many benefits. That's the reason for the extension request. Our project focuses not only on veterans leaving the Canadian Armed Forces for medical reasons, but also on all members leaving the Canadian Forces.

As you said, members of the forces receive medical services from the Department of National Defence. When they leave the forces, they're affected by the same labour shortage as all Canadians. We need to make sure that they can access these services. I'm not just talking about veterans, but also their family members, since they also need to move.

The $9.2 million investment will be used to expand the pilot project to reach more people. This includes not only the people leaving the forces for medical reasons, but also all veterans and their family members. In my opinion, this will benefit them. Again, it will give them access to additional resources. We're making sure that they receive the necessary services.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

I think that this topic is really important. I haven't been on the committee long, but I've heard about it a number of times.

As you know, we just conducted a major study on the experiences of women veterans. We've been careful to ensure that our report properly reflects the challenges and concerns of women veterans. I can't wait for this report to be released and for women veterans to read it. This study goes beyond partisanship and will make a real difference—or, at least, it should.

Can you tell us about what your department has already done to help veterans? Also, can you tell us about the next steps to improve services for veterans?

[Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Liberal, Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB]

Thank you for this important question.

I would like to thank all the committee members for conducting this study, which was key to understanding the dynamics and needs of women veterans. I would also like to thank the women veterans who are keeping up with our work. I acknowledge that, for the women who appeared before the committee, it wasn't always easy to share their experiences. I want to thank them and tip my hat to them, again.

I look forward to receiving the committee's recommendations and reading its report. I know that everyone has worked hard on this. The Department of Veterans Affairs started making internal changes even before the committee studied the issue. One change, which was made a few years ago, concerns women veterans who contact the Department of Veterans Affairs to receive services as a result of the incidents that they experienced. We now have a team that specializes in handling requests from women veterans.

We also want to ensure that the women who have been sexually assaulted or sexually harassed feel comfortable with the people assigned to work with them and with their case manager. These managers are trained to respond appropriately. We'll continue to improve these programs in order to serve women veterans properly.

I'll soon be announcing the creation of a women veterans advisory council. This council will give advice to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, meaning me, on women's issues. I can't wait to make this announcement. Again, I want to make sure that I'm well informed about the challenges that women face. I'm really looking forward to working with this committee.

[Lisa Hepfner, Liberal, Hamilton Mountain, ON]

That is very important, especially given the number of women veterans who told the committee they felt invisible.

[The Chair, Liberal, Emmanuel Dubourg]

Thank you, Ms. Hepfner. Your time is up.

Mr. Desilets, you have the floor for six minutes.