Proceedings of the Subcommittee on
Veterans Affairs
Issue No. 9 - Evidence - February 7, 2018
OTTAWA, Wednesday, February 7, 2018
The Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs met this day at 12 p.m. for the election of the chair.
[English]
Keli Hogan, Clerk of the Subcommittee: Honourable senators, as clerk of your committee, it is my duty to preside over the election of the chair.
[Translation]
I am ready to receive a motion to that effect.
[English]
Senator Boniface: I nominate Senator Dagenais for the Chair of the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence.
Ms. Hogan: Are there any other nominations?
It was moved by the Honourable Senator Boniface that the Honourable Senator Dagenais do take the chair of the committee.
Is it your pleasure, honourable senators, to adopt the motion?
Hon. Senators: Agreed.
Ms. Hogan: I declare the motion carried, and I invite Senator Dagenais to take the chair.
Senator Jean-Guy Dagenais (Chair) in the chair.
[Translation]
The Chair: Thank you, colleagues. This election was easy. I would have liked that to be the case when I was a Conservative candidate in Saint-Hyacinthe in 2011.
First of all, I would like to suggest a meeting with the regular members of the committee on Monday, immediately after the meeting of the defence committee, to discuss the studies that we could do by the end of June. I would invite members of the committee to make their suggestions. I’m already thinking of one point, to which veterans have been drawing our attention for a long time, the monuments dedicated to veterans in different provinces. I believe that a study has already been done on the issue, but it was not successful.
Please take the floor, Senator Wallin, Senator Day and Senator McIntyre. I also welcome Senator Richards.
[English]
Senator Wallin: As you know, I am only an observer at this committee, but I have been one for many years. I would really hope that in the remaining months before June, we could actually accomplish something. We have studied so many issues, and I would really like to see something very concrete go forward.
Our studies are good. They fall on deaf ears, so maybe what we need to do is actually propose something outside this committee, maybe even something we might do in the chamber, that would push the file for veterans a little further.
[Translation]
The Chair: You’re absolutely right, Senator Wallin. A number of studies have not been completed for unknown reasons. By June, we should focus our efforts on successfully completing topics that are important for our veterans. I have not been on this committee for as long as you have, senator, and some good work has been accomplished, but it is time for us to achieve concrete and satisfying results for our veterans.
[English]
Senator Boniface: I would just add that we have a draft report from last fall that is still sitting there. It’s something that we on the steering committee should discuss in terms of how or if we move that forward.
Second, consistent with Senator Wallin’s comments about the pension announcements and some of the reactions we’ve heard on that, I think that would be a discussion the steering committee should undertake.
[Translation]
The Chair: I completely agree with you. One of the issues of particular concern to our military is the transition from military to civilian life. Some leave the forces while they are still young and the time between then and retirement sometimes comes with a lot of complications. They are not all lucky enough to have good union presidents. That’s a personal aside. I’ll explain it to you later.
This situation is very concerning for our military. They have families, obligations, and if they end up with no income, even for a month, it’s one month too much, in my opinion. Are there any other suggestions?
[English]
Senator Day: On that point and in relation to the pensions announcement, I expect there will be legislation, and we’ll be studying that legislation; it will be referred to us. It would be unusual to be studying the legislation and have a study happening on the same subject matter. You may want to find out about the legislation before we determine the study that would be dealing with the same thing.
[Translation]
The Chair: Absolutely, and I recognize your experience, Senator Day, but we will do things properly in this file.
Are there any other suggestions? If the ideas do not come to you today, it is still possible to send them to the steering committee in the coming months. We must be flexible in our work, and we must be as efficient as possible in order to serve our military. They deserve it, and the committee works for them. We need to focus on our military and provide them with good service, a smooth transition to civilian life and the recognition of monuments in the provinces.
With your permission, the clerk informs me that the draft report we are talking about is ready. Do you prefer to receive the electronic or paper version of this document? I imagine that copies will be available very soon.
Ms. Hogan: To my knowledge, it is already ready. We just need your permission. Afterwards, we will make arrangements to send you the electronic or paper version. The electronic version is sent with a password giving access to the copies. Everything is transmitted securely and the document is protected to prevent changes. It’s pretty fast, usually.
Senator McIntyre: Madam Clerk, how many pages does the draft report contain?
Ms. Hogan: I do not know. Unfortunately, I’m replacing someone today. So I did not see the report.
Isabelle Lafontaine-Emond, Analyst, Library of Parliament: There are 29 pages in French and 27 in English.
Senator McIntyre: I prefer to receive the paper copy.
The Chair: The hard copy may be better if you want to annotate it. I see you already have a draft. Will it be possible to have the copies in French and English next week?
Ms. Lafontaine-Edmond: It has already been translated. In fact, you and Senator Jaffer received the electronic version in the fall.
The Chair: So you will receive hard copies, and, by the next meeting, we will have time to review the report and study it together so that we can approve it and table it.
Are there any other questions and concerns? No? Thank you.
(The committee adjourned.)