THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND DEFENCE
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Monday, May 31, 2021
(3)
[English]
Pursuant to the order of the Senate of March 30, 2021, the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence met this day by videoconference at 2 p.m. [ET], the chair, the Honourable Gwen Boniface, presiding. This meeting is considered to have taken place in the parliamentary precinct.
Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Boisvenu, Boniface, Busson, Cotter, Dagenais, Dalphond, Jaffer, Martin, McPhedran, Moodie, Oh and Richards (12).
Participating in the meeting: Shaila Anwar, Principal Clerk, Mark Palmer, Procedural Clerk and Natacha Umugwaneza, Administrative Assistant, Committees Directorate; Anne Marie Therrien-Tremblay and Ariel Shapiro, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also present: The official stenographers of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, the committee continued its study on matters relating to national defence and security generally, including veterans affairs, as stated in rule 12-7(15).
WITNESSES (by videoconference):
Veterans Affairs Canada:
Charlotte Bastien, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Oversight and Communications;
Rick Christopher, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy and Commemoration;
Amy Meunier, Director General, Centralized Operations.
Office of the Veterans' Ombudsman:
Colonel (Ret'd) Nishika Jardine, Veterans Ombud;
Duane Schippers, Strategic Review and Analysis Director and Legal Advisor.
The chair made a statement.
Ms. Bastien made a statement and, together with Mr. Christopher and Ms. Meunier, answered questions.
At 3:04 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 3:06 p.m., the committee resumed.
Col. (Ret’d) Jardine made a statement and, together with Mr. Schippers, answered questions.
At 3:59 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Joëlle Nadeau
Clerk of the Committee