THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
EVIDENCE
OTTAWA, Wednesday, May 6, 2026
The Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs met this day at 12 p.m. [ET] to examine and report on issues relating to Veterans Affairs, including services and benefits provided, commemorative activities, and the continuing implementation of the Veterans Well-being Act.
Senator Dawn Anderson (Chair) in the chair.
[English]
The Chair: I declare this meeting of the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs in session. I’m Dawn Anderson, senator for the Northwest Territories and the chair of the subcommittee.
I am joined today by my fellow subcommittee members, whom I welcome to introduce themselves.
Senator Ince: Good morning, all, and welcome. My name is Tony Ince from Nova Scotia.
Senator Muggli: Good morning. Tracy Muggli, Saskatchewan, Treaty 6 territory.
Senator Ross: Good morning. Krista Ross from New Brunswick.
Senator Busson: Welcome. I’m Bev Busson from British Columbia.
Senator McNair: Welcome. I’m John McNair from New Brunswick.
The Chair: Colleagues, today we meet to continue our work on the topic of veterans homelessness. We are very pleased to welcome to the committee the Honourable Jill McKnight, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence and the Honourable Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada. The ministers are accompanied by Mitch Freeman, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Planning and Performance, Veterans Affairs Canada; and Janet Goulding, Assistant Deputy Minister, Homelessness and Housing Program Sector, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada. Thank you very much for joining us today.
We will begin by inviting the members to provide opening remarks, to be followed by questions from our members. I remind you that you each have five minutes for your opening statements.
We will begin with Minister McKnight. Welcome.
Hon. Jill McKnight, P.C., M.P., Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence: Good morning and thank you.
As this is the first time appearing before you, I would like to begin by offering my sincere thanks to you for your ongoing work studying the critical issue of veterans homelessness. I also commend your efforts to understand the complexities that veterans can face post service. Each veteran’s experience is unique, and so too are the challenges they may encounter in their civilian lives and the supports they may need. To the veterans of Canada, family members, friends and neighbours who have stepped forward in service of our country, I offer my deepest and unwavering respect, as well as to their families.
[Translation]
I offer my sincere appreciation to Senator Patterson for her service, as well as the other senators who have served their country and any veterans who may be here today or watching online. Thank you.
[English]
I recognize that Senator Patterson is not here today, but I do want to recognize her service.
[Translation]
Regarding the issue of homelessness, it is a profound injustice that a person can find themselves homeless after serving their country in uniform and accepting to face the risks of military service.
[English]
The duty we owe to those who serve begins the moment they enlist. It continues through their military service into the transition to civilian life and throughout their lives as veterans. They deserve support, resources and every opportunity to live somewhere that is safe and affordable.
Through the $72.9 million Veteran Homelessness Program, or VHP, we are working closely with Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada and other partners to support veterans who are experiencing or are at risk of experiencing homelessness.
I would like to acknowledge my colleague, the Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, whose leadership and the expertise of his department has been instrumental in advancing this important and complex work.
In its first year, the Veteran Homelessness Program has served more than 1,400 veterans and helped over 200 veterans experiencing homelessness secure stable housing. In 2024, the Government of Canada estimates that approximately 1,800 veterans experienced homelessness, down from 4,000 a decade ago. We also saw a 10% decrease from 2023.
[Translation]
While these numbers are moving in the right direction, they remind us that many veterans are still living in dangerous, unstable and unsuitable conditions. Until that number reaches zero, we can’t stop.
[English]
Our case managers work with local partners, including VHP funding recipients, to connect veterans to housing and wraparound supports, including mental health and addiction services, income assistance and employment training. Front-line staff members conduct regular outreach, working with community organizations and housing providers to expand access to affordable homes. This work is supported by a broad array of programs designed to address the financial and systemic factors that can place veterans at risk.
Through the Veteran and Family Well-being Fund, Veterans Affairs Canada provides grants and contributions to private, public, academic and Indigenous organizations conducting research and delivering projects that strengthen the well-being of veterans and their families.
Since 2018, this fund has invested $12.4 million in 32 projects focused on veterans experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. These initiatives help us better understand the challenges veterans face and allow us to continually improve our response.
In closing, I want to reaffirm the Government of Canada’s commitment to supporting veterans and their families.
[Translation]
I also want to reaffirm that this conversation between me, my cabinet colleagues and our entire government is very real and ongoing.
[English]
Through sustained investments and collaborative partnerships with other government departments and agencies, we are reducing the risk of homelessness for veterans, improving access to service and working to build Canada, where every veteran has a safe place to call home. Thank you.
The Chair: Thank you, minister. Next we will hear from Minister Robertson. The floor is yours.
Hon. Gregor Robertson, P.C., M.P., Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada: Thank you to the chair and honourable senators for the opportunity and invitation to appear before you here today alongside my colleague Minister McKnight. I’m also pleased to be joined by Janet Goulding, who is the Assistant Deputy Minister for the Homelessness and Housing Program at the Department of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada.
[Translation]
I want to thank the senators for undertaking this critical study.
Today, I will speak to the measures we’ve implemented to address veteran homelessness, specifically the Veteran Homelessness Program. Canadian veterans have dedicated their lives to serving their country, and for that they deserve our utmost respect and appreciation.
I also want to sincerely thank Senator Patterson for her service to this country, as well as the other senators who have served and the veterans who are here today and those who are watching us online. Thank you.
[English]
As you all know, military service does not end with returning home or a reintroduction to civilian lifestyle. Service leaves an impact on the lives of our military members. In some cases, long-standing service-related disabilities or mental health issues can make it very difficult for veterans to secure and maintain housing.
The Government of Canada currently estimates there are approximately 1,800 veterans still experiencing homelessness across Canada. We’ve made progress, as Minister McKnight said, but we know that it is unacceptable that we have so many still struggling to find a home.
The purpose of the Veteran Homelessness Program — we can probably go with VHP from here on — is to address the issue and obviously prevent it from getting worse but continue making that progress. The program is designed to respond to the particular needs of veterans experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness.
The program also complements the services that we provide through Reaching Home, which is our department’s homelessness strategy. Collaboration between the veteran-serving organizations, the Reaching Home service providers and the Veteran Homelessness Program service providers is absolutely vital to addressing these critical needs and ensuring that any person seeking help can be referred to the appropriate service provider in their community.
As part of the suite of federal housing initiatives, VHP provides $72.9 million through the Services and Supports Stream. This funding supports veterans experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness through rent supplements. It also provides wraparound services, such as housing placement services, counselling and treatment of substance use. Really a comprehensive package of wraparound services.
Beyond the housing services — the rent supplements in particular — there are a variety of other supports. Prevention and shelter diversion work to prevent eviction and gives advice on budgeting or credit counselling as required by veterans.
Through the health and medical services, veterans are connected to clinical health and treatment services as needed. Further, there are client support services, including support for veterans with service animals. They also include economic integration services, which connect veterans to existing benefits, as well as social and community integration, which could include hiring of a veteran peer-support worker.
In addition to these various services funded through the Services and Supports Stream, the Capacity Building Stream of the program provides $6.2 million to support research and improved data collection. It also allows for increased capacity to deliver tailored services for veterans in need.
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, or HICC, is working closely with our colleagues at Veterans Affairs Canada. Our departments are encouraging veteran-serving organizations and homelessness-serving organizations to collaborate better to ensure that we’re serving veterans in need of help.
As of April of this year, VHP has delivered wraparound supports to 2,280 veterans, and provided rent supplements to 397 veterans, supporting those experiencing or at imminent risk of homelessness. The projects will run through March 2028.
Veterans and their families, obviously, sacrifice in a myriad of ways, large and small, every day to ensure our country remains safe, remains free and remains a welcoming place for all.
It’s our duty to ensure that all veterans who are at risk or are experiencing homelessness are able to access the housing and supportive services they need.
[Translation]
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada will continue to work with Veterans Affairs Canada and all of its partners to facilitate access to adequate housing and service delivery for veterans across the country. We do this in cooperation with communities and are always open to good ideas, such as the ones this committee will propose.
I look forward to your questions. Thank you.
[English]
The Chair: Thank you, minister. We will now proceed to questions. In order to maximize the number of questions, I ask that you keep your questions succinct and that you identify which witness your question is directed to.
I would like to offer the first question to our deputy chair, Senator Ince.
Senator Ince: My first question will be to Minister McKnight. Witnesses have told us that Veterans Affairs Canada is perceived by many as operating like an insurance company rather than a care provider. What changes can be made to shift VAC towards a care-first approach, particularly with vulnerable and unhoused veterans?
Ms. McKnight: Thank you very much for the question. The care and needs of veterans are at the core of everything that we do. It is the focal point. I have had the opportunity to engage with a selection and with many of the service providers across Canada that are engaging directly with veterans on a daily basis, and I can say that it is an exceptional group of individuals who are putting the needs of veterans at the top of everything they are doing.
With that said, that doesn’t change the veterans’ experience, if they are feeling that there is more that we can do. So we are continuing to work and adapt our services on an ongoing basis through continuous review and through continuous feedback as I speak with veterans across the country, as my deputy minister does and as do other officials within the department. I think it’s an ongoing conversation with veterans as we continue to adjust our services to meet their needs.
Senator Ince: Thank you. To follow up, within that shift, what proportion of VAC homelessness-related spending is currently directed towards prevention, such as stabilization and eviction prevention, versus crisis response once the veteran has already become homeless?
Ms. McKnight: Thank you for the question. I can speak to the broader perspective, and then I might turn to the department for the specifics of percentages.
Aa veteran population, it is made up of a number of different individuals with unique and diverse experiences. Each individual’s lived experiences are going to be different, and as such, we need to be able to respond to the varying factors that will contribute to an individual’s experience. That is why a lot of our emphasis is placed on the wraparound supports that support an individual with mental health, with access to housing and with access to financial literacy programs. It’s bringing all of these collaborating factors together to address all of it.
You mentioned specifically about a veteran who is at imminent risk of homelessness. We do have the Veterans Emergency Fund, which is a fund that can be accessed immediately, directly to respond to an imminent — we need to pay our bill before the end of the month so that we make rent. So we have a program specifically in place, and I would turn to the department to give you more specifics on that.
Mitch Freeman, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Planning and Performance, Veterans Affairs Canada: Thank you, minister.
I would highlight a couple of things. The first is not really a program per se but a service around case management and the transition process. When we talk about preventative and making sure that as military members exit the military and become a client of Veterans Affairs Canada, there is a robust transition process to ensure that they have all the services and benefits that they need, whether that is applications through Veterans Affairs Canada, or in fact, to prevent the homelessness-type situation. That’s the first aspect.
The second aspect, to the minister’s point, is that we have a veterans emergency benefit. It’s called the Veterans Emergency Fund, and it is there for any veteran who is in crisis financially. In 2025-26, that fund expended approximately $1.6 million, and about 15% of that was directed towards clients who were at risk of homelessness.
Senator McNair: To both ministers and officials, thank you for being here today. We appreciate your attendance. My question is for Minister McKnight.
In response to the 2019 Commons Committee on Veterans Affairs, or ACVA, report on veteran homelessness, Veterans Affairs Canada committed to eliminate chronic homelessness in Canada, and in particular, to ensure that every veteran has a place to call home. You touched on this in your opening comments. I take it that zero homelessness is still the target of the VHP, but I’m curious as to why your Departmental Plan for 2026-27 lists a target of less than 0.3% of clients experiencing or at risk of homelessness when the actual result you report for 2024-25 was only 0.2%.
Ms. McKnight: Thank you very much for the question. The goal is still zero, no homeless veterans. That will always be the goal that we are working towards.
I also recognize that with individuals who are experiencing homelessness, it can change day to day. Somebody could be at a shelter tonight, and they might have some temporary housing next week, but that could change. So I think it’s a reflection that it is moving based on the individual veteran experience. However, the goal is to ultimately ensure that all veterans have access to stable housing.
Senator McNair: It does seem unusual, though, to set a target below the actual.
Ms. McKnight: We’re continuing to address this and to respond to it, but we acknowledge that, as I said, it’s a fluctuating circumstance.
Senator McNair: A previous witness at the subcommittee recommended that VAC take over responsibility for the housing and security of veterans, as is done in the United States, as you know, and in South Africa.
The witness said:
. . . veterans have very specific barriers and needs as they relate to housing, and we believe that VAC, better than any other governmental agency, is best positioned to understand those needs and address them. . . .
Is this a feasible option, and if not, how feasible is it to implement at least a single point of contact for homelessness at VAC?
Ms. McKnight: Veterans Affairs has a lot of expertise when it comes to working with veterans and to responding to their needs, as well as looking at their unique and individual experiences from their service. That work is also supported by the expertise in departments such as Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, and we continue to work together to review the program to make modifications, adjustments and improvements to respond to the needs, and to lay out a path forward. We will continue to improve as we meet the needs of veterans.
Senator McNair: What about the possibility of having a single point of contact for homelessness within VAC? Mr. Freeman, maybe you want to respond.
Mr. Freeman: Thank you so much.
From a VAC point of view, a single point of contact from a policy point of view is certainly through my organization but, boots on the ground, we have distributed offices across the country. Each has a point of contact for homelessness. Each community has a very good relationship with the organizations and with the local VAC office, and there is a single individual in each office allocated to be that point of reference for homelessness. That person builds that relationship with the community organizations so that when a community organization identifies a veteran, they can contact us through that point of contact, in reference to the VHP program, within hours or a short period, to ensure the veteran has access to stable housing and wraparound services.
In parallel to that, that single point of contact also brings into the Veterans Affairs Canada benefits grid around disability benefits, disability management, treatment benefits for those conditions and perhaps rehabilitation, financial security or even the Veterans Emergency Fund, should that be the particular requirement for an at-risk-of-homelessness veteran as opposed to direct.
Across the country, in all of our 30-odd locations, there are single points at each one for that type of service.
Senator Muggli: Thank you both for being here today. It is greatly appreciated.
I want to talk about veterans who are living rough, on the street, homeless. One thing I know — and, full disclosure, my background is in mental health and addictions — through my own work is that it takes a lot of time to build trust with people who are in that situation.
I’m wondering if you support any models that support homeless veterans with harm reduction, including alcohol-management programs — programs that are the first step to trying to build trust with veterans prior to maybe entering a substance-use treatment program, et cetera.
I’ll ask both of you. Minister McKnight, perhaps you can start.
Ms. McKnight: Certainly.
It’s a very specific question, and I do feel that my department would be best to answer that, if that’s okay.
Mr. Freeman: Thank you so much.
I’ll speak in two aspects — certainly from a VHP and wraparound services point of view — because there are two aspects to this, from my point of view.
The first is that those veterans who are clients of Veterans Affairs Canada and that case-management service I spoke about earlier — it’s really there to deal with complex needs, as you are articulating, and to build trust with that particular client so they then feel comfortable engaging in those types of services. So, if a veteran comes to Veterans Affairs Canada, that case‑management service is there and available to build trust and make sure the veteran can then be transitioned to the VHP program to provide the rent supplement and wraparound service of homelessness.
Senator Muggli: With all due respect, I don’t think these veterans are coming to Veterans Affairs. I’m wondering about you going to them and providing harm-reduction services to initiate that trust relationship.
We did hear from a program that was out on the streets, literally looking for veterans and trying to help support them. I assume they are, hopefully, funded by you, but they are not offering specific harm-reduction housing — so with a manage-alcohol program or are people permitted to use substances in any of these homes and then build trust through the wraparound? Case management is about starting where the client is at.
Mr. Robertson: I’m happy to jump in, senator.
I would flag two things, one being that all efforts to find stable housing as a first pillar of support for those who are living rough is obviously a priority with the Reaching Home program. It exists to make sure we can provide that very first shelter that is transitional or supportive house, and those supports are critical, but the Reaching Home program is where we do that work.
Janet can probably speak to some details of how those interventions happen most successfully.
Janet Goulding, Assistant Deputy Minister, Homelessness and Housing Program Sector, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada: Thank you for the question.
I would add that, as part of the VHP program being run through HICC, we encourage all recipients who are providing service through the VHP program to reach out to their Reaching Home counterparts. Reaching Home has a focused effort around coordinating access, meeting clients where they’re at and making sure the services that are available in the community are available to all who need them, including veterans.
There are many communities that have very successful, for example, alcohol-management harm-reduction programs that would receive funding support through the community entities that are receiving funding from Reaching Home.
Senator Muggli: So, you would be funding entities that may provide harm-reduction living arrangements. Okay, thank you.
In terms of the case managers, as we know, there have been a lot of cuts to all programs to try to bring ourselves in alignment with the amount of money we have to spend, have there been cuts to the case management service with Veterans Affairs?
Ms. McKnight: Thank you senator.
I will answer that, but I wanted to circle back to one thing on your first question. When we were talking about if the individuals are going out into community to engage, through the Veteran and Family Well-being Fund, the funding that we offer to community organizations, there are elements of that as part of some of those programs that are funded. I wanted to circle back: That’s another avenue of that outreach.
Senator Muggli: Do you know any communities in which that service would be delivered?
Ms. McKnight: I do not have that with me right now.
In response to your question about case management, in Veterans Affairs Canada, there have been no cuts to benefits or services offered to veterans, and those include services that come from case management.
Senator Muggli: What about increases?
Ms. McKnight: There has been a budget investment in Veterans Affairs Canada over the next four-year period that will be an investment in service modernization. Part of it will be going into IT infrastructure, and that’s going to allow us to bring our processes along and essentially open up capacity for our case management and our veteran services team to be able to engage more. We’re creating more capacity by removing some of the administrative things that take up time, so the efficiencies, in turn, will allow for more investment in the individuals.
Senator Busson: I’d like to thank you both for being here and thank you for your commitment to work with homelessness.
You just have to step outside this building to see the problem. We’re all from British Columbia, and it’s the same in our home province; it’s a huge problem. Sadly, veterans are a big part of it.
Full disclosure: I’m a veteran. I’m hoping that my question doesn’t trigger any conflict of interest. I don’t think does.
I’m very concerned about the government’s recent decision to cancel the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires’ right-of-refusal contract. The Corps of Commissionaires, for almost 100 years, has been a source of dignified work for veterans and as of late, specifically, for veterans at risk of homelessness, people who choose that kind of work. It’s dignified work, but it’s just above minimum wage, and they employ, in Canada, upwards of 2,000 people. There is a problem with the 30-year-old contract they’ve been working under.
I am wondering, Minister McKnight, if there might be an opportunity to review that process, given that the decision was made without consulting with the Corps of Commissionaires or giving them any opportunity to rewrite or address that contract to be able to meet the circumstances of today.
Ms. McKnight: Again, senator, thank you for the question. As I stated at the beginning, my priorities are with the veterans at the core of the work that I’m doing and with being able to deliver benefits and services that meet the needs of veterans. This includes addressing barriers to meaningful employment that might exist for veterans.
You mentioned the arrangement with the Corps of Commissionaires. That’s the right-of-first-refusal policy that was implemented in 1945. That met a need at that time. As governments have evolved and as our country has evolved, so, too, must our policies. That particular policy no longer meets the goals for veteran employment because the veterans who are being released today are highly skilled, highly trained in trades, which are highly in demand.
There is a range of opportunities. As we move forward with the National Veterans Employment Strategy to bring together a variety or an array of opportunities for veterans in employment, one of these opportunities will be guard services, in addition to a variety of others. It is about finding the employment that best meets the need of the veteran where they are today.
With the right-of-first-refusal policy, that has been extended for one year, and then, we will transition to a competitive process for guard services, which the Corps of Commissionaires, I anticipate, will be an active participant in. I believe they’ll also be an active participant as we are building out the National Veterans Employment Strategy to offer an array of options to veterans.
Senator Busson: If I may follow up, the information I have is that the Corps of Commissionaires contract is one that, as you say, is older, but they would be anxious to meet with your department to help address how that contract takes place. The information I have is that the company that will now take that contract has a huge contract with Homeland Security and works with ICE detention centres. I don’t think that’s the kind of company that we need to have working in Canada.
Ms. McKnight: I would like to offer a bit of clarification. The right of first refusal is a policy that gave first-right options to the Corps of Commissionaires versus a contract. You’ve mentioned about the contract switching to another provider. This is a change to the policy, which will move to a competitive process for reviewing contracts for the guard services procurement. It is not just that we’re switching to a different contract. We’re moving to the competitive process. As I said, the Corps of Commissionaires, I anticipate, will be active participants in that contract procurement process.
Senator Busson: Sadly, I just feel that because veterans are a part of that, they should have special treatment as part of our members of service, but I will leave it with you. Thank you.
Senator Ross: Thank you for being here today. I am subbing in for Senator Rebecca Patterson. I have passed along both of your comments to her already. She was disappointed to not be able to be here.
I’m interested in knowing any progress that has been made between the Canadian Armed Forces, the RCMP and Veterans Affairs Canada in identifying those who are being released from service who are at risk of homelessness. I am wondering if the release questionnaires have introduced any new questions that look for self-declared risk factors, such as PTSD, addictions and financial insecurity, just to have more predictability for those who may be experiencing homelessness in the future.
Ms. McKnight: Certainly. Continuing to work with individuals as they are releasing is part of an ongoing process of engagement in the transition process, and it’s part of how we best support veterans through that process as they are exiting the Canadian Armed Forces and moving into civilian life. This is an ongoing process that we will be able to continue to improve. There are some tools that will help to inform some of that information you are inquiring about. As it relates to a specific survey, I would turn to the department to speak more about that.
Mr. Freeman: Thank you, minister. From a transition point of view, it is always evolving with the information we know. Over the last couple of years, from the Veteran Homelessness Program, or VHP, point of view, we’re starting to see that the transition process is being moulded to help identify. What we do know is that most homelessness occurs multiple years after release. It is not something that occurs in the first one or two years upon release but 5 or 10 years post-release. We are working through the process to make sure we are tracking the members appropriately so that upstream we can circumvent that kind of item. It’s also why there’s a capacity stream from a research point of view in VHP to understand more about the homeless population from a veteran cohort point of view.
I would like to reiterate the minister’s comment that the process is always evolving based on the latest data we have. I don’t know if it will ever be complete. It will always continue to evolve, but over the last number of years, it has evolved with homelessness in mind.
Senator Ross: This question is for Minister Robertson with regard to the $1.3 million that has been provided to the Human Development Council for a veteran connector in Saint John, Fredericton and Moncton. Since I’m from New Brunswick, that’s important to me. This money is to provide housing assistance, rent supplements and mental health supports. How many veterans have actually been supported? How much of that $1.3 million has gone directly to veterans in terms of housing, rent supplements and mental health supports? How many of our New Brunswick unhoused vets have actually received housing through this connector program?
Mr. Robertson: Thank you for your question, senator. We are digging to see what data we have here. For veterans who served in New Brunswick, 69 is the number of veterans who have received rent supplements. That is a total of $14,324 to veterans in New Brunswick. Did you have an additional question?
Senator Ross: There’s a total amount of $1.3 million, and I wondered how much of the $1.3 million, and you are telling me it was $14,423.
Mr. Robertson: That was per person.
Senator Ross: That makes more sense.
Ms. Goulding: That was per person. That was the total number of veterans served, but we can get you those detailed numbers for New Brunswick.
The Chair: Before we proceed to second round, I have a question. Thank you to the ministers and ADMs for being in attendance. My question is for Minister Robertson. Budget 2025 identifies more than $4 billion in savings for Veterans Affairs Canada but offers little clarity on where those reductions will occur beyond changes to medical cannabis reimbursements. Both ministers spoke to the good work and investments into holistic care for veterans.
What do these cuts actually mean for veterans, particularly those waiting on disability benefits, those managing chronic pain and PTSD, and those in remote and northern communities? You can guarantee that no veteran will see a reduction in the care, benefits or timely access they depend on?
Mr. Robertson: Thank you, Madam Chair. I think Minister McKnight can speak more specifically on the Veterans Affairs budget.
Ms. McKnight: Thank you, chair. As I said at the beginning, there are no cuts to benefits and services for which veterans are eligible. You mentioned the cannabis for medical purposes program. This is an adjustment to the rate of reimbursement for cannabis to reflect the market rate. The $4.23 billion is the accrued savings over the lifetime of the program. The program hasn’t changed in that veterans still have access to the daily per‑gram limit that was previously in place and who can qualify for this program. There is no change to that. It is an adjustment to the rate of reimbursement and the accrued savings over the long term.
In fact, going back to one of the points we discussed earlier, Veterans Affairs Canada actually received an investment with Budget 2025 of the $184.9 million and also, significantly, the $40.1 million ongoing, which are investments that will allow us to enhance our service delivery and modernization to be able to continue meeting the needs of veterans in a timely and responsive manner.
The Chair: Can I just clarify that you said the complete cut, the $4 billion, is specifically for marijuana? Is that what you were saying?
Ms. McKnight: Yes. It is the adjustment from $8.60 per gram to $6 per gram. It is the accrued savings of that adjustment over the lifetime of the program. Again, it is not a cut in the sense that we are not taking away the benefit or the eligibility for the benefit. It is an adjustment to the rate of reimbursement to align with the market rate.
The Chair: Can you provide something to us in writing on that, please?
Ms. McKnight: We can certainly come back, yes.
Senator McNair: My question is for Minister Robertson. According to the latest homelessness data snapshot on chronic homelessness, veterans are slightly overrepresented, as you know, among those experiencing chronic homelessness; it is 27.5% versus 24.6% of non-veterans. The National Housing Strategy website further notes that chronic homelessness among shelter users increased by 34% between 2016 and 2024.
Given the rise in the chronically homeless population, how optimistic are you about meeting your target for reducing chronic homelessness by 50% on or before March 2028 and why?
Mr. Robertson: Thank you, senator, for the question. First and foremost, I share your concerns. Everyone around the country has a heightened concern about the homelessness crisis that we are in. The data reflected, since the chronic homelessness commitment was made, does not reflect progress.
Reaching Home continues at pace as our primary approach to funding the supports. From the prevention side with rent supplements to the program that we’ve just launched through Build Canada Homes for supportive and transitional housing, that’s the next big piece that was not factored into the previous commitments. In Budget 2025, we allocated $13 billion to Build Canada Homes and $1 billion of that is targeted for sportive and transitional housing. We’ve had strong consensus across the support networks and organizations that are doing the work on homelessness that the lack of supportive and transitional housing has been a big part of the reason why we have not seen chronic homelessness reduced.
We are negotiating with the provinces and territories right now to roll out the supportive and transitional housing. We rely on the provinces and territories to fund the wraparound supports and the health and social services that are critical to ensure people are stable in transitional and sportive housing. We’re providing the capital for that, and that’s thousands of homes that will be available in the months ahead.
We have a couple thousand now confirmed with about six provinces and territories. We are working across the country to deliver that piece, which will make a measurable difference. With the robust data that now comes back and allows us to track this, we are looking at Reaching Home going forward and where else we make strategic investments to turn the tide on this because we’re facing an extraordinary challenge. It is the tip of the iceberg from decades of under-investment in supportive, transitional and social housing and veterans’ homelessness support. That whole spectrum of support has been inadequate for decades and we are gearing up significantly. Tracking the data very closely and this additional $1 billion to supportive and transitional housing will make a significant difference in turning the tide.
Senator Muggli: My question is about Reaching Home. I’ve understood from community partners that the funding model can be problematic. There are a lot of community-based organizations that received the funding and have difficulty retaining good employees because they have to apply every year for the funding. That model just doesn’t work in this kind of work. I’m wondering if multi-year funding is an option.
Mr. Robertson: Thank you for the question, senator.
Reaching Home is fully funded for just under two more years. We are going into a broad engagement on the National Housing Strategy — which Reaching Home is a part of — in the months ahead. I have certainly heard — and across the department — these concerns about longer-term funding and making sure there is more stability for the organizations that are delivering that support. We have 22 months left in the National Housing Strategy and Reaching Home program. We are looking to have clarity on the extension of that or the next decade, effectively, as we go into the fall budget.
We want feedback from all the organizations on the details of how we would structure those funds. Over these next couple of months, we will be doing those engagements. We’ve already had some round table activity in the last month or two, and will be gearing that up significantly to make sure that we are making the right adjustments to deliver more effectively and to turn the corner on the crisis that we face.
Senator Muggli: This is a problem you are already aware of so you can probably plan for it now without having hearings or consultations.
Minister McKnight, I’m wondering about the approach or efforts made to offer culturally responsive services, in particular, to First Nations, Inuit and Métis People who are veterans.
Ms. McKnight: Thank you very much. That is something I’ve mentioned. We talk about veterans as a whole, but yet they are made up of so many groups of individuals who have different needs and — specifically, as you mentioned — individuals who are First Nations, Inuit and Métis. That is part of the ongoing efforts that we have.
We do have an Indigenous veterans team that does a lot of that outreach in the community by visiting the communities. I had the opportunity to speak with some of the VAC members who had been touring up in the territories to do that on-the-ground outreach and engagement. It is something that is core to what we are doing.
Senator Muggli: Can I just ask are there people [Technical difficulties] First Nations, Inuit or Métis people?
Ms. McKnight: I would turn to my department to speak specifically to that.
Senator Muggli: I think that would be the most culturally responsive way, but yes.
Mr. Freeman: Absolutely, the majority of our Indigenous veterans group is made up of Indigenous employees. I would also highlight that we have agreement with our colleagues at Indigenous Services Canada to make sure that appropriately and culturally aware services are also being offered, above and beyond the meeting and the establishment of the relationship. But if someone needs a service done by a more culturally aware organization, we have that agreement in place as well.
Senator Muggli: Do you have any examples you would like to share?
Mr. Freeman: For example, if an Indigenous veteran approaches us, and the right answer to the situation is a service provided by an Indigenous group across the country, we have the ability to do that, whereas historically, all our treatment benefits have been around a Western medicine model. Now we have the ability to say, set that aside, and if the appropriate answer is to go to a Sweat Lodge or other Indigenous service, we have the ability do that.
Senator Muggli: Thank you.
Senator Ross: Given that veterans are overrepresented in homelessness and female veterans are overrepresented in veteran homelessness, can you comment on any housing programs specifically targeted toward women, and what the uptake has been on that? How many women have actually accessed the programs?
Mr. Robertson: Thank you, senator. I can start on that. My assistant deputy minister can then speak to some of the details.
Within funding, and the women’s shelter issue in particular, we’ve had concerns raised about women’s shelters qualifying for the supportive and transitional housing funding that is now at Build Canada Homes. We have been clarifying that many women’s shelters actually operate as transitional or supportive housing providers. They use the term “shelter” quite loosely.
There was concern in recent months about available funding that would serve women veterans who are homeless, in particular. We’ve confirmed that that those women’s shelters are eligible if they are providing housing services. That is a specific need that we are addressing. There was some concern and confusion about what qualifies, but that enables a number of women’s shelters to dramatically increase their beds, homes or whatever they are providing. That’s a component of this. Over 15,000 shelter spaces and transitional homes have been created or repaired as part of the National Housing Strategy. We’ve seen a big uptick in what’s available.
Ms. Goulding, do you have anything further to add?
Ms. Goulding: Thank you, minister. Coming back to the Veteran Homelessness Program, I would like to add that, under the Capacity Building Stream, we recognize that there are knowledge gaps in terms of how best to serve women veterans. We have two projects that we are funding under that stream.
The Lawson Research Institute is collecting data and analyzing information on how to inform gender-sensitive strategies to serve women veterans experiencing homelessness. It is a four-year project being funded under our program. Second, we are also funding an organization called The Pepper Pod, which is testing solutions to refer women veterans to wraparound supports and support their transition from military service into other employment. It is a really important area where we are looking to understand better how we can target our services to support women veterans.
Senator Ross: Those two programs are part of the research stream and are just over $2 million in total. Do you anticipate that that funding will be ongoing or is this a one-time deal? How long will it last?
Ms. Goulding: Right now, that funding is part of the five-year Veteran Homelessness Program that has been funded, and that’s something we will look at going forward as we look at the possible renewal of the program.
Senator Ross: Thank you very much.
Senator Ince: My question is for Minister McKnight. How does Veterans Affairs identify veterans experiencing hidden homelessness, such as couch surfing, living in vehicles or staying in encampments, who may never appear in shelter-based data?
Ms. McKnight: Thank you very much for that. I would start by answering that one of the things I was not aware of coming into this file, which I thought was really important, is that I came in with the assumption that when someone is released from the Canadian Armed Forces, they were automatically connected with Veterans Affairs Canada. That’s not the case. When an individual is released, they then choose to register with Veterans Affairs Canada.
This relates directly to your question in that there is a grouping of veterans out there that we don’t know about. As you say, there is that sort of “hidden homelessness” that is couch surfing or something. We don’t know those individuals. Working with those who have identified themselves, hidden homelessness is challenging because they do not appear at some of the traditional areas where we might be connecting with them, such as a shelter, a soup kitchen or a food kitchen.
It becomes about outreach through some of the wraparound supports, education and engagement within the community and within the non-profit supportive community. This is something that will continue to be an ongoing process that we can continue to evolve and grow as we do that.
There is a great opportunity for us to keep building that. But you are correct in identifying that there is a population that will be more difficult for us to connect with. We need to keep looking for solutions on that.
The Chair: Minister McKnight, this is a follow-up to the changes to the medical cannabis reimbursements. First of all, can you explain in detail how the government arrived at the $4‑billion figure? Does this not also mean that the reimbursement cap for medical cannabis was reduced, which means that veterans now have to pay more out of pocket? They may have to reduce usage, switch products or seek alternative treatments that may not work effectively or be safe for them to use. Minister, if the projected savings are being achieved by lowering reimbursement rates for medical cannabis, is it not accurate to say that veterans themselves are now expected to absorb those costs, either financially, medically or both?
Senator Busson: My question was triggered by Senator Ross’s question about women’s homelessness. Minister McKnight, I know you are very supportive of women veterans, and you have been supporting a number of groups of women veterans that interact with your department. Are there any special initiatives for women’s homelessness within your department?
The Chair: If you could please provide a written response to those last two questions, we would appreciate it. This brings us to the end of today’s meeting. I extend our sincere thanks to Minister McKnight, Minister Robertson, Mr. Freeman and Ms. Goulding for taking time to be with us today. Our next meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 27 at 12 p.m. in this same room. I wish everyone a good afternoon.
(The committee adjourned.)