QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Veterans Affairs
Transition to Civilian Life
October 23, 2025
Welcome, minister.
Minister, on January 2, 2017, just down the road from my home, Lionel Desmond, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, shot his wife, Shanna; their 10-year-old daughter, Aaliyah; and his mother, Brenda, in Upper Big Tracadie. He then took his own life.
These tragedies led, as you know, to the Desmond Fatality Inquiry, which released its report in 2024 with recommendations for the governments of both Nova Scotia and Canada.
We’re told an internal file review by Veterans Affairs led to changes in case management, transition services in cooperation with the CAF and ensuring front-line staff are equipped to deal with domestic violence and have trauma-informed training.
Minister, could you update us on the status of the implementation of those changes? Are veterans being assigned case workers and receiving the care and services they need in their transition from the CAF?
First, let me acknowledge the tragedy that occurred and the impact it has for a family, for a community, and that continues.
You made reference to the trauma-informed care approach. The team at Veterans Affairs, for example, the House of Commons Veterans Affairs Committee, myself — trauma-informed care is something we all receive training in as we are engaging with veterans and with family members and those connected to veterans.
Progress is being made to ensure that training is incorporated, and we continue to do so.
I hope to have a little more detail on the specifics of those recommendations, but thank you for that.
Veterans Affairs Canada is the leading coordinating entity at the federal level on this matter, the inquiry matter, and our member of the Government of Nova Scotia’s working group. Earlier this year, front-line health care and social workers who gave evidence at the Desmond Fatality Inquiry said there’s a lack of transparency of where and how work is being done to address the inquiry recommendations.
How are you working with the province to ensure that these recommendations are being addressed in a timely manner, including the accessibility of services to African Nova Scotians?
We continue to support veterans and to make sure that care is available. One of the steps that has been implemented, as it relates to mental health supports, is that a veteran may receive up to two years of coverage while they have paperwork pending on a disability case. We ensure mental health supports are available immediately, without barriers. That is one of the steps in place to make sure we are able to provide that care right away.
In terms of more specific steps, I would be happy to follow up at another time.
