QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Veterans Affairs
Women Veterans
February 15, 2024
Thank you, minister. My question is going to focus on research for veterans who are women. You’ll notice that I didn’t say “women veterans” because we don’t say “men veterans,” so it’s veterans who are women. Dr. Maya Eichler from Mount Saint Vincent University has recently completed a scoping report on the needs of women veterans. She came out with a clear call to develop a strategic life cycle of research from their service in the Canadian Armed Forces through to being veterans together. Are you aware of this report, and, if so, what do you plan to do to address the findings?
I am aware of the report. We certainly recognize that the experiences of men and women within the military, and as they transition out, are very different. Their needs are very different as well. Making sure that all policies, services and programs have a gender-based analysis lens within our department is a top priority for me. Having been the former chairperson of the New Brunswick Advisory Council on the Status of Women, when it comes to GBA Plus, it is something that I know very well. As a department, it is not just lip service. We have to make sure that work is done in order to ensure that our veterans, either men or women, receive the treatment that they need. More research needs to be done within this area.
We certainly recognize that the injuries that both men and women can sustain — as a result of the work that they’ve done — can be very different. Once again, the department has to make sure that those needs are met when it comes to those whom we serve.
I will come back to GBA Plus in a future question. We know you’ve started the working group within the department. I’m looking at women’s health specifically. I’d like to know where we are with the progress of the committee and, in particular, I’m going to go back to this: Without data, we know nothing. Where are we with the progress on developing a research program for women veterans?
Once again, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done with respect to that area. I’m certainly not going to say that everything is perfect and all under way, but we certainly recognize that there is a real need to make sure we have that clear data. If we want to effect change, we have to effect change with the data that supports it. Again, that is work that we continue to do with respect to the officials within the department. The officials have certainly recognized that the minister is very eager, and we certainly want to see results in this area.
