ACVA Committee Meeting

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Minutes of Proceedings

Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA)

44th Parliament, 1st Session

Meeting 111

Monday, October 28, 2024, 3:31 p.m. to 5:37 p.m.

Room 410, Wellington Building, 197 Sparks Street

Webcast

Presiding

Emmanuel Dubourg, Chair (Liberal)

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Members of the Committee present

Liberal

Conservative

Bloc Québécois

Luc Desilets

NDP

Rachel Blaney

In attendance

Library of Parliament

• Jean-Rodrigue Paré, Analyst

Recognition of Persian Gulf Veterans and Reviewing of: (a) the definition of “War”, “Wartime Service”, and “Special Duty Service“; and (b) the Difference, the Process of Determining, and Criteria for Veteran’s Benefits

Appearing

• Hon. Ginette Petitpas Taylor, P.C., M.P., Minister of Veterans Affairs

Witnesses

Department of Veterans Affairs

• Paul Ledwell, Deputy Minister

• Mitch Freeman, Director General, Policy and Research

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(2) and the motions adopted by the committee on Thursday, March 9, 2023, and on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, the committee resumed its study of recognition of Persian Gulf Veterans and reviewing of: (a) the definition of “war”, “wartime service”, and “special duty service“; and (b) the difference, the process of determining, and criteria for Veteran’s benefits.

Ginette Petitpas Taylor made a statement and, with Paul Ledwell, answered questions.

At 4:34 p.m., the meeting was suspended.

At 4:42 p.m., the meeting resumed in camera.

Committee Business

The committee proceeded to the consideration of matters related to committee business.

It was agreed, — That the proposed supplementary budget in the amount of $2,500, for the study of the recognition of Persian Gulf Veterans and reviewing of: (a) the definition of “war”, “wartime service”, and “special duty service”; and (b) the difference, the process of determining, and criteria for Veteran’s benefits, be adopted.

It was agreed, — That the committee’s next study be on the experience of Indigenous Veterans and Black Veterans pursuant to the motion adopted on Monday, January 29, 2024.

It was agreed, — That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a comprehensive study of the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund (VFWF), reviewing (a) the criteria by which organizations are awarded resources by the Fund, (b) Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC)’s mechanisms for evaluating funding recipients’ performance, and (c) Veterans’ involvement in approving or assessing programs funded by the VFWF; that the committee devote a minimum of 8 hours of witness testimony on this study; that the committee call upon officials from VAC, including the Minister of Veterans Affairs, to testify; and that the committee report its comprehensive findings and recommendations to the House and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

At 5:37 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Marie-Hélène Sauvé

Clerk of the committee