ACVA Committee Meeting
Notices of Meeting include information about the subject matter to be examined by the committee and date, time and place of the meeting, as well as a list of any witnesses scheduled to appear. The Evidence is the edited and revised transcript of what is said before a committee. The Minutes of Proceedings are the official record of the business conducted by the committee at a sitting.
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Minutes of Proceedings
Paul Guindon and Debbie Lowther made statements and, with Harry Harsch, answered questions.
At 7:31 p.m., the sitting was suspended.
At 7:41 p.m., the sitting resumed.
Carolyn Hughes made a statement and answered questions.
Blake Richards gave notice of the following motion:
That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the committee order that Veterans Affairs Canada provide, and if necessary, create, a transcript of the recorded telephone conversation of Thursday, July 21, 2022 (providing for the redaction of any personal information that would identify a veteran) referred to in the document referred to on page 230 of the documents submitted to the committee on Thursday, January 26, 2023.
Blake Richards moved, — That the committee:
- recognize that Veterans Affairs Canada did not provide all the documents ordered according to the following motion, adopted on Monday, December 12, 2022:
"That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the committee order:
- that all briefing notes, memos, emails, and text or other electronic messages from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) officials prepared for or sent to the Minister of Veterans Affairs regarding Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), including related to the internal investigation into the matter, be provided to the committee within 45 days of the adoption of this motion;
- that all internal memos, emails, and documents distributed by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) to Veterans Service Agents and Case Workers regarding the department’s policy on discussing Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) between Tuesday, January 1, 2019, and Wednesday, December 7, 2022 be provided to the committee within 45 days of the adoption of this motion.”;
- demand that all briefing notes, memos, emails, and text or other electronic messages from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) officials prepared for or sent to the Minister of Veterans Affairs regarding Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), including related to the internal investigation into the matter, be provided to the committee within seven calendar days of the adoption of this motion.
Debate arose thereon.
Sean Casey moved, — That the motion be amended:
- by replacing the words “That the committee: Recognize that Veterans Affairs Canada did not provide all the documents ordered according to the following motion, adopted on December 12, 2022: “ with the words : “Whereas Veterans Affairs Canada had reason to believe that the entire request for documents made by the committee in its motion of Monday, December 12, 2022 was subject to the date range contain in paragraph (b) of the motion, specifically Tuesday, January 1, 2019 to Wednesday, December 7, 2022,”;
- by deleting the words “That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(1)(a), the committee order: a. That all briefing notes, memos, emails, and text or other electronic messages from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) officials prepared for or sent to the Minister of Veterans Affairs regarding Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), including related to the internal investigation into the matter, be provided to the committee within 45 days of the adoption of this motion. b. That all internal memos, emails, and documents distributed by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) to Veterans Service Agents and Case Workers regarding the department’s policy on discussing Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) between Tuesday, January 1, 2019, and Wednesday, December 7, 2022, be provided to the committee within 45 days of the adoption of this motion.”;
- by replacing the words “(b) Demand” with the words “the committee order”.
After debate, the question was put on the amendment of Sean Casey and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Rachel Blaney, Sean Casey, Luc Desilets, Terry Dowdall, Wilson Miao, Blake Richards, Churence Rogers, Darrell Samson, Fraser Tolmie, Rechie Valdez, Cathay Wagantall — 11;
NAYS: — 0.
The question was put on the motion, as amended, and it was agreed to on the following recorded division:
YEAS: Rachel Blaney, Sean Casey, Luc Desilets, Terry Dowdall, Wilson Miao, Blake Richards, Churence Rogers, Darrell Samson, Fraser Tolmie, Rechie Valdez, Cathay Wagantall — 11;
NAYS: — 0.
The motion, as amended, read as follows:
Whereas Veterans Affairs Canada had reasons to believe that the entire request for documents made by the committee in its motion of Monday, December 12, 2022, was subject to the date range contain in paragraph (b) of the motion, specifically Tuesday, January 1, 2019 to Wednesday, December 7, 2022, the committee order that all briefing notes, memos, emails, and text or other electronic messages from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) officials prepared for or sent to the Minister of Veterans Affairs regarding Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), including related to the internal investigation into the matter, be provided to the committee within seven calendar days of the adoption of this motion.
It was agreed, — That the document entitled Speaking Notes, presented to the committee by Gordon MacEachern, be appended to today’s Evidence.
It was agreed, — That the following witness: National Association of Career Colleges be invited to appear in relation to the study on National Strategy for Veterans Employment After Service.
At 8:45 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.