Speech (House debate)

{
    "time": "2014-01-30 10:10:00",
    "attribution": {
        "en": "Mr. Sylvain Chicoine (Ch\u00e2teauguay\u2014Saint-Constant, NDP)",
        "fr": "M. Sylvain Chicoine (Ch\u00e2teauguay\u2014Saint-Constant, NPD)"
    },
    "content": {
        "en": "<p class=\"procedural\" data-HoCid=\"3553352\"> moved:</p>\n<blockquote><p data-HoCid=\"3553353\" data-originallang=\"fr\">That, in the opinion of the House, the men and women who bravely serve Canada in the armed forces should be able to count on the government for support in their time of need, and that the government should demonstrate this support by (<em>a</em>) immediately addressing the mental health crisis facing Canadian soldiers and veterans by hiring appropriate mental health professionals; (<em>b</em>) reversing its decision to close veterans' offices; and (<em>c</em>) prioritizing and concluding the over 50 outstanding boards of inquiry on military suicides so that grieving families may have answers and closure.</p>\n</blockquote><p data-HoCid=\"3553354\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Mr. Speaker, I have the tremendous honour and great pleasure of rising in the House to move an important motion that will allow us to address some serious issues that many veterans across Canada will face as a result of the closure of Veterans Affairs offices. I am also honoured to be sharing my time with the hon. member for <a data-HoCid=\"170509\" href=\"/politicians/peter-stoffer/\" title=\"Peter Stoffer\">Sackville\u2014Eastern Shore</a>. In fact, I would like commend him for all of the hard work he does on the issues facing our veterans. He has been doing this work passionately for many years now, and I must commend him for it.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553355\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Getting back to the motion, tomorrow will be the last day of operation for several Veterans Affairs Canada offices. The affected offices are located in Corner Brook, Newfoundland; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Thunder Bay and Windsor, Ontario; Brandon, Manitoba; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; and Kelowna, British Columbia. These seven offices will close tomorrow\u2014in addition to the Prince George office, which has already closed\u2014if the government does not reverse its decision.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553356\" data-originallang=\"fr\">These looming closures, which are happening because the Conservatives do not comprehend the importance of the services offered by the Veterans Affairs Canada offices, will affect nearly 20,000 veterans. They will no longer have access to in-person services with a case manager who is familiar with the services offered by Service Canada and who can help them take advantage of the services they are entitled to. For example, they can have their compensation claims filled out. These services are important to veterans, yet they are having to deal with a government that does not understand that at all. The government does not respect them. Closing these offices will force veterans to travel more than 100 kilometres to meet with a case manager. That means five or six hours of driving in many cases.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553357\" data-originallang=\"fr\">For these veterans, having access to in-person services is crucial because they do not necessarily know about all the compensation options and services they are entitled to. Government propaganda is seeking to appease the veterans because they are truly frustrated. They are being told that Service Canada will open 662 offices and will offer them services, but that is not the case. In fact, these offices will only give them access to a computer\u2014when the vast majority of them already have one at home\u2014and a telephone number to call for information.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553358\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Contrary to what the government is saying, Service Canada will not offer any services to veterans. That will be tragic for the some 18,000 veterans affected by the closure of these offices. It needs to be said.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553359\" data-originallang=\"fr\">This motion is designed to tell the government that our veterans and soldiers have many issues and have lost faith in their government. This week, a group of veterans was welcomed\u2014that word is a bit strong considering they were snubbed\u2014by the <a data-HoCid=\"194615\" href=\"/politicians/julian-fantino/\" title=\"Julian Fantino\">Minister of Veterans Affairs</a>. He offered to meet with them but then did not even have the decency to show up. He arrived very late and lashed out at a veteran who did not agree with him about the importance of Veterans Affairs Canada offices. The minister's attitude towards those veterans is indicative of the government's insensitivity towards them.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553360\" data-originallang=\"fr\">The hon. member for <a data-HoCid=\"170509\" href=\"/politicians/peter-stoffer/\" title=\"Peter Stoffer\">Sackville\u2014Eastern Shore</a> has received thousands of emails from veterans and soldiers who are fed up with the way the government is treating them. I am sure he can elaborate on that.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553361\" data-originallang=\"fr\">There is no question people are angry about the way the government is treating veterans. We ask soldiers to fight for their country, and now they have to fight their own government to access the services and compensation they are entitled to. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553362\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Over the past few years, soldiers and veterans have launched several class action suits. There will be more in the future because the government is ignoring their needs. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553363\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Closing these offices is a big deal. There will no longer be access to case managers who understand the inner workings of Veterans Affairs Canada. The department is complicated and extremely hard to understand online. The government is telling veterans that they will no longer have access to a person who can tell them what they are entitled to and help them fill out the forms required to obtain those services. That access is being taken away, and they feel discouraged. Many of them will not get what they are entitled to. The whole thing is absolutely scandalous. The way this government is treating our veterans, the country's heroes, is completely unacceptable.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553364\" data-originallang=\"fr\">As I said, the attitude exhibited by the <a data-HoCid=\"194615\" href=\"/politicians/julian-fantino/\" title=\"Julian Fantino\">Minister of Veterans Affairs</a> this week is yet another example of how the government is abandoning our veterans. It is eliminating many services. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553365\" data-originallang=\"fr\">I will have more to say about the psychological services provided to veterans and the shortcomings in that area. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553366\" data-originallang=\"fr\">The government is making cuts to services that our soldiers and veterans are entitled to. I pointed the finger at the <a data-HoCid=\"194615\" href=\"/politicians/julian-fantino/\" title=\"Julian Fantino\">Minister of Veterans Affairs</a>, but ultimately, I think the Prime Minister's Office and the Treasury Board are the ones responsible. All they have been saying over the past few years is \u201ccut, cut, cut\u201d. They are like headless chickens, or maybe heartless ones, heartless when it comes to veterans. That is how the government treats our veterans. The government is taking away services and compensation they are entitled to. They are being forced to go to court to get what they have a right to. That is absolutely scandalous, and veterans no longer trust the government or the <a data-HoCid=\"194615\" href=\"/politicians/julian-fantino/\" title=\"Julian Fantino\">Minister of Veterans Affairs</a>.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553367\" data-originallang=\"fr\">The government is closing points of service. Veterans need to meet their case managers face to face for guidance, help and psychological support. Quite often veterans are injured and have a hard time getting the services they are entitled to. During a face-to-face meeting, the case manager might help the veteran fill out forms. This is extremely important. Nearly 20,000 veterans are being denied that service.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553368\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Not only does government propaganda suggest that the government is providing 500 points of service, but the Conservatives are saying that they have invested an additional $5 billion since coming to power. That is not true. It is more like $3.5 billion, or thereabouts, that was paid in benefits. Most of that money was additional benefits paid out to the very large number of soldiers returning from Afghanistan. It also includes the roughly $800 million settlement paid out in the class action suit filed by Mr. Manuge on behalf of veterans, a suit that the government lost. Not a lot of extra services are being provided. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553369\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Over the past few years, the Canadian Forces ombudsman has repeatedly pointed to the lack of mental health personnel to treat our soldiers and veterans. In 2003, the government announced that roughly 400 people would be assigned to that. For a few years now, we have been short at least 60 people to provide our veterans with mental health care. We have seen the crisis this has caused in the past few months. Our soldiers need psychological support, and this government is simply not doing enough.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553370\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Since my time is running out, let me offer some help to my colleagues affected by the closure. I encourage them to support this important motion and to tell the autocrats at the Prime Minister's Office and the Treasury Board that they are on the wrong track when it comes to our veterans. They are heading in the wrong direction.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553371\" data-originallang=\"fr\">I invite the members affected by these closures to tell the government that it is on the wrong track and ask it to reverse its decision. This is important for the thousands of veterans across the country.</p>",
        "fr": "<p data-HoCid=\"3553352\" data-originallang=\"fr\">propose:</p>\n<blockquote><p data-HoCid=\"3553353\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Que, de l\u2019avis de la Chambre, les hommes et les femmes qui servent leur pays avec bravoure au sein des Forces canadiennes devraient pouvoir compter sur le soutien du gouvernement lorsqu\u2019ils en ont besoin, et qu\u2019\u00e0 cet \u00e9gard, le gouvernement devrait <em>a</em>) s\u2019attaquer imm\u00e9diatement \u00e0 la crise que vivent les militaires et les anciens combattants canadiens, en engageant les professionnels de la sant\u00e9 mentale requis; <em>b</em>) annuler sa d\u00e9cision de fermer des bureaux de services aux anciens combattants; <em>c</em>) accorder la priorit\u00e9 au d\u00e9roulement et \u00e0 l\u2019aboutissement de plus de 50 commissions d\u2019enqu\u00eate sur des suicides de militaire, afin que les familles \u00e9plor\u00e9es puissent obtenir des r\u00e9ponses et faire leur deuil.</p>\n</blockquote><p data-HoCid=\"3553354\" data-originallang=\"fr\">\u2014 Monsieur le Pr\u00e9sident, j'ai l'immense honneur et l'infime plaisir de pr\u00e9senter \u00e0 la Chambre une importante motion qui permet de s'attaquer \u00e0 d'importants probl\u00e8mes que vivront plusieurs v\u00e9t\u00e9rans au pays \u00e0 la suite de la fermeture de bureaux du minist\u00e8re des Anciens Combattants. J'ai aussi l'honneur de partager mon temps de parole avec le d\u00e9put\u00e9 de <a data-HoCid=\"170509\" href=\"/politicians/peter-stoffer/\" title=\"Peter Stoffer\">Sackville\u2014Eastern Shore</a>. Par le fait m\u00eame, j'aimerais souligner son excellent travail en ce qui a trait aux probl\u00e8mes qui concernent les anciens combattants. Depuis plusieurs ann\u00e9es, il fait ce travail avec grande conviction et je me dois de le souligner. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553355\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Pour revenir \u00e0 la motion, demain sera la derni\u00e8re journ\u00e9e d'activit\u00e9 de plusieurs bureaux d'Anciens combattants Canada. Il s'agit des bureaux situ\u00e9s \u00e0 Corner Brook, Terre-Neuve; \u00e0 Charlottetown, \u00cele-du-Prince-\u00c9douard; \u00e0 Thunder Bay et \u00e0 Windsor, Ontario; \u00e0 Brandon, Manitoba; \u00e0 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; et \u00e0 Kelowna, Colombie-Britannique. La fermeture de ces sept bureaux, qui s'ajoutent \u00e0 celle du bureau de Prince-George, qui a d\u00e9j\u00e0 ferm\u00e9 ses portes, aura lieu demain, si le gouvernement ne change pas d'id\u00e9e.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553356\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Ces fermetures imminentes, caus\u00e9es par l'incompr\u00e9hension des conservateurs quant \u00e0 l'importance des services offerts par les bureaux d'Anciens combattants Canada, toucheront pr\u00e8s de 20 000 anciens combattants. Ceux-ci n'auront plus acc\u00e8s \u00e0 un service en personne avec un gestionnaire de cas qui conna\u00eet bien les services offerts par Service Canada et qui peut les guider afin qu'ils puissent se pr\u00e9valoir des services auxquels ils ont droit. Par exemple, ils peuvent remplir leurs demandes d'indemnit\u00e9. Ces services sont essentiels pour les v\u00e9t\u00e9rans. Pourtant, ils font face \u00e0 une incompr\u00e9hension totale de la part du gouvernement. Celui-ci leur manque de respect. La fermeture des bureaux obligera donc les anciens combattants \u00e0 se d\u00e9placer sur plus d'une centaine de kilom\u00e8tres pour rencontrer un gestionnaire de cas. Il s'agit de cinq ou six heures de route, dans bien des cas.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553357\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Pour ces v\u00e9t\u00e9rans, l'acc\u00e8s \u00e0 un service en personne est essentiel, car ils ne connaissent pas n\u00e9cessairement toutes les indemnit\u00e9s et les services auxquels ils ont droit. La propagande gouvernementale veut faire taire la grogne des v\u00e9t\u00e9rans, car celle-ci est bien r\u00e9elle. On leur dit que Service Canada va ouvrir \u00ab six cent cinquante-douze \u00bb bureaux et qu'on va leur offrir des services, mais il n'en est rien. En fait, ces bureaux ne leur offriront que l'acc\u00e8s \u00e0 un ordinateur, alors que la tr\u00e8s grande majorit\u00e9 d'entre eux y ont d\u00e9j\u00e0 acc\u00e8s \u00e0 domicile, et un num\u00e9ro de t\u00e9l\u00e9phone \u00e0 composer pour obtenir des informations.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553358\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Alors, contrairement \u00e0 ce que dit le gouvernement, Service Canada n'offrira aucun service aux anciens combattants. Pour les quelque 18 000 anciens combattants touch\u00e9s par la fermeture de ces bureaux, cela devient dramatique. On doit le souligner.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553359\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Cette motion vise \u00e0 indiquer au gouvernement que nos anciens combattants et nos militaires ont plusieurs probl\u00e8mes et qu'il a perdu leur confiance. Notamment, cette semaine, un groupe de v\u00e9t\u00e9rans a \u00e9t\u00e9 accueilli \u2014 le mot est fort, car ils ont \u00e9t\u00e9 laiss\u00e9s pour compte \u2014 par le <a data-HoCid=\"194615\" href=\"/politicians/julian-fantino/\" title=\"Julian Fantino\">ministre des Anciens Combattants</a>. Il leur a donn\u00e9 rendez-vous, mais il n'a m\u00eame pas eu la d\u00e9cence de s'y pr\u00e9senter. Il est arriv\u00e9 tr\u00e8s en retard et il a engueul\u00e9 un ancien combattant qui ne partageait pas son point de vue sur l'importance des bureaux d'Anciens combattants Canada. \u00c0 mon avis, l'attitude du ministre \u00e0 l'\u00e9gard de ces anciens combattants d\u00e9montre l'insensibilit\u00e9 du gouvernement \u00e0 leur endroit.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553360\" data-originallang=\"fr\">D'ailleurs, mon coll\u00e8gue de <a data-HoCid=\"170509\" href=\"/politicians/peter-stoffer/\" title=\"Peter Stoffer\">Sackville\u2014Eastern Shore</a> a re\u00e7u des milliers de courriels de v\u00e9t\u00e9rans et de militaires qui se disent d\u00e9sabus\u00e9s de la fa\u00e7on dont le gouvernement agit envers eux. Il pourra en discuter plus amplement.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553361\" data-originallang=\"fr\">On peut dire que la col\u00e8re gronde en ce qui concerne la fa\u00e7on dont le gouvernement traite les v\u00e9t\u00e9rans. On demande aux militaires de se battre pour leur pays, et maintenant ils doivent se battre contre leur propre gouvernement pour avoir acc\u00e8s aux services et aux indemnit\u00e9s auxquels ils ont droit.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553362\" data-originallang=\"fr\"> Au cours des derni\u00e8res ann\u00e9es, on a assist\u00e9 \u00e0 une multitude de recours collectifs intent\u00e9s par des militaires et des anciens combattants. Il y en aura d'autres \u00e0 l'avenir parce que le gouvernement ne tient pas compte de leurs besoins.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553363\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Ces fermetures de bureau sont significatives. On ne donnera plus acc\u00e8s \u00e0 un gestionnaire de cas qui conna\u00eet bien la structure d'Anciens Combattants Canada. C'est une structure fort complexe et elle est extr\u00eamement difficile \u00e0 comprendre sur le site Web. On dit aux v\u00e9t\u00e9rans qu'ils n'auront plus acc\u00e8s \u00e0 une personne qui pourra leur dire ce \u00e0 quoi ils ont droit et les aider \u00e0 remplir les documents exig\u00e9s pour obtenir ces services. On leur enl\u00e8ve cet acc\u00e8s. \u00c7a les d\u00e9courage. Nombre d'entre eux n'obtiendront pas ce \u00e0 quoi ils ont droit. C'est compl\u00e8tement scandaleux. La fa\u00e7on dont ce gouvernement traite nos v\u00e9t\u00e9rans, les h\u00e9ros de ce pays, est compl\u00e8tement inacceptable. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553364\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Comme je le mentionnais, l'attitude du <a data-HoCid=\"194615\" href=\"/politicians/julian-fantino/\" title=\"Julian Fantino\">ministre des Anciens Combattants</a> cette semaine est tr\u00e8s symptomatique de la fa\u00e7on dont ce gouvernement est en train d'abandonner nos anciens combattants. On est en train d'\u00e9liminer plusieurs services. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553365\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Je reviendrai sur les services psychologiques offerts aux anciens combattants et les lacunes qu'il y a \u00e0 cet \u00e9gard. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553366\" data-originallang=\"fr\">On est en train de sabrer dans les services auxquels nos militaires et anciens combattants ont droit. Je pointais le <a data-HoCid=\"194615\" href=\"/politicians/julian-fantino/\" title=\"Julian Fantino\">ministre des Anciens Combattants</a> du doigt, mais les grands responsables de tout \u00e7a, selon moi, c'est le bureau du premier ministre et le bureau du Conseil du tr\u00e9sor. En effet, un seul mot leur vient \u00e0 la bouche depuis quelques ann\u00e9es: <em>cut, cut, cut</em>. On dirait des poules sans t\u00eate, je devrais dire sans coeur, parce qu'on n'a pas de coeur pour nos v\u00e9t\u00e9rans. C'est de cette fa\u00e7on que le gouvernement traite nos anciens combattants. On leur enl\u00e8ve les services auxquels ils ont droit, on leur enl\u00e8ve des indemnit\u00e9s. On les force \u00e0 aller devant les tribunaux pour obtenir ce \u00e0 quoi ils ont droit. C'est carr\u00e9ment scandaleux et les v\u00e9t\u00e9rans ne font plus confiance \u00e0 ce gouvernement ni au <a data-HoCid=\"194615\" href=\"/politicians/julian-fantino/\" title=\"Julian Fantino\">ministre des Anciens Combattants</a>.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553367\" data-originallang=\"fr\">On ferme des points de service. Les anciens combattants ont besoin de rencontrer leur gestionnaire de cas face-\u00e0-face pour qu'il les guide, les aide et les soutienne psychologiquement. Ces derniers sont bien souvent bless\u00e9s et ils ont de la difficult\u00e9 \u00e0 obtenir les services auxquels ils ont droit. Ainsi, lors d'une rencontre face-\u00e0-face, le gestionnaire de cas peut aider le v\u00e9t\u00e9ran \u00e0 remplir la documentation. C'est extr\u00eamement important. Presque 20 000 v\u00e9t\u00e9rans seront priv\u00e9s de cela. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553368\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Dans la propagande gouvernementale, en plus de dire qu'on offrira 500 points de service, les conservateurs disent avoir investi 5 milliards de dollars de plus depuis leur arriv\u00e9e au pouvoir. Il n'en est rien. C'est plut\u00f4t 3,5 milliards de dollars, ou autour de cela, qu'on a vers\u00e9 en indemnit\u00e9s. La plus grande partie de cet argent a \u00e9t\u00e9 offerte en indemnit\u00e9s suppl\u00e9mentaires aux militaires revenus en tr\u00e8s grand nombre d'Afghanistan. \u00c7a comprend aussi les quelque 800 millions de dollars pay\u00e9s au recours collectif d\u00e9pos\u00e9 par M. Manuge au nom des anciens combattant et que le gouvernement a perdu. Il n'y a pas beaucoup de services offerts de plus. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553369\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Au cours des derni\u00e8res ann\u00e9es, l'ombudsman des Forces canadiennes a soulign\u00e9 \u00e0 plusieurs reprises le manque de personnel pour s'occuper de la sant\u00e9 mentale de nos militaires et de nos v\u00e9t\u00e9rans. En 2003, on avait annonc\u00e9 qu'environ 400 personnes devraient \u00eatre affect\u00e9es \u00e0 cela. Depuis quelques ann\u00e9es, il manque au moins 60 personnes pour assurer le traitement de la sant\u00e9 mentale de nos v\u00e9t\u00e9rans. On voit toute la crise que cela a suscit\u00e9 au cours des derniers mois. Nos militaires ont besoin de soutien psychologique et ce gouvernement n'en fait tout simplement pas assez. </p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553370\" data-originallang=\"fr\">Puisque mon temps tire \u00e0 sa fin, je vais lancer une perche \u00e0 mes coll\u00e8gues touch\u00e9s par la fermeture. Je les encourage \u00e0 appuyer cette importante motion et \u00e0 indiquer aux autocrates du bureau du premier ministre et du Conseil du tr\u00e9sor qu'ils font fausse route en ce qui concerne nos anciens combattants. On ne va pas dans la bonne direction.</p>\n<p data-HoCid=\"3553371\" data-originallang=\"fr\">J'invite les d\u00e9put\u00e9s touch\u00e9s par ces fermetures \u00e0 indiquer au gouvernement qu'il fait fausse route dans ce dossier et \u00e0 lui demander de revenir sur sa d\u00e9cision. C'est important pour des milliers d'anciens combattants partout au pays.</p>"
    },
    "url": "/debates/2014/1/30/sylvain-chicoine-1/",
    "politician_url": "/politicians/sylvain-chicoine/",
    "politician_membership_url": "/politicians/memberships/4133/",
    "procedural": false,
    "source_id": "8207394",
    "h1": {
        "en": "Government Orders",
        "fr": "Initiatives minist\u00e9rielles"
    },
    "h2": {
        "en": "Business of Supply",
        "fr": "Travaux des subsides"
    },
    "h3": {
        "en": "Opposition Motion\u2014Canadian Forces",
        "fr": "Motion de l'opposition \u2014 Les Forces canadiennes"
    },
    "document_url": "/debates/2014/1/30/",
    "related": {
        "document_speeches_url": "/speeches/?document=%2Fdebates%2F2014%2F1%2F30%2F"
    }
}