04 December 2025
13:00 – 16:00 ET
Virtual – Microsoft Teams
Care and Support Advisory Group members
- Lieutenant Navy (Retired) Sylvain Bouliane, VeteransCanada.ca
- Mary Boutette, The Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre
- Second Lieutenant (Retired) Walter Callaghan, Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto
- Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class (Retired) Debbie Eisan, Aboriginal Veterans Autochtones
- Major (Retired) Jorma Hamalainen
- Major (Retired) Bruce Henwood
- Captain (Retired) Rod Holowaty
- Sergeant (Retired) Andrea Newton (co-chair)
Policy Advisory Group members
- Lieutenant Commander (Retired) Lori Buchart
- Major (Retired) Mark Campbell
- Sergeant (Retired) Kim Hendricken, RCMP Veterans Association
- Lieutenant (Retired) Carolyn Hughes, Royal Canadian Legion
- Brigadier General (Retired) Joe Sharpe
- Sailor 1st class (Retired) Scott White
Regrets
- Master Warrant Officer (Retired) Dave Armitt, Métis National Veterans Council
- Sergeant (Retired) Catherine Bergeron
- Captain (Retired) Dennis LeBlanc (Policy Advisory Group co-chair)
- Marie-Andrée Malette, Canadian Caregivers Brigade
- Master Corporal (Retired) Keith McAllister, Veterans UN-NATO Canada
- Alexa Pasha, Royal Canadian Legion
Minister of Veterans Affairs
- The Honourable Jill McKnight, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence
Veterans Affairs Canada officials
- Nathan Svenson, Senior Director, Disability and Health Care Policy Division (VAC co-chair)
- Jeff Gallant, Manager, Community Engagement Division
- Amy MacDougald, Senior Analyst, Community Engagement
- Charlene Pascal, Communications Officer, Community Engagement
- Noah Ellis, Program Operations Assistant, Community Engagement
Department of National Defence Official
- Colonel Dave Grebstad, Canadian Armed Forces (on behalf of Brigadier-General Serge Ménard)
Observer
- Bronwyn Rodd, Office of the Veterans Ombud
Welcome and land acknowledgement
The VAC co-chair opened the meeting by extending a welcome to all attendees and offered a land acknowledgement. He then welcomed the Honourable Jill McKnight, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence to the meeting.
Minister of Veterans Affairs
Minister McKnight expressed her gratitude to members for their contributions and leadership. She shared with the group that she is well briefed on their discussions and the recommendations which they are considering.
Opening remarks
The co-chairs each provided opening remarks including brief summaries of the group’s October 7 meeting and the recent co-chairs meeting.
Recommendations discussion
The VAC co-chair shared that five advisory group members were approached by the member co-chairs to champion a potential recommendation that was raised in the previous meeting. These members then shared information for group discussion. The potential recommendations included:
- Ensuring spousal reunification in the event that both the Veteran and their spouse are in long-term care.
- Measures to prevent organizations from profiting off of Veterans by providing services that VAC and RCL provide for free.
- Review of existing treatment benefits to remove unnecessary administrative barriers.
- Streamlining consequential diagnosis.
- Wellness initiatives, such as fitness memberships, for prevention.
Streamlining consequential diagnosis
Members discussed opportunities to streamline the application process for consequential conditions to improve the process for Veterans. One member suggested that the initial application form could include potential consequential conditions in order to reduce the number of applications required.
It was also suggested that potential consequential conditions be proactively assessed during the primary diagnosis however, it was noted that different health professionals can be needed to diagnose consequential conditions (e.g. dentist for bruxism).
Statistics on consequential applications will be shared at the next meeting.
Spousal reunification in long-term care
There is currently no formal policy allowing Veterans and their spouses to remain together when both require longterm care, often resulting in separation. This separation can negatively affect Veterans’ mental wellbeing and financial stability. While war service Veterans can access VAC contract beds, unused beds are typically released to provinces; the group felt these beds should be used for spousal reunification. As most war service Veterans are of advanced in age, the group emphasized that this should be treated as a pressing issue.The discussion also highlighted growing future pressures from aging Baby Boomer Veterans and members discussed the benefits of extending access to contract beds beyond war service Veterans. Finally, concerns were raised that the move away from Veteran specific long term care facilities reduces access to specialized expertise, potentially affecting the quality of care for Veterans.
Promoting free services provided by VAC and the Royal Canadian Legion
The group shared concerns about organizations profiting from Veterans by charging for services that VAC, the Royal Canadian Legion, and other organizations provide for free. The primary example discussed was assistance with VAC applications. The group discussed opportunities for VAC and the Royal Canadian Legion to undertake further communications efforts to make Veterans aware of these free services.
Wellness initiatives for prevention
A member shared information with the group on how a proactive approach, centred on fitness, can contribute to Veterans’ health and well-being. They shared that incorporating fitness can be a key component to intervention before a new disability sets in.
The group discussed how the current legislation is designed to provide compensation and supports for Veterans who become disabled as a result of their service. Members raised how this framework is not designed to proactively intervene before a Veteran reaches the point of disability in progressive conditions. Members saw opportunity for new policy approaches.
Review treatment benefits to remove administrative barriers
A member led the discussion on the requirement for Veterans to visit health care providers for periodic medical recommendations for certain treatment benefits. This creates demand on the health care system and the Veteran in order to complete the necessary paperwork. In some cases, the effort to complete this process is perceived be higher than the value of the item.
Although progress has been made by VAC, the member suggested that focusing on review of low cost, disposable items, could provide opportunity for additional efficiencies. Further, that these items should be classified so that once a Veteran is approved to receive them, they are not required to obtain periodic medical recommendations.
Additional recommendation topics
The group then reviewed items previously raised by members and to determine if they would further explore any for potential recommendations. From this discussion, three topics were identified for further review:
- Exceptional basis process for treatment benefits not well understood
- Treatment benefit provider’s fees sometimes exceeding VAC coverage
- Improve communication and awareness of VAC benefits and entitlements
Members volunteered to work on these potential recommendations and share at the next meeting.
Closing remarks
The VAC co-chair informed the group that the next advisory group meeting will be held virtually in the spring and details would follow later. He wished everyone happy holidays.
Meeting adjourned.