05 March 2026
13:00 – 16:00 ET
Virtual – Microsoft Teams
Care and Support Advisory Group members
- Mary Boutette, The Perley and Rideau Veterans’ Health Centre
- 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)
- Alexa Pasha, Royal Canadian Legion
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
- Master Corporal (Retired) Keith McAllister, Veterans UN-NATO Canada
- Captain (Retired) Dennis LeBlanc (co-chair)
- Sailor 1st Class (Retired) Scott White
Regrets
- Master Warrant Officer (Retired) Dave Armitt, Métis National Veterans Council
- Lieutenant Navy (Retired) Sylvain Bouliane, VeteransCanada.ca
- Second Lieutenant (Retired) Walter Callaghan, Department of Anthropology, University of Toronto
- Marie-Andrée Malette, Canadian Caregivers Brigade
Veterans Affairs Canada officials
- Nathan Svenson, Senior Director, Disability and Health Care Policy Division (VAC co-chair)
- Amy MacDougald, A/Manager, Community Engagement Division
- Kirstin Sweet, A/Senior Analyst, Community Engagement
- Charlene Pascal, Communications Officer, Community Engagement
- Noah Ellis, Program Operations Assistant, Community Engagement
Department of National Defence Official
- Brigadier-General Serge Ménard, Canadian Armed Forces
Observer
- Bronwyn Rodd, Office of the Veterans Ombud
Welcome and land acknowledgement
The VAC co-chair welcomed attendees and a member co-chair delivered a land acknowledgement.
The VAC co-chair outlined that the meeting objective was to review and vote on the 12 draft recommendations circulated beforehand for potential submission to the Minister of Veterans Affairs. A member co-chair outlined the voting process and quorum requirements under the Terms of Reference.
Recommendation discussion and voting
The VAC co-chair read each recommendation that the group had considered. Members were asked if they had any points of discussion for each recommendation.
Members voted to approve 10 of 12 recommendations. One recommendation was temporarily withdrawn so that it could be revised for clarity. This recommendation will be voted on secretarially once updated. Members voted not to proceed with one of the proposed recommendations. The remaining recommendations passed, with minor revisions. Members reaffirmed their support for these recommendations and expressed their importance.
Closing remarks
The VAC co-chair informed the group that the recommendations will now be formatted into a single, cohesive document, which will be translated into both official languages. Members will receive a final draft of this document, with an opportunity to provide any final edits.
The VAC co-chair thanked the group for all of their work over the past two years.
Meeting adjourned.