NDVA Committee Meeting

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MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

Meeting No. 38

Thursday, October 9, 2003

The Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs met in a televised session at 11:06 a.m. this day, in Room 237-C Centre Block, David Pratt, presiding.

Members of the Committee present: Claude Bachand, Robert Bertrand, Bill Blaikie, Dominic LeBlanc, Joe McGuire, David Pratt and Elsie Wayne.

Acting Members present: Larry Bagnell for Anita Neville, Roy Bailey for Cheryl Gallant, Jean-Guy Carignan for Anita Neville, Claude Duplain for David Price, Maria Minna for Janko Peric, Alan Tonks for Lawrence O'Brien, Joseph Volpe for Janko Peric, Bob Wood for Janko Peric and Bob Wood for David Price.

In attendance: Library of Parliament: Michel Rossignol, Analyst.

Appearing: Ivan Grose, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs.

Witnesses: Department of Veterans Affairs: Bryson Guptill, Director, Program Policy Directorate, Program and Service Policy Division; Jack Stagg, Deputy Minister.

Pursuant to the Order of Reference of Thursday, September 25, 2003, the Committee commenced consideration of Bill C-50, An Act to amend the statute law in respect of benefits for veterans and the children of deceased veterans.

The Parliamentary Secretary made a statement and, with the other witnesses, answered questions.

By unanimous consent, on motion of Bob Wood, it was agreed, — That the committee supports the decision of Veterans Affairs Canada to extend from one year to a lifetime the Veterans Independence Program (VIP) benefits provided to surviving spouses of Veterans who were in receipt of such benefits at the time of their death. However, the members of the committee unanimously agree that the Government should take all possible means to provide lifetime VIP benefits to all qualified surviving spouses, of Veterans receiving such benefits at the time of their death, not just to those now eligible for such benefits following the amendments made in June 2003 to the Veterans Health Care Regulations.

By unanimous consent, it was agreed, — That the Chair present the report to the House.

Clauses 1 to 14 inclusive carried severally.

The Title carried.

The Bill carried.

ORDERED, — That the Chair report the Bill to the House.

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

On motion of Elsie Wayne, it was agreed, — That the motion adopted on Tuesday, October 7, 2003 concerning travel to the United-States be rescinded.

On motion of Elsie Wayne, it was agreed, — That the Committee travel to Washington, D.C., Carlisle, PA, Norfolk, Virginia and New York, from November 16 to 21, 2003 in relation to its study on Canada - United-States Defence Cooperation and on other related issues.

On motion of Elsie Wayne, it was agreed, — That the motion adopted on Tuesday, October 7, 2003 concerning the travel budget to the United-States be rescinded.

On motion of Elsie Wayne, it was agreed, — That the proposed budget in the amount of $ 106,090.42, for the Committee’s travel to Washington, D.C., Carlisle, PA, Norfolk, Virginia and New York, on November 16 to 21, 2003 be adopted and that the Chair present the said budget to the Budget Subcommittee of the Liaison Committee.

At 12:17 p.m., the Committee adjourned to the call of the Chair.

Angela Crandall
Clerk of the Committee

2003/10/10 3:49 p.m.