VAC Stakeholders Committee
le
systeme D: on se debrouillera toujours (we'll
muddle through somehow)
French General Staff doctrine 1870
Regardless of who is the minister,
political party in power or expectations of the Veterans Community,
VAC is in the habit of doing its own thing and completely
disregarding what should be done.
The department justifies this
audacious practice by carefully selecting some of the many advocates
and groups, which represent the Veterans Community, to “rubber
stamp” its activities.
One has only to consider how
carefully VAC stage manages its so-called meetings with
stakeholders.
The agenda of the past three
meetings have limited the majority of the stakeholders to five
minutes for talking during the VAC chaired discussion sessions.
There is no time allocated for
questions following each of the VAC presentations which take up the
bulk of these day-long meetings. Speakers are expected to limit
their input to the narrowly defined topics approved by VAC.
The
impression that these meetings give to the observer is that
advocates are to be seen but not really heard.
This
may seem very cynical and I define this as follows:
“believing
that people are motivated purely by
self-interest;
distrustful of human sincerity or integrity”, or
“doubtful as to whether something
will happen or whether it is worthwhile”.
If
you agree with these definitions, then I am cynical.
I do not like the current format of these
stakeholder meetings and have expressed myself to several VAC senior
bureaucrats.
In my opinion, they do not like
criticism and my actions with regards to these meetings.
In April 2015, I had the audacity
to not only record the majority of the meeting, but I also published
my own synopsis of the round table or open forum discussion.
The minister, Erin O'Toole, did
not like me recording the meeting and openly said so because he
believed that it would discourage people from participating in the
meeting.
Both recording the meeting and publishing
a synopsis were motivated by the poor communications practiced by
VAC.
It is very, very bad at sharing
information.
The department has been repeatedly
been asked to provide information about these meetings, but refuses
for reasons that VAC will not explain.
VAC will not allow advocates to
contribute to the creation of an agenda in addition to limiting
formal vocal participation in these meetings.
If anyone is not satisfied or wants to
propose changes, then they will not be invited to the meetings.
If you need proof of this, then you need
look no further than my “non-attendance” at the last two meetings in
December 2015 and May 2016.
One exclusion might be an error of
omission, but two is an error of commission (a deliberate and
premeditated action).
VAC recently announced that it has formed
six advisory groups (see announcement below).
The reasons given for why the
groups were established are “to
improve transparency and support consultation to address important
Veterans' issues”.
If these are the actual reasons
for forming these groups, then why do the members have to sign
non-disclosure agreements?
How is transparency improved and
consultation supported if the members can not communicate with their
organisations and the Veterans Community outside of the groups?
I also question the need for a group to
discuss “service excellence”.
If VAC has already established
that it provides excellent service, then why bother talk about it,
unless VAC needs the group to “rubber stamp” its current standards.
This is not the first time that VAC has
formed groups to advise it on these subjects.
The fate of the former groups
should be considered because it may be the same for the new groups.
The former groups included:
-
Gerontological Advisory Council (established in 1997)
-
New Veterans Charter Advisory Group
-
Special Needs Advisory Group (established in 2005)
Each group provided advice and produced
formal reports.
Much of their work was quietly
ignored by VAC.
When the work was discussed by the
VAC Stakeholders Committee, The attendees considered them of great
value and stated this in a letter to the minister.
The stakeholders included these
recommendations:
“The VAC Stakeholders Committee unanimously approves the position
that the Federal Government be required to fully implement the
recommendations of the New Veterans Charter Advisory Group as
endorsed and complemented by the Standing Committee on Veterans
Affairs in order to fulfill its commitment to Canada’s veterans and
their dependants.
The
VAC Stakeholders Committee unanimously adopts the position that VAC
be required to fully implement the recommendations in the
Gerontological Advisory Council Report in order to fulfill its
commitment to the veterans’ community for substantial health care
reform and to satisfy the “social covenant” that exists between
Canadian veterans, their dependants, and the people of Canada.
The VAC Stakeholders Committee unanimously adopts the position that
the recommendations of the Special Needs Advisory Group Report be
incorporated into the Federal Government’s full implementation of
the New Veterans Charter Advisory Group Report in order to fulfill
its commitment to Canada’s seriously disabled veterans and their
dependants.”
The letter was sent to the minister
following the last meeting of the VAC Stakeholders Committee in
February 2012.
The committee was scheduled to
meet again in June 2012.
The minister declined to answer
the letter and it was decided to first postpone the next meeting,
and then finally disband the committee.
The members were not informed of
these decisions, but had to get the information unofficially.
This is the same habit that was evident
during the public acceptance of the New Veterans Charter in 2005
(when the Liberals were last in power).
A small and select group of six
advocates had to sign a confidential agreement (not to discuss the
charter) and fully support the charter.
Anyone who disagreed
with the terms was excluded.
Operating behind closed doors with minimal public scrutiny is VAC's
preferred method of operation.
This is why I am doubtful whether VAC
will make any significant changes or generally do anything
worthwhile.
The senior bureaucrats seem
motivated by purely self-interest, and do not encourage initiatives
from the Veterans Community.
My critics will vehemently disagree with
my character assassination of VAC.
They are welcome to their own
opinions.
Most of them can not provide
evidence of improvement in VAC's operations over the course of many
years since its creation as an independent federal department.
If
such evidence was obvious, then old Veterans would not be fighting
to gain their entitlements after decades; long after their military
service was ended.
Many unhappy Veterans use the same
words to describe how VAC operates (deflect,
defer, delay, deny...repeat
as required)
and these four words apply just as much today as they did in the
1940's. There is a fifth word
die,
which very cynical people will say is what VAC hopes that unhappy
Veterans will do so that the department does not have to deal with
them anymore.
Final comment concerning the quote at the
top of this article.
System D was used by the French
Army prior to the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71.
It should not be surprising to
anyone that France lost the war.
Muddling through rarely works.
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Veterans Affairs Canada News Release April 15, 2016
New Initiative to Consult with Veterans Stakeholders - Advisory
groups to improve transparency and engage with Veterans OTTAWA -
The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate
Minister of National Defence, today announced a new initiative to
broaden engagement with stakeholders. Six ministerial advisory
groups are being put in place as part of his commitment to improve
transparency and support consultation to address important Veterans'
issues.
The six advisory groups will focus on policy, service excellence,
mental health, families, care and support and commemoration. Each
group will be comprised of up to twelve members, and participants
will appoint a chair from their membership. A senior departmental
official will also be selected to co-chair each group and a
representative of the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman will be
invited to attend the meetings as an observer. Current members'
names will be updated as the advisory groups are established and
their membership confirmed.
The overall goal is to engage with stakeholders, work toward common
goals and seek advice and input on new and existing initiatives to
support Veterans. The six advisory groups will help inform policy
and program development as well as service delivery at Veterans
Affairs Canada. This will ensure all areas reflect the changing
needs of Veterans and their families. Records of discussion of these
meetings will also be posted as they become available.
A Ministerial stakeholder summit with broader representation is
planned for May 9-10, 2016, in Ottawa. The summit will provide an
opportunity to collaborate, share views and gather information on
topics that are important to Veterans and their families. This is a
follow-up to the December 2015 Stakeholder Summit whose record of
discussion is posted online.
Quick Facts
Advisory groups provide an opportunity for early and ongoing
dialogue with stakeholders and serve as a sounding board for the
development of Veterans Affairs Canada's policies, programs and
services. Advisory group members are selected in consultation
with stakeholder groups and based on their interests and involvement
within the Veteran community. Membership of these groups is still
being finalized and will be made public once confirmed. Veterans
Affairs Canada will continue to listen to all interested and engaged
stakeholders regardless of their involvement in any of these groups.
Stakeholder Summits are large, in-person events to discuss
stakeholder priorities. Representatives from nearly 30 stakeholder
groups attended the last Stakeholder Summit on December 2, 2015.
Quotes
"Through our new initiative, I want to create a space and forum for
stakeholders to give me their advice and suggestions. It is not our
position to tell Veterans and their families what they need—we want
to hear from them. Our new strategy, including the six advisory
groups, will help us build stronger relationships with Veterans and
the organizations that represent them." The Honourable Kent Hehr,
Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister for National
Defence
For further information:
Sarah McMaster, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Veterans
Affairs, 613-996-4649;
Media Relations, Veterans Affairs Canada, 613-992-7468
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/about-us/advisory-groups
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/e…/about-us/stakeholder-engagement
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/e…/about-us/stakeholder-engagement
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/e…/about-us/advisory-groups/policy
Anciens Combattants Canada Communiqué Le 15 avril 2016
Une nouvelle initiative de consultation avec les intervenants de la
communauté des vétérans - Des groupes consultatifs veilleront à
améliorer la transparence et à mobiliser les vétérans
OTTAWA - L'honorable Kent Hehr, ministre des Anciens Combattants et
ministre associé de la Défense nationale, a annoncé aujourd'hui une
nouvelle initiative en vue d'accroître la mobilisation des
intervenants. Six groupes consultatifs ministériels sont sur le
point d'être mis en place dans le cadre de son engagement pour
améliorer la transparence et appuyer le processus de consultation
selon lequel d'importantes questions relatives aux vétérans seront
étudiées.
Les six groupes consultatifs concentreront leurs efforts sur les
politiques, l'excellence du service, la santé mentale, les familles,
les soins, le soutien et la commémoration. Chaque groupe sera
composé d'au moins douze membres, et les participants nommeront un
président parmi eux. Un cadre supérieur du Ministère sera désigné à
la coprésidence de chaque groupe et un représentant du Bureau de
l'ombudsman des vétérans sera invité à participer aux réunions à
titre d'observateur. On peut voir les noms des membres actuels en
ligne et ceux-ci seront mis à jour lorsque les groupes consultatifs
auront été établis et que les membres auront été confirmés.
L'objectif global consiste à mobiliser les intervenants, à
travailler vers l'atteinte de buts communs et à obtenir des conseils
et des avis sur des initiatives actuelles et nouvelles destinées à
soutenir les vétérans. Les six groupes consultatifs veilleront à
guider le processus d'élaboration de politiques et de programmes,
ainsi que la prestation de services à Anciens Combattants Canada.
Cette initiative fera en sorte que tous les secteurs tiennent compte
des besoins changeants des vétérans et de leurs familles. Des
comptes rendus des discussions lors de ces rencontres seront publiés
une fois qu'ils seront disponibles.
Un sommet des intervenants du Ministère avec une plus grande
représentation est prévu les 9 et 10 mai 2016, à Ottawa. Ce sommet
donnera aux participants l'occasion de se concerter, de partager des
points de vue et de recueillir de l'information sur des sujets
d'importance aux vétérans et à leurs familles. Ce sommet des
intervenants donne suite à celui qui a eu lieu en décembre 2015 et
dont le compte rendu des discussions a été publié en direct.
Les faits en bref
Les groupes consultatifs offrent une occasion de tenir un dialogue
précoce et continu avec les intervenants et de leur permettre
d'offrir une rétroaction aux fins de l'élaboration de politiques, de
programmes et de services à Anciens Combattants Canada. La
sélection des membres des groupes consultatifs se fait en
consultation avec des groupes d'intervenants et en fonction de leurs
champs d'intérêt et de leur participation au sein de la communauté
des vétérans. Le processus de nomination à ces groupes est sur le
point de se terminer, et les noms des membres seront rendus publics
une fois qu'ils auront été confirmés. Anciens Combattants Canada
continuera d'être à l'écoute de tous les intervenants intéressés et
mobilisés, peu importe leur degré de mobilisation au sein de l'un ou
l'autre de ces groupes. Les sommets d'intervenants sont des
événements à grand déploiement de personnes qui se penchent ensemble
sur les priorités des intervenants. Des représentants de près de 30
groupes d'intervenants ont pris part au dernier sommet des
intervenants qui s'est tenu le 2 décembre 2015. Citations
« Grâce à notre nouvelle initiative, je veux créer un forum qui
permettra aux intervenants de me faire part de leurs avis et
suggestions. Il ne nous revient pas de dire aux vétérans et à leurs
familles ce dont ils ont besoin — nous voulons les entendre à ce
sujet. Notre nouvelle stratégie, y compris les six groupes
consultatifs, nous aidera à resserrer nos liens avec les vétérans et
les organisations qui les représentent. » L'honorable Kent Hehr,
ministre des Anciens Combattants et ministre associé de la Défense
nationale
Renseignements :
Sarah McMaster, Attaché de presse, Cabinet du ministre des Anciens
Combattants, 613-996-4649;
Relations avec les médias, Anciens Combattants Canada, 613-992-7468
Perry
Gray is a Regular Force veteran, serving as the Chief
Editor of VVi. Perry has been with VVi for 13 years. |