Veterans Affairs

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs met on December 4, 2025, as part of its study on suicide prevention among veterans. Witnesses appearing were James Grant, an emergency medical responder and former soldier; Dr. Allison Crawford, psychiatrist and chief medical officer of the 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline; Todd Hisey, founder of The Veteran Hunters Canada; and Dr. Shelly Whitman and Kathryn Reeves of the Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace and Security.

James Grant testified that the Veterans Affairs Canada system is the single greatest preventable factor undermining the mental health of medically released veterans, attributing 90% of his own struggles to its "delay, deny and hope you will die" culture and repeated human rights violations. He cited bureaucratic obstacles to obtaining a service dog as an example of intransigence that has caused serious consequences for him, and he argued that the 2005 new veterans charter created two classes of veterans, violating their rights with no political accountability.

Dr. Allison Crawford reported that since its launch in November 2023, the 988 helpline has documented 345 calls and texts from veterans, though the actual number is likely higher. She noted that in the United States, the Veterans Crisis Line is integrated with the 988 system and handles about 2,600 interactions daily, with responders trained in military culture, and she recommended that Canada pursue similar collaboration and integration between 988 and veteran-specific services, including peer support, while ensuring responders receive training in cultural safety for military populations.

Todd Hisey described founding The Veteran Hunters, a peer-support organization that uses hunting and fishing to help veterans, after his own post-traumatic stress injury went undiagnosed for 15 years due to redacted medical records. He stated that he is aware of six veterans who have been offered medical assistance in dying by Veterans Affairs caseworkers, including one in September 2025, and that some veterans fear coming forward because they have been targeted or surveilled by the system. He also noted that his children suffer from generational trauma as a result of his untreated condition, and he called for better community-building and peer support as a suicide prevention measure.

Dr. Shelly Whitman testified that moral injury, distinct from PTSD and often involving guilt, shame and existential distress, is a major contributor to suicide risk among veterans, particularly those who encountered children in armed conflict without adequate training or guidance. She emphasized that moral injury is a systemic issue requiring a whole-of-system approach, and that research funding and effective knowledge mobilization are essential to fill gaps in diagnosis, treatment and support for veterans and their families.

Kathryn Reeves added that children of morally injured veterans often experience deep impacts, including a lack of support from Veterans Affairs Canada once they turn 18, and that many veterans are not asked about encounters with children during deployments. She recommended that VAC recognize the service of military-connected families and provide them with dedicated support, as the absence of such help compounds the moral injury experienced by veterans.

During questions, Todd Hisey reiterated that a veteran in his program was offered MAID in September 2025 by a VAC caseworker, and that he knows of others who have been offered it, including one who accepted on condition of a payout for his family. He urged the committee to investigate the issue, noting that some veterans have signed non-disclosure agreements after suing the government. James Grant agreed that veterans are targeted and that the new veterans charter violates section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Dr. Crawford recommended targeted advertising for 988 to reach veterans, but cautioned that the service must first be specialized to meet their needs. The committee heard no procedural debate, motions or votes during this meeting.