The committee met to study barriers to entrepreneurship among veterans. Witnesses were Richard McNish, co-owner of Dog House Brewing Company Ltd., appearing in person; Jody Mitic, founder of Green Army Coffee, by video conference; and Brandon Dyck and Dustin Gareau, both representing the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW).
Richard McNish, a veteran with nearly 32 years of service, said Veterans Affairs Canada’s framework is oriented toward wage-based employment, treating entrepreneurship as higher risk and requiring veterans to justify self-employment in ways not expected for conventional jobs. He noted that VAC funding models are reimbursement-based and slow, misaligned with start-up needs, and that inconsistent case manager expertise creates uncertainty. McNish recommended formally recognizing entrepreneurship as a legitimate transition outcome, establishing a dedicated veteran entrepreneurship program with start-up funding and mentorship, enhancing entrepreneurship literacy within VAC, providing greater flexibility in transition timelines for disabled veterans, and reducing administrative burdens to align with small business realities.
Jody Mitic, a sniper who lost both feet to an IED, described the income replacement benefit clawback as a major barrier, calling it a roughly $20,000 tax that discourages veterans from earning income or starting businesses. He said he spent 12 months without receiving his IRB after reporting his business activities, and that this process undermines trust and contradicts VAC’s stated goals. Mitic also noted that the new veterans charter reduced compensation for his injuries from over $3.4 million to a one-time payment of $250,000, and he found no veteran-specific loan programs when seeking capital. He agreed with McNish that veteran-centric support and encouragement would help, but said he does not need a cheerleading squad.
Brandon Dyck, representing IBEW Canada, said the union partners with Helmets to Hardhats Canada to provide veterans with Red Seal apprenticeships in electrical trades, power line technology, and network cabling, and that the union’s training centres teach veterans how to bid on contracts, manage payroll, and scale firms using a national dispatch system. He emphasized that a green economy creates demand for electrical contractors and that IBEW’s veterans caucus provides peer-to-peer mentorship. Dyck said the union could be a force multiplier for government with minimal financial resources, and that meeting veterans where they are during transition would help.
Dustin Gareau, a veteran and reservist who owns an IBEW unionized electrical contracting business, said funding for veteran entrepreneurship is non-existent, while programs exist for other demographic groups, and that the education and training benefit cannot be used for start-up costs. He noted that as a reservist, the time commitment of service, especially given current personnel shortages, makes balancing a young business difficult. Gareau said he unionized his business because the IBEW’s structure and ethos mirror the military, and that he employs three veterans but cannot directly hire veterans off the street due to union hiring rules, which require name hires or calls to the hall based on seniority. He disagreed with the idea that VAC’s transition support is adequate, noting that his apprentice struggled to get claims approved.
The committee heard no procedural debate, motions, or votes during this meeting.
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