The committee met to study the monitoring of the rehabilitation services contract awarded to Partners in Canadian Veterans Rehabilitation Services (PCVRS). Appearing as witnesses were Marc-André Bernard, a psychologist from Institut Alpha; Shawn Carter, Executive Director of Edgewood Health Network Inc.; and Tim Laidler, Executive Director of the Veterans Transition Centre.
Marc-André Bernard testified that the PCVRS program has introduced excessive bureaucracy that is harmful to veterans, forcing them to repeatedly justify their injuries and undergo unnecessary reassessments by multiple bodies, which he said causes shame, humiliation and anger. He recommended that continuity of care be made the cornerstone of treatment, that assessments done during military service be accepted without re-evaluation, and that veterans not be forced to change psychologists when a trusting relationship already exists. He disagreed with the program's approach, stating it treats veterans as if they are abusing the system and pushes professionals away, with all his former colleagues having stopped collaborating with PCVRS.
Shawn Carter described how EHN Canada provides culturally competent, trauma-informed care for veterans through its EHN Guardians programs, which are purpose-built for military members and first responders. He emphasized that consistency, transparency and respect are critical to preventing sanctuary trauma, and that veterans need predictable processes and clear communication. He noted that PCVRS has collaborated with his organization to strengthen step-down and transition supports and to enhance family programs, and he argued that when paired with committed providers, PCVRS can play a vital role in restoring trust.
Tim Laidler testified that the PCVRS contract has created a burdensome two-case-manager system with separate email log-ins, causing stress and confusion for veterans. He said veterans are told participation is mandatory to keep their income replacement benefits, which creates fear of losing monthly payments if they miss appointments, and that reporting improvement can lead to being cut off from benefits, creating a negative incentive. He also criticized a policy he attributed to PCVRS that limits retraining to the salary level at release, calling it discriminatory and a major difference from U.S. programs, and suggested cancelling the contract could save $600 million while allowing private practices to provide simpler, more direct care.
During questions, Bernard and Laidler agreed that the numerous assessments appear designed to validate the contract rather than provide clinical care, with Laidler noting the assessments are excessive and potentially retraumatizing. Bernard added that he has never been asked by PCVRS to assess whether the program is beneficial, and that he has documented cases where veterans deteriorated under the program. Carter acknowledged that veterans report confusion over the roles of VAC and PCVRS, and that the approval process has added delays compared to before 2023.
The committee did not debate any motions or procedural points during this meeting.
AI-generated summary — may contain errors; verify against the official evidence.