ACVA meeting 37 · 2026-06-08 — Committee Evidence — LegisWatch

Summary

The committee studied the rehabilitation services and vocational assistance program (RSVP) for veterans, hearing from Richard Brown, a former Canadian Armed Forces member, and Dr. Steve Burton, a psychologist with Lifemark Health Group.

Richard Brown testified that Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) services have declined sharply since 2015, citing long delays, a lack of accessible case managers, and the denial of a nine-hour independent psychological assessment that diagnosed PTSD and alcohol use disorder. He said he was placed on the diminished earning capacity program after exhausting vocational rehabilitation, then lost his case manager and was told he could only use one occupational therapist in his region, with whom he had a poor history. Brown recommended that VAC hire veterans as case managers and that the government not renew the PCVRS contract with Galen Weston, arguing the system prioritizes bureaucratic timelines over veterans' needs.

Dr. Steve Burton described the RSVP program as time-limited and function-based, focused on restoring independence through targeted assessments and outcome measures rather than long-term diagnostic care. He stated that veterans can continue with existing health care providers in parallel with VAC rehabilitation services, and that he has never been directed by PCVRS to force a veteran to end an established therapeutic relationship. Burton acknowledged that communication and transparency are key challenges, and recommended more training on military culture for clinicians, as well as faster intake into the program, though he noted that extensions of treatment beyond the typical two-year limit are possible.

The committee adopted a motion, as amended, to invite the Minister of Veterans Affairs to appear for one hour on the supplementary estimates (A) 2026-27 by the end of October 2026, on division.

AI-generated summary — may contain errors; verify against the official evidence.

Witnesses · 2

Richard Brown

As an Individual

Opening remarks

Thank you, Madam Chair. Good afternoon, members of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, as well as to other distinguished witnesses and veterans in the crowd. To start, I apologize for not being able to attend in person today, but my family and I have been working on helping our older daughter recover from a serious car accident that she suffered last weekend. My name is Richard Brown. I enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces in January 2003 at the age of 18. I served three and a half years in the Canadian navy as a TASOP and then as a sonar operator. In May 2006, while on workups to get ready for the NATO flagship Iroquois, I suffered an injury that would eventually have me take a voluntary release from the CF. In October 2006, I was honourably discharged and relocated back to the southern Ontario riding of Niagara West. Over the next few months, I struggled to keep employment as I tried to move on with my life, but in January and February 2007, I called Veterans Affairs for help. At the time, I had a great case manager by the name of Tracey Slade, who guided me through all the necessary steps to be diagnosed, along with Dr. Don Richardson from the London OSI. In 2008,…

Full testimony ↗

Steve Burton

Psychologist, Lifemark Health Group

Opening remarks

Thank you very much. Thank you, everyone, for allowing me to be here today in person. My name is Dr. Steve Burton. I am a psychologist with Lifemark Health Group, where I have the privilege of providing services to Canadian veterans enrolled in Veterans Affairs Canada's rehabilitation services and vocational assistance program—the RSVP program we know about. My professional background includes over 25 years of experience in forensic and clinical psychology. I work extensively in the areas of trauma, rehabilitation and psychological assessment. I'm accredited with the colleges of psychologists of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. I'm a proud member of the Gitxsan nation in British Columbia. I was a police officer in Alberta for 25 years. This experience has given me a deep understanding of the unique mental health and rehabilitation needs of the veteran population. One of the foundational principles of effective rehabilitation is to thoroughly assess a veteran's current functional state. This is paramount, because to develop the most effective and personalized rehabilitation plans, a comprehensive assessment is essential. While respecting the veteran's privacy and…