It was agreed, — That the First Report from the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, which read as follows, be concurred in:

Your subcommittee met on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, to consider the business of the committee and agreed to make the following recommendations:

1. That, as its first order of business and pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of the backlog of disability benefit applications at the Department of Veterans Affairs, and that the study include consideration of: (a) the government’s plan to reduce the backlog; (b) potential solutions presented in the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officers report; (c) the possibility of pre-approving all disability benefit claims; (d) the differences in processing times between the files of English-speaking and French-speaking veterans. Further, that witnesses include, but not be limited to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, senior officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Parliamentary Budget Officer; that the evidence and documentation received by the committee during the 1st Session of the 43rd Parliament on the subject be taken into consideration by the committee in the current session; that the committee report its findings to the House before December 11, 2020; and that no fewer than four meetings be devoted to that study.
2. That, pursuant to Standing Orders 81(4) and 81(5), the committee undertake the study of the Main Estimates, 2020-21 and the Supplementary Estimates, (B) 2020-21, and that the committee invite the Minister of Veterans Affairs and departmental officials to appear.
3. That, pursuant to Standing Order 108 (2), the committee undertake the study the Royal Canadian Legion and other veteran organizations and their financial health during and after COVID-19.
4. That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of federal supports and services to Canadian veterans’ caregivers and families; that the committee report its findings to the House with recommendations on how the government could improve those services and supports to better meet the unique needs of veterans’ caregivers and families; and that no fewer than 3 meetings be devoted to the study.
5. That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of a long-term Canadian strategy for commemorations, which recognizes and honours the service, sacrifice, and achievements of all Canadian veterans; takes into consideration future events, monuments, memorials, graves and cemeteries both at home and abroad; that the committee invite officials from the Department of Veterans Affairs, interested stakeholders and Canadian veterans, educators, and other partners; that the committee report its findings to the House with recommendations to the government on the best way forward in the 21st century to inspire and educate Canadians and citizens around the world to recognize the service and sacrifice of all who have served our country; and that no fewer than three meetings be devoted to the study.
6. That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study of: (a) the efficacy and use of psychiatric service dogs by Canadian Armed Forces veterans to alleviate the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); (b) the resources required by the Department of Veterans Affairs to implement access to psychiatric service dogs; (c) the challenges associated with housing faced by veterans with a psychiatric service dog; and (d) what should constitute minimum national standards for the training of PTSD psychiatric service dogs; and that no fewer than three meetings be devoted to the study.

At 3:52 p.m., the sitting was suspended.

At 3:59 p.m., the sitting resumed in public.

Walter Natynczyk made a statement and, with Steven Harris, answered questions