Paula MacDonald, Veteran
Photo Credit: PA MacDonald Consulting.
Esprit de Corps Magazine May 2024 // Volume 31 Issue 4
Let's Talk About Women in the Military – Column 62
By Military Woman
Question:
What’s next for the “Experience of Women Veterans” study?
Answer:
The final testimonies for this historic study by the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA) were heard on February 7, 2024. This study is historic for both its length, with a total of 23 meetings, and its topic: Women Veterans.
Paula MacDonald, a retired military social worker, testified that despite the successful 2019 military sexual misconduct class action lawsuit, many systemic obstacles remain. The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has not yet implemented effective workplace mechanisms for sexual violence prevention or perpetrator accountability. The sex- and gender-based analysis used by CAF and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) should be further improved to better identify the diverse needs of those impacted by sexual misconduct. VAC continues to unnecessarily demand bureaucratic and complex documentation before those with military sexual trauma-related injuries and illnesses can access supports and care. These, and other, systemic obstacles impede Veterans from healing.
Kristina Sharp, a member of the Canadian Veteran Service Dog Unit, provided the final testimony for this ACVA study. She explained in detail the many ways in which her service dog, Stoker, has helped her heal from her service-related injuries. She called on the government to provide Veterans in need with barrier-free access to safely and appropriately trained service dogs, acknowledging the concurrent need for government-developed standards. The importance of accessing safe options of peer support for all Veterans was also emphasized. She challenged the government to develop standards for all federally funded peer support groups, especially for women Veterans.
Now that the testimonies are complete, what's next?
Firstly, gratitude is in order. Thank you to the NDP and Bloc ACVA committee members for moving the motion that created this study. Thank you to all ACVA committee members for then agreeing to making this into a longitudinal study spanning over 20 meetings. Thank you to Library of Parliament’s analyst, Jean-Rodrigue Paré, for writing the draft report and recommendations and to the many ACVA clerks that rotated through this study.
Appreciation extends to the over 90 witnesses but especially to the over 60 courageous serving and Veteran CAF and RCMP women who provided personal testimony and/or written briefs. Special thanks go to all the women Veterans who presented for the first time to a Parliamentary committee including, but not limited to:
Vivienne Stewart, who spoke on the Merlo-Davidson RCMP class action clawbacks.
Stephanie Hayward, who spoke about service-related reproductive injuries.
Nicole Langlois, who shared some of her military-to-Veteran transition challenges.
Marie-Ève Doucet, whose service-related hazard exposures occurred in Canada.
Louise Siew, who reminded us that the “era served” for women Veterans matters.
Lisa Nilsson, who called on VAC for more research, especially on Navy injuries.
Lisa Cyr, who advocated for more Veteran entrepreneur and fibromyalgia supports.
Joanne Seviour, who urged for more sexual misconduct impact awareness.
Jessica Miller, who encouraged more peer support options for women Veterans.
Jennifer Smith, who challenged VAC to give better support to people that are single.
Caleigh Wong, who highlighted the impacts of racism and sexism when combined.
Anna-Lisa Rovak, who delivered arguably the most memorable women Veteran statement of the study after feeling disrespected and objectified during an interaction with the ACVA Vice Chair:
All these testimonies and more, including that of defence researcher Chris Edwards, can still be watched on the ACVA “Experience of Women Veterans” webpage. Also, Rachel Blaney’s YouTube channel offers a playlist of meeting highlight clips.
The next step for this study is to see the finished report and its recommendations published. Before that is possible, the Chair of the ACVA committee must formally table the finalized study report in the House of Commons.
Since this study first began, back in March 2023, many Veterans have come together to both laugh and cry.
Hopefully, our bonds will continue to grow and organize. Together, we can help to ensure the “Experience of Women Veterans” study report gets published before end of this session of Parliament – June 21, 2024.
