Emmanuel Dubourg, MP and ACVA Chair
Photo Credit: Instagram
Esprit de Corps Magazine July 2024 // Volume 31 Issue 6
Let's Talk About Women in the Military – Column 64
By Military Woman
Question:
The report “Invisible No More. The Experiences of Canadian Women Veterans” was released by the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA) on June 12, 2024. How did it go?
Answer:
The June 12, 2024, release of the ACVA study’s 156-page report on the “Experience of Women Veterans”, elicited a range of emotions from those involved.
Most felt relief that the report was successfully published before Parliament’s summer recess. Anyone familiar with the parliamentary process knows that completing a study does not guarantee achieving a final report. For instance, the UK’s snap election resulted in its inaugural “Women Veteran Strategy” report not being tabled as planned this June.
Many participants of the various June 12th events expressed pride that their experiences as military and RCMP members had been formally acknowledged by all parties in Parliament and were now part of a permanent Canadian record. Veterans hoped that by sharing their experiences others could benefit from their lessons learned, especially the future generations of military and RCMP women. A summary document highlighting the testimonies of the many Veterans who appeared on this study is available on the “Transforming Military Cultures (TMC) DND MINDS Collaborative Network” website under the tabs for “Outputs” and then “Resources.” The document includes a compilation of all past “Experience of Women Veterans” ACVA study – related Esprit de Corps “Military Woman” magazine columns.
The release of the ACVA report also fostered a sense of camaraderie. The event attendees included dozens of military and RCMP Veterans and their supporters including, but not limited to, representatives from the Senate, Provincial Parliament of Ontario, Veterans Ombud’s Office, Royal Canadian Legion, RCMP Veterans’ Association, National Association of Federal Retirees, Sexual Misconduct Support and Resource Centre, Respect Canada, Servicewomen’s Salute, Survivor Perspectives, True Patriot Love, Pepper Pod, Women Peace and Security Network – Canada, Federation of Medical Women of Canada and the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans.
Others attending felt a mix of emotions, including the kind of healing that only happens when together in community, rather than sitting alone in a psychologist’s office. Many who testified were unable to attend Parliament in person for the June 12th report tabling, so they spontaneously organized virtual watch parties to share in the experience and support each other. Healing comes from being with similarly wounded peers and together feeling heard, believed, and seen by an institution previously felt to have betrayed your loyalty to it.
Some attendees were eager to get working on a woman Veteran-led implementation plan for the report’s 42 recommendations. We hope to explore this topic further in a future column.
Unfortunately, not all of the June 12th experiences were positive. During Member of Parliament (MP) Rachel Blaney’s recognition of the many Veterans in the gallery, some well-known supporters of the military, including MP James Bezan, did not participate in the standing ovation. This lack of acknowledgement from the Shadow Minister of National Defence exemplifying why women Veterans so often still feel their sacrifice and service are “invisible,” even when wearing multi-tour racks of medals, including from Afghanistan.
Additionally, during Question Period, Veterans felt unseen once again when the Minister of Veterans Affairs discussed affordable housing needs in front of a gallery full of Veterans without once referencing the specific housing challenges faced by Veterans.
The report’s tabling by ACVA Chair MP Emmanuel Dubourg was powerful and emotional.
A press conference followed, largely held in French but it can be watched on CPAC in the language of your choice. Despite all ACVA committee members being in Parliament that day, only three parties were represented at the all-party press conference. It was indeed a surprise to many Veterans (and MPs) that MP Blake Richards, Shadow Minister of Veterans Affairs and ACVA Vice Chair, neither presented his party’s supplementary report nor attended the press conference for this important study.
Moving forward, a final thank you to ACVA Chair MP Dubourg for his consistent efforts to keep the study focused on Veterans versus the all-too-often attempts of partisan-related exploitation of those Veterans.
With this historic and precedent setting #InvisibleNoMore study on the experiences of Canadian women Veterans being tabled on June 12 we also join, by chance, with our US Veteran community in acknowledging this as a special day for women Veterans.
