Statement made on 01 March 2011 by Senator Joseph Day
Hon. Joseph A. Day:
Honourable senators, my question is directed to the Leader of the Government in the Senate. Although it is on a different subject, it is certainly related to the discussion we have had. The question relates to operational stress injury.
The minister will know that approximately 35,000 Canadian Armed Forces personnel will have served in Afghanistan as of July when we change our battle group mission to a training mission. In addition to that, because of the whole-of-government approach that we have been taking with respect to provincial reconstruction in Afghanistan, members of the public service, the RCMP and other first responders have been and continue to be involved in stressful situations.
An expert who appeared before the Veterans Affairs Committee advised us that approximately one third of those who serve in stressful situations will themselves develop some level of stress and have difficulties when they return. That means that approximately 12,000 people, plus their families, may suffer as a result of those situations. Ten years ago, Veteran Affairs indicated that 2,000 people were on their list of clients suffering from operational stress injury. Today that figure has risen to 13,000.
Does the government recognize this exploding problem? Will the minister undertake to urge her cabinet colleagues to take action on this serious gap in providing assistance to those who put their lives on the line to protect our security?
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