TORONTO – The wife of a Canadian veteran made an impassioned plea to the federal government on Wednesday, asking for increased support in caring for her husband.
Jenifer Migneault met with NDP MPs in Ottawa before speaking to the media about her experience. Her husband, Claude Rainville, a former sergeant in the Canadian Armed Forces, has post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). He has suffered through bouts of depression, disassociation and panic attacks.
Migneault went to Ottawa because she wants the government to provide training to caregivers – not just for military spouses, but all caregivers dealing with the symptoms of PTSD – stressing that their care can mean the difference between life and death.
“We need the training in order to love and to be there in an appropriate way for our husbands because every single little thing, every little difference is huge,” Migneault said.
“How do I deal with dissociation? How do you deal with panic attacks? How would you deal if he would dissociate right now,” asked Migneault motioning to her husband. “You would all say, ‘hopefully Jenny knows what to do,’” Migneault said, crossing her fingers.
She said that today she does know what to do, but it took eight years to get to this point. “Pass on some knowledge to us,” she said. “We don’t have to wait eight, ten years in order to feel empowerment in these situations.”
Migneault said Wednesday she wants to be recognized as a military caregiver.
“I feel forgotten here, because in the U.S. they have access to workshops, resources, calling centers,” she said.
“We are their voices. We’re not recognized, they don’t ask us what we see at home. At every evaluation they don’t ask us.”
On Monday, the NDP called on Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino to apologize to Migneault after she attempted to meet with him in Ottawa last week, the opposition accusing Fantino of turning his back on her.
“The minister says that he cares about veterans,” said Peter Julian, House Leader of the Opposition. “I would like him to take the opportunity now in the House to rise and apologize to Jenifer Migneault and to say that he will agree to meet with her.”
Fantino responded saying he cares deeply about veterans. “I am focused on assisting our veterans and have been doing that, and will be continuing to do that,” said Fantino.
Both Canada and the U.S. have support programs in place for families and caregivers of veterans, including caregiver and family support lines and support coordinators.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs also offers a free online workshop, called “Building Better Caregivers,” that teaches caregivers skills such as time and stress management and how to deal with difficult emotions. The department also offers other programs including Adult Day Health Care Centers, home-based primary care when the veteran has difficulty travelling, respite and home hospice care.
Veterans Affairs Canada lists services similar to these on its webpage for caregiver support, but offers the information as something the caregiver could seek out, not through a program offered through VAC.
The U.S. veterans department has been under fire recently for long delays faced by veterans seeking health care. A federal investigation exposed deep-seated problems throughout the health care system that provides care to 6.5 million veterans annually.
Migneault’s plea for help comes as veterans and their advocates protest on Ottawa’s Parliament Hill, for what they call “Canada’s abandonment of her veterans.”
In March, a group of military spouses went to Ottawa, saying that not enough is being done to help veterans and their families dealing with PTSD.
One of the wives, Paula Ramsey, said that for a lot of veterans, the treatment and support received within the military helps manage PTSD. But when they are released from the military, things may fall apart.
“The military is holding them together,” Ramsey said. “When they’re sent out into the public they’ll have to search for their own treatment.”
On Tuesday, a House of Commons committee released its review of the federal government’s New Veterans Charter. The report was presented to Fantino and received unanimous support from all three parties on the committee.
One recommendation the report made was that the government ensure a smooth transition for military members, from active duty to Veterans Affairs.
“So once they’re out of service, they’re still looked after and cared for,” said committee chair Greg Kerr.
A statement on the care of veterans from Fantino’s spokesperson said: “Under this Government some injured Veterans receive over $10,000 a month in financial benefits in addition to full medical and rehabilitation support. We welcome recommendations from Veterans themselves which is why our Government is carefully reviewing the unanimous Standing Committee report on the New Veterans Charter.”
With files from Global News’ Erika Tucker and The Associated Press
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