Mandate
The mandate of this Committee is to examine all matters relating to
the mandate, management and operation of the Department of Veterans
Affairs as well as any issue referred to it by the House of Commons. As is
the case for other committees of the House of Commons, the powers, membership,
and activities of this Committee are governed by Chapter
13 of the Standing Orders of
the House of Commons. Thus, the Committee is empowered to review the program
and policy objectives of the department within its mandate, its
success in meeting these objectives, its planned expenditures, and
the law or laws that guide its activities.
Much of this review is done on a regular basis, for example, when
the Main Estimates outlining departmental spending for each fiscal year are
presented to Parliament. The Committee can also undertake studies on
specific issues of interest to veterans and report its views to the House
of Commons. Its opinions and recommendations are based on the information
gathered during meetings with ministers, departmental officials, independent
experts, and anyone else it wishes to invite. The Standing Orders provide
for a response from the Government to the views and recommendations expressed
in each of its reports.
The Committee can also
examine and enquire into all matters referred to it by the House of Commons.
Any bill creating or amending legislation related to the activities of the
Department of Veterans Affairs and programs for veterans such as the Canadian
Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act, the Pension
Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs Act, and the Veterans
Review and Appeal Board Act can be referred to the Committee for
review after it has been tabled in the House. The Committee can review the
new legislation and report it back to the House of Commons with or without
amendments. The Committee can also review Orders in Council appointing individuals
to non-judicial posts related to the mandate of the department after they
have been tabled in the House of Commons and referred to it.
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