Arguably, the best Veteran Affairs’ Minister in Canadian History, the late Mr. Hees would have been truly dismayed to view the antics going on recently in regard to his beloved Department.
These antics culminated this past week in the closing of several their District Offices and the sorry confrontation between the current Veterans’ Affairs Minister Julian Fantino and a number of Second World War Veterans bedecked in their military campaign medals.
These were most certainly pathetic moments in the history of Veterans’ Affairs, especially regarding Fantino’s personal antics.
So it got me thinking, how would our old boss have handled things?
I believe the best way to determine this is to go back to the time in September 1984 when George Hees was appointed Minister.
That time mirrored those of today in the sense that Veterans then were also up in arms with then outgoing Liberal Government and things had gotten so bad, a Commission of Inquiry had been struck to look into their complaints.
The first official act of George Hees though was to shut down that Commission saying he did not need an expensive inquiry to tell him what is wrong with Veterans Affairs – ‘I know what needs to be done’ . And he went on to do it.
He contacted all of the veterans’ leadership. As a decorated wounded World War 2 Vet, Hees had an immediate rapport with them and that soon translated into becoming their best friend in Government.
As a former Grey Cup winner with the Toronto Argos, his approach was always a team approach and he employed that to win over …’depoliticize’ …his dealings with the Opposition Party Critics. ‘We are in this together’ he told them, ‘our common objective is to do what is best for Canada’s Veterans’.
He then found ways to communicate directly with our Veterans telling them that they were the most special of Canadians in that they risked having their arms, legs and heads blown and that too often they suffered just that.
He then told Veterans Affairs Staff that they too were special and that next only to Canada’s Veterans, they were deserving of our thanks for the great work they were doing on behalf of their clients.
Hees also paid special attention to the various Parliamentary Committees both in the House and in the Senate ensuring that their respective memberships were fully briefed on what was happening at Veterans Affairs and more importantly, why. He was ever open to their comments and suggestions telling them with a smile that he ‘was not above stealing and implementing good ideas’.
Long time observers of Veterans Affairs were heard to say in the early days of Hees’ Administration that he would lose interest. But he did not; George Hees continued to push himself and his employees to achieve, in the end, what was considered an amazing turnaround. At his final speech to the Royal Canadian Legion in 1988, he received numerous standing ovations in recognition of what he had done for Canada’s veterans in the space of 4 short years.
That, dear reader, is what I know George Hees would do again today if he came back to life and was once again given the chance.
With that in mind, let’s overlay it on the issues affecting veterans today and let’s assume that George Hees was appointed Minister of Veterans Affairs at the beginning of this past week:
First, in regard to the ugly confrontation we witnessed this week between the old vets and the current Minister – here is how George Hees would have handled the same situation. (He would not have come an hour late to the meeting. In fact as a former military man, Mr. Hees was punctual to a fault). He would have entered that room and would have gone over immediately to the War Veterans and placed his arm over their shoulders saying ‘you guys are all heros, thanks so much for coming to see me. Now guys step into my office and let me know what I can do for you’. Full stop.
Second item of business, Hees would have Reversed the District Office Closures. Forgetting for a moment whether or not it was the right thing to do, the fact remains it was poorly implemented and done without proper consultation and for those reasons alone, he would have objected to it.
Third, over and above retaining the District Office setup, he would have taken the extra step of insuring extra special service to our veterans of WW 11 and Korea on the understanding that these veterans, now averaging 90+ years should not be expected to seek out government offices – rather they would be entitled to visits by departmental counsellors in the comfort of their own homes.
Fourth, after first determining the Veterans’ Leadership positions on various issues of concern …especially in regard to the controversial new Veterans’ Charter, he would call a Round Table Discussion composed of the veterans’ leaders and Chaired by himself. He would then follow this initial meeting by instituting regular semi-annual follow-ups. Items such as the Veterans’ Charter would soon be controversial no more.
Fifth, regarding the issue of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder he would understand that this issue crossed both the departments of Veterans Affairs and DND and as such he would work toward establishing a Committee Co-Chaired by both Departments and composed of Membership from the Veterans Community as well as by Experts from the area of Mental Health.
He would ensure that this Committee held Regular Press Conferences to update the public and where the Mental Health Experts would act as Chair and committee members from the veterans community would be available to respond to any questions. PTSD would no longer be an issue of us versus them.
George Hees worked so hard to get the support of veterans; where has that devotion to duty gone today?
Some people become politicians, only a very few were born to it, as in the case of the late and great George Harris Hees.
As I see it…
‘K.D. Galagher’
