By Mike Blais
Disappointing revelations have emerged over this past month regarding the Women Veterans Council (WVC). The WVC is a gender-specific Ministerial advisory body established by the Liberal government in 2024. The WVC foundations were created in part in response to a critical parliamentary report (Invisible No More. Experiences of Canadian Women Veterans).
That report recognized the disparities created when gender-unique medical or physical obligations are inadequately represented by DND/CAF and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). More than 200 veterans applied for a position and ultimately, twelve volunteers were chosen. The dozen successful candidates were subsequently invited to serve on the WVC as advisors. VAC selection committee ensured the 2SLGBTQI+, Indigenous inclusion and that levels of diversity existed between the cadre in view of their former ranks and service backgrounds including four members that were serving or previously serving RCMP.
Ginette Petitpas Taylor, the Minister of Veterans Affairs and the Associate Minister of National Defence at the time, provided an exciting mandate. She cited responsibilities with a focus on establishing gender equity in health, economics, research, data processing and benefit access inadequacies. All the affirming words were deployed; empowerment, collaboration, co-creation of policies, participation and opportunities to engage/consult with the women veteran’s community on a national level. Ultimately, the council would report directly to the minister, providing; recommendations, an annual written status report, ongoing guidance and advice on emerging programs. All while steering the Council’s recommendations through bureaucratic due-process and implementation.
Initially optimism abounded. At last, women veterans had a platform where their voices would be represented at the ministerial level. At last, there was a forum wherein inequitable, gender specific departmental obligations could be identified, discussed and ultimately resolved through efficient policies and programs, respectful of the unique level of national sacrifice Canada demands of women who serve the CAF and RCMP. What an excellent opportunity to correct long standing disparity faults within DND/CAF/RCMP and VAC policies and a clear mandate designed to recognize the impact sexual assault or charter adverse discrimination, in order to establish gender equity on several levels.
One veteran, one standard, or the old ‘bait and switch’?
On January 13/14, 2026, nearly fifty percent of the council’s membership collectively resigned from the Women’s Veteran Council. The resignees justified their decision in an open letter to the veterans community, printed in last months Esprit de Corps Magazine, citing the reasons motivating their withdrawal. Despite the original assurances by Minister Pettipas-Taylor, (by now thrice removed in respect to ministerial authority), their expectations of an authoritative mandate inclusive of operational order, community outreach, collaboration and an actual chain of command were being thwarted.
Instead of dialogue, collaboration, recommendations and outreach, concerns dispatched to the minister were responded to by generic AI email receipts of acknowledgement bereft of any meaningful dialogue on content.
Requisite Nondisclosure Agreements further compounded the situation, leaving council members frustrated and restricting their ability to publicly speak out regarding ministerial or departmental intransigence. Nor could they express their feelings of belittlement and exploitation as they realized they were being used as public relations props by a minister whose government has now proven to be institutionally challenged when honouring the promises made to these women when the council was initially formed.
Current VAC Minister Jill McKnight’s response to the resignations reflected a woeful lack of leadership.
Instead of rising to the occasion, resolving the identified shortcomings in a meaningful manner and reassuring the council of the department’s honourable intentions, McKnight retreated from the media and issued bland statements in addressing the advisors’ contributions. These were of course the same contributions the department ignored to the point wherein five CAF members of the council felt disrespected to the point of public resignation.
Serving female CAF members deserve better from the Associate Minister of National Defence. Women veterans deserve better from the Minister of Veterans Affairs. And yet here we
are.
A special Bravo Zulu to retired Captain Hélène Le Scelleur, CD, Sergeant Jessica Miller, CD, Lieutenant (N) Wenshauang Nie, CD, Captain Lindsay Shields, CD and Lt. Col Eleanor Taylor OMM, MSM, CD for collectively refusing to pass the
fault.
It is vital that the veteran’s community collectively continue to hold the government to account when they stray from the significant promises which the Liberals once made to veterans in exchange for their votes.
I would encourage serving and veteran women (and allies) to unite under one banner, to create a new organization completely dedicated to women’s advocacy. The Canadian Veterans Advocacy (CVA) has been a formal stakeholder since 2011. When CVA started participating in advisories, there were less than ten fellow organizations represented. Today, there are dozens of entities engaged on various, often divergent themes and while there are thousands of women represented through these organizations, not one is an advocacy solely dedicated to championing military women’s needs in a formal capacity.
Women veterans, step up. Be proud.
You earned your equity and respect through blood, sweat, toil and tears. Not to mention great levels of national sacrifice.
Now it is time to unite, organize and hold the government to account when they disrespect your service and your valiant, most honourable sacrifice to Canada.
One Veteran. One Standard!
Blazer out.
