VETERANS AFFAIRS members have blocked off at least two more meetings for their ongoing investigation into the controversial $573-million contract awarded to Partners in Canadian Veterans’ Rehabilitation Services, which was prompted by a Toronto Star investigation that “found some veterans facing severe mental health issues are drowning in the program’s bureaucracy, being pressured to change service providers, given inadequate care and facing threats to their benefits,” as the paper reported last month. On the witness list today: Université Laval associate professor  Pascale Marier-Deschênes, registered psychiatric nurse Michael Parsons and CRUX Psychology’s Simon Sherry. (11 a.m.)

Over at CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION members crunch the numbers underlying Auditor General Karen Hogan’s recently released report on the latest changes to the international students program with Canada Border Services Agency president Erin O’Gorman and senior departmental officials, with Hogan and her team also expected to be at the table. (11 a.m.)

Also this morning:

• JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS members go through the fine print of Justice Minister Sean Fraser’s omnibus pitch to strengthen current protections against gender-based violence, add new measures to protect children and address issues related to court delays with Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime Benjamin Roebuck, as well as representatives from the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council, National Institute on Ageing and Valora Place. (11 a.m.)
• FISHERIES AND OCEANS members hear from Fish, Food and Allied Workers – Unifor president Dwan Street, as well as representatives of the Association des crabiers gaspésiens inc., British Columbia Salmon Purse Seiners Association, Serengeti Fishing Charters and the Vancouver Sport Fishing Guides Association as they continue to review the factors that determine the opening and closing dates of marine harvesting seasons. (11 a.m.)
• TRANSPORT, INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES members survey representatives of the BC Marine Terminal Operators Association, Canada Steamship Lines and the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority as part of their ongoing study of the state of Canada’s port system before shifting their attention to the “human resource challenges” at NAV Canada and the Canadian Border Services Agency. (11 a.m.)

Later this afternoon, HUMAN RESOURCES, SKILLS AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT members take a closer look at the government’s proposal to establish Build Canada Homes as an independent agency with a mandate to “promote, support and develop the supply of affordable housing in Canada,” as laid out in legislation currently before the committee for review, with representatives of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canadian, Residential Construction Council of Ontario, Building Industry and Land Development Association, Ontario Home Builders’ Association and Toronto Community Housing Corporation. (3:30 p.m.)

Members of the SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS get an update on the “global impact of transnational repression” from human rights advocates and activists, including representatives of the Canada Tibet Committee, Falun Dafa Association of Canada and World Uyghur Congress. (3:30 p.m.)

Rounding out the roster, FINANCE members explore the factors contributing to household debt in Canada with representatives of the C.D. Howe Institute, Canadian SHIELD Institute for Public Policy and the Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals. (3:30 p.m.)

Committee highlights courtesy of our friends at iPoliticsINTEL.