ACVA Committee Report

Our Government places a priority on ensuring Canadian Forces (CF) personnel, Veterans and families have the support they need, and so richly deserve — when they need it. This is why our Government has already taken action, building on the strong framework provided by the NVC, which addresses some of the recommendations presented in the June 2010 report A Timely Tune-up for the Living New Veterans Charter by the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA).

The New Veterans Charter, unanimously adopted by all parties, provides Canada’s Veterans with an array of new programs and services not previously available to better assist the Veteran in rehabilitation and the reintegration into civilian life. The New Veterans Charter offers financial compensation in the form of separate and distinct benefits for loss of income and for other losses (including pain and suffering) associated with a service-related or career-ending injury. Unlike the previous approach under the Pension Act, the New Veterans Charter, with its focus on wellness, provides much more than financial assistance. It provides the necessary assistance to help the Veteran and his or her family make a successful return to civilian life including comprehensive rehabilitation services, practical help finding a job, health care benefits and counselling.

In its June 2009 report entitled “Shared Experiences: Comparison of Veterans Services Offered by Members of the Commonwealth and the G8”, ACVA noted that the New Veterans Charter is very similar in many ways to the modernized package of benefits and services offered in other countries. In fact, the Canadian approach compares quite favorably to other programs available internationally.

The Government agrees with ACVA that the New Veterans Charter will remain a major contribution to the greater well-being of Veterans, and the spirit of it must be nourished and supported. The Government is listening and responding to the healthy debate and suggestions from many stakeholders which have been raised about the programs and services for Veterans and has taken action.

Veterans Affairs Canada and the Department of National Defence have moved to ensure that those who wear Canada’s uniform and their families have the programs and services they need. Evidence of this can be found in the series of recent Government announcements which propose significant changes to provide increased eligibility to provide care and support for Canada’s Veterans and their families. The Government is investing $2 billion over the life of the programs.

One of the changes will expand access to the permanent monthly allowances for seriously injured Veterans. More than 3,500 additional Veterans are expected to be eligible for these allowances within the next five years.

Additionally, Veterans who have experienced serious injuries impeding their return to service and who will not be able to work again will receive $1,000 more a month for the rest of their lives. This amount will be added onto their income replacement benefits, as well as their permanent monthly allowance (in the amount of $536 to $1,609). Within the next five years, 500 Veterans will be eligible for this monthly additional amount.

Another initiative will increase the benefit for lost earnings (based on 75% of their pre-release salary) Veterans receive while in rehabilitation to a minimum annual income of approximately $40,000 pre-tax. This improvement will increase the income of 2,320 Veterans over the next five years.

These changes are subject to legislative and/or regulatory changes being approved, with legislation expected to be tabled in Fall 2010.

The proposed enhancements are in addition to the $740 million over 5 years investment that was announced in April 2006. This investment enabled the implementation of the NVC suite of programs.

Yet another recently announced initiative, the Legacy of Care, will see Government recognize the exceptional challenges faced by seriously ill and injured CF personnel and their families as a result of sacrifices that have been made in service to our nation, particularly with new Veterans emerging from the Afghanistan mission. The Department of National Defence will implement four initiatives and Veterans Affairs Canada will implement one initiative with the goal of contributing in a tangible and lasting way to these members’ recovery and rehabilitation, and supporting their eventual re-establishment, along with their families, in civilian life. The Government of Canada is spending $52.5 million over five years on these initiatives, which include barrier-free accommodations, support services while in these barrier-free accommodations, spousal education, a caregiver assistance grant, and enhancing case management. 

These changes build on the current initiatives, and service improvements Veterans Affairs Canada has already taken, including alignment of resources to respond to Veterans and other clients with the most serious needs. The Department has improved technology and business processes to strengthen case management, improved wait times for decisions, and cut red tape. There is tangible evidence that these actions are benefiting Veterans:

• The Government of Canada has opened 19 Integrated Personnel Support Centres on Canadian Forces bases. Upwards of 1,500 CF members visit these Centres monthly; and



• The Department has established a national case management strategy that benefits all Veterans. As part of this, the Department has adjusted workloads so that case managers can maximize the time they spend with clients, and given case managers more authority to make timely decisions that are critical to client recovery, rehabilitation and transition to civilian life.

These improvements demonstrate that this Government has been listening to our Veterans and their families. Veterans Affairs Canada will continue to pursue ways to improve its business processes and deliver better services to Veterans.

The Government of Canada acknowledges the important work of ACVA and looks forward to continued collaboration.