ACVA Committee Report

Supplementary report of the NDP on Comparative Study Of Services To Veterans In Other Jurisdictions

New Democrats would like to thank the many witnesses who appeared before the committee for the Comparative Study Of Services To Veterans In Other Jurisdictions. New Democrats support the findings of this report but believe that the report’s recommendations must be strengthened. The NDP therefore wishes to amend some of the recommendations.

Currently, Recommendation 1 states:

That the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces be more flexible in applying the principle of universality of military service and consider establishing a “limited assignment status”, as defined in the US Air Force Instruction 36-3212.

The NDP believes that the model used by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) of Ontario, as heard in the testimony brought forward by John Genise, could greatly inform the Department of National Defence’s approach to help Canadian Forces members returning to work. WSIB uses an incremental and collaborative approach and the latter was well explained by the witness:

We use a collaborative approach in return to work planning, by involving the client, the employer, and the treating physician together to come up with a plan. When workers are able to go back to the workforce, we continue to support them while they are working, and help them to work through their challenges and some of their barriers.[1]

This step-by-step and collaborative model shows the CF member that he or she is supported and that efforts are being made to find an employment opportunity that will suit his or her aspirations, abilities and needs.

Therefore, in addition to recommendation 1, the NDP further recommends:

That DND use a collaborative approach similar to WSIB that involves the CF member, the military and the treating physician, together to come up with a plan to accommodate the CF member within the military in a new role. And also apply this model to medically released veterans requiring assistance to find work outside of the military.

Currently, Recommendation 2 states:

That the Canadian Armed Forces medically release members only once:

• they have adequate housing options;
• they have access to gainful employment options or to a vocational program;
• they have adequate and continuing medical follow up for their condition;
• Veterans Affairs Canada has made a final adjudication on their application for a disability award and, if applicable, the financial benefits in parts 1, 2, 3 and 3.1 of the New Veterans Charter;
• all health, rehabilitation and vocational services under the responsibility of Veterans Affairs Canada have been put in place.

The NDP believes that aspects of this recommendation must be more specific and also strengthened in order to ensure veterans have a smooth transition out of the Military.

With regards to the first item, the term ‘’adequate’’ is too vague and is not sufficiently binding. The NDP therefore suggests it be replaced with:

They have appropriate, affordable and safe housing options that meet their needs.

The same concern applies to the third item. As it currently appears in the report, it does not provide certainty to veterans, in particular those living in remote communities who might have difficulty accessing sufficient medical care.

The NDP therefore suggests item three be replaced with:

All health care for the veterans and their families be in place.

Currently, Recommendation 4 states:

That, following the introduction of the education and training benefit in April 2018, Veterans Affairs Canada ensure that medically released veterans who participate in the vocational program offered by the Service Income Security Insurance Plan do not receive less than veterans who are eligible for the education and training benefit.

The myriad of programs CF members/veterans have to apply for and the different eligibility criteria established for each of them can be very complicated and confusing. The NDP therefore believes it is of prime importance to make it more understandable and as seamless as possible to navigate for CF members and veterans.

New Democrats therefore suggest the following recommendation replace current recommendation 4:

That there be one application form to apply for education benefits and the CF member/veteran can be matched to the program that best meets his or her needs or the two benefits be combined to an cover the education program as the CF members transitions out of the SISP plan to Education and training benefit.