In the days ahead, Canadians will come together to honour a group of men and women who unite us as few things can: Our Veterans – the generations of brave Canadians who have always been there to serve our great country in both times of war and in times of peace. From coast to coast, Canadians will participate in the various Veterans’ Week events because they proudly understand the great debt we owe our Veterans and their families. As your Member of Parliament, I am also proud of our government’s own record in repaying that debt.
Our Conservative Government stands shoulder to shoulder with our Veterans who have always stood up for freedom democracy and rule of law. That is why during our five years in office, we have increased spending on Veterans programs by over $2.5 billion. Some of the steps our Government has taken to help Canada’s Veterans are outlined below.
Improving Services for Veterans:
- announced $52.5 million in new spending to establish a “legacy of care” centred around five new initiatives to care for injured soldiers, sea and air personnel. These initiatives contribute in a tangible and lasting way to their recovery, rehabilitation and reintegration into civilian life;
- opened Integrated Personnel Support Centres on 19 CF Bases and Wings as part of a national network dedicated to the care of ill and injured CF personnel, former personnel, their families and the families of the deceased;
- added a 24 hour, toll free help line, the VAC Assistance Service, for Veterans and their families who need access to professional counseling services; and
- created an innovative new service in local communities (Clinical Care Managers), mental health professionals who provide guidance and support to Veterans with complex mental health issues and have barriers to receiving care.
Implementing and Maintaining the New Veterans Charter:
- successfully implemented the New Veterans Charter, which represents the most sweeping changes to the way we care for our Veterans in 60 years. In addition to maintaining full financial supports for our modern day Veterans, the NVC breaks new ground by also focusing on the wellness of our Veterans and their families;
- September 2010 announced $2 billion in new funding to enhance financial support for Veterans and their families:
- Veterans who have experienced catastrophic injuries that leave them unable to work will receive an additional $1,000 a month for the rest of their lives. This amount will be added on to 75 percent of their salary, as well as an allowance of $536 to $1,609 a month. Within the next five years, 500 Veterans will be eligible for this additional monthly amount;
- access to the permanent monthly allowance for seriously injured Veterans will be expanded; and
- the proposed changes will increase the minimum monthly income for those Veterans by changing the formula for the earnings loss benefit to ensure that no eligible Veteran will receive less than $40,000 per year.
Dignity and Respect for Veterans:
- introduced the Veterans’ Bill of Rights. This strengthens the Government’s ability to respond quickly and fairly to the concerns of Canadian Veterans;
- created the position of Veterans’ Ombudsman, and appointed Colonel Pat Stogran as the first Ombudsman. He has done an excellent job advocating on behalf of Veterans, and his successor will be named in the coming weeks;
- reversed the Liberal cuts to Allied Veterans benefits. We also extended those vital benefits to Allied Vets from the Korean War. These changes have helped about 4,600 Vets and family members.
Improving the Mental Health of Veterans:
- expanded our mental health services to help Veterans and their families cope with the trauma that can come with serving on dangerous and difficult missions;
- doubled the number of operational stress injury clinics across the country from five to 10, and hired more peer counsellors for military families through our internationally-renowned OSISS (Operational Stress Injury Social Support) program; and
- Veterans Affairs Canada and the Department of National Defence are working closely together to build a national network of 19 Integrated Personnel Support Centres for the care of ill and injured service men and women.
Promoting Remembrance:
- We’ve provided $450,000 over three years to support the Dominion Institute’s Memory Project, which brings our Veterans in to schools to speak to students and community groups;
- We’ve instituted a ceremonial presence and interpretive guides (along with other new security measures) to protect security and the integrity of the National War Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier;
- We have brought remembrance to Canadians in new and innovative ways through partnerships with community and national organizations, and by using social media such as Facebook and YouTube; and
- We’ve ended uncertainty about the future of the Juno Beach Centre in France by committing $5 million over 10 years toward maintaining the memorial and education centre in Courseulles-sur-Mer.
Lest we forget.
