HALIFAX – The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, and the Honourable Greg Kerr, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, today announced the establishment of a national network of eight support centres dedicated to the care of ill and injured Canadian Forces (CF) personnel, former personnel, their families and the families of the deceased. The support centres, known as Integrated Personnel Support Centres (IPSCs), will operate under a single national CF unit headquartered in Ottawa, known as the Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU).
“This Government is committed to the health and well-being of Canada’s soldiers, sailors, airmen, and airwomen,” said Minister MacKay. “Whether returning to military life, or exploring a new civilian career, these members and their families will receive the assistance they need.”
Minister MacKay and Mr. Kerr were on hand to officially launch the JPSU and its network of support centres along with an audience of senior officers, CF staff and their families.
“The Integrated Personnel Support Centres provide us with an opportunity to improve transition services already available on most CF bases across the country,” said the Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, in Ottawa. “This partnership with our colleagues at DND will provide veterans and their families with more coordinated, seamless service.”
The JPSU’s support centres, or IPSCs, will coordinate a range of casualty support and case management programs; plan and monitor the Return to Work Program; provide Veterans Affairs Canada client and transition services; and liaise with local service providers, base support representatives and unit Commanding Officers. They will improve existing services by aligning progress on a member’s file with one defined set of priorities.
The creation of the JPSU and its network of IPSCs is one of a number of concrete measures designed to respond to the December 2008 DND/CF Ombudsman’s Report, “A Long Road to Recovery: Battling Operational Stress Injuries.”
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For more information please contact:
National Defence Media Liaison Office
1-866-377-0811
or
Janice Summerby
Media Relations
Veterans Affairs Canada
(613) 992-7468
