Check against delivery
November 19, 2013
Ottawa, Ontario
Thank you for the opportunity to appear today as part of the comprehensive review of the New Veterans Charter.
In 2011, Parliament passed Bill c-55, which created one new monthly payment, expanded the eligibility for two monthly financial benefits and allowed veterans to break their lump sum into more flexible terms.
It also added a requirement that these new measures be reviewed by Parliament in 2013.
Upon taking office, I heard clearly from the Veterans Ombudsman, Veterans’ groups and stakeholders that a wider review of the New Veterans Charter was needed.
I therefore asked my Parliamentary Secretary to ensure a comprehensive review of the New Veterans Charter was to be taken up in short order.
And I am pleased to be here to discuss how we can improve the New Veterans Charter for Veterans and their families.
As you undertake this review, I’d like to take a minute to discuss my hopes for your work.
It is my firm belief that you should focus the review on how the New Veterans Charter serves the most seriously injured; how our Government supports Canadian Veterans’ families; and on how Veterans Affairs delivers the programs you have put in place.
Colleagues, the New Veterans Charter was unanimously passed by Parliament under the former government after years of debate and study among experts, Veterans’ representatives and Veterans themselves.
While we can never say everyone, the vast majority obviously concluded the old pension system had outlived its usefulness.
I encourage members to read the Senate’s report on the New Veterans Charter, which they issued last year.
I would also highlight a comment Senator Roméo Dallaire stated upon its introduction in the other place:
"It is with great anticipation that I am speaking to the New Veterans Charter, which proposes to modernize our Veterans’ assistance and compensation program. It is, in fact, a new social contract between the people of Canada and our Veterans, both past and present."
Advances in medical knowledge and disability management, and changing demographics among the Veterans population were just some of the changes that led to this new approach in 2005.
As the situation facing Canadian Veterans changed from 2005 to today, so too has the New Veterans Charter and how it is applied.
Officials will distribute copies of a report my department has produced which outlines 160 adopted recommendations that led to 107 improvements to the administration of benefits and services under the New Veterans Charter.
These changes represent our collective effort to keep pace with changing times, but I will be the first to agree that more must be done.
Colleagues, since 2005 we have seen the effects of the war in Afghanistan on our military men and women.
While new payment and options were provided to Veterans in 2011 that provided more financial support to those who have been seriously injured, I am convinced more can and should be done.
Our commitment to Veterans is absolute and has been since our Government was first formed in 2006.
One must only look at the overall Veterans Affairs budget to see how even during a recession and a government-wide cost-reduction exercise, Veterans affairs spends approximately $700 million more annually today in 2013 than in 2005.
The work our Government does each day has been and can be called many things: duty, responsibility, commitment, social contract, sacred obligation or covenant. Colleagues, I believe it is all of those things.
Therefore, as part of this review, I ask you to determine how best to state our commitment to Canadians and their families and what is the best format to do so in the New Veterans Charter.
It is important that Canadians express, though the parliamentary process, exactly what is our shared duty, responsibility, mandate, obligation, commitment or covenant to Canadian Veterans.
Returning to the changing times; Veterans Affairs offices in nine locations across Canada have seen demand drop, and so yes, they are being closed.
Some of these offices have seen demand drop to fewer than seven visits on average per day, with many of these visits for dropping off paperwork.
But where Veterans need them most, our Government has maintained 26 Veterans Affairs Canada service centres, and has established and supports 24 integrated personnel support centres and 17 operational stress injury clinics.
In total, Veterans affairs will have 67 locations across the country to meet the changing need. But this is again only part of the story.
Now, in locations where Veterans Affairs has never operated before, Veterans and their families can visit one of 600 Service Canada sites to get the information they need.
As times have changed, so too have the rates paid under the Funeral and Burial Program.
The average cost of a funeral today in Canada is just over $7,000. That is why, last spring, our Government increased the maximum payment to $7,376 while providing an additional $1,200 on average to Veterans’ families for any burial costs.
We have one of the most robust programs of our allies—the United Kingdom provides $3,500 and New Zealand provides $1,800. All noted in Canadian dollars.
It is clear this program has kept up with the changing times, because of improvements made by our Government.
I will also take a moment to speak about the supplementary estimates B, which this year includes a request for another $20 million dollars to support Canadian Veterans’ funeral costs, our commemorative promotion campaign, and for increases to the War Veterans Allowance and other health-related benefits.
This further request for new financial support builds on our Government’s record of almost $5 billion dollars in total new financial support since 2006.
With our administration costs on the decline, we are focusing on delivering more value in our Veterans services while maintaining and improving service.
One final thought before I take your questions:
The exercise on which you are embarking is not one of the elusive pursuit of perfection, but rather about finding the right solutions for those Veterans and families who need them the most.
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