Reference N14015E
February 22, 2014
Kanata, Ontario
Department of Veterans Affairs
This evening, the Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of Veterans Affairs, delivered the keynote address before members of the Dominion Executive Council of the Royal Canadian Legion at their annual Legion President’s Dinner.
Minister Fantino took the occasion to give members of the Council an update on the Government’s efforts and commitment to streamline and simplify programs and services to better serve Veterans and their families. He seized the opportunity to present some of the recent initiatives taken by the Government, including the current parliamentary review of the New Veterans Charter, priority-hiring measures for Veterans and new commitments undertaken in Economic Action Plan 2014.
Minister Fantino also highlighted the ways that the Royal Canadian Legion works with Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) to support those who served. Collaborative work is done through the Legion's national network of trained volunteers who, through a contract agreement, reach out to Veterans in long-term facilities across Canada, and through the Legion Service Bureau, a national network of professional service officers which is empowered through legislation to assist Veterans and their families in getting access to VAC benefits and programs.
The Minister also spoke on the importance of remembering Veterans’ achievements and highlighted the Government’s commitment to commemorate many important anniversaries in our nation’s military history in 2014, including the 100th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War and the 75th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War.
Joshua Zanin
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Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs
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