The Honourable Erin O’Toole addresses Rotary Meadowvale
April 10, 2015 – Mississauga – Veterans Affairs Canada
The Honourable Erin O’Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs, today joined Brad Butt, Member of Parliament for Mississauga–Streetsville, at a Rotary Meadowvale luncheon focussed on care, compassion and respect for Canada’s Veterans.
During the keynote address, Minister O’Toole highlighted recent initiatives introduced by the Government of Canada to enhance support and services for Veterans and their families, such as:
- The new Retirement Income Security Benefit, which would provide moderately to severely disabled Veterans—those who need it most—with continued assistance in the form of a monthly income support payment beginning at age 65.
- The new Family Caregiver Relief Benefit, which would provide eligible Veterans with a tax-free, annual grant of $7,238 so that their informal caregivers—who are often their spouse or other devoted family members—will have flexibility or relief when they need it, while also ensuring that the Veterans’ care needs are met.
- Effective April 1, 2015, broadened eligibility criteria for the Permanent Impairment Allowance (PIA) which, together with the PIA Supplement, provides approximately $600 to $2,800 a month in lifelong monthly financial support to Veterans whose employment potential and career advancement opportunities have been limited by a permanent service-related injury or illness.
- Effective April 1, 2015, enhanced benefits for injured part-time Reserve Force Veterans, who will now be assured the same minimum income support payment through the Earnings Loss Program as full-time Reserve Force and Regular Force Veterans.
- The proposed new Critical Injury Benefit (CIB) which will provide a $70,000 tax-free award to support the most severely injured and ill Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and Veterans.
Minister O’Toole and MP Butt also met with Veterans in Mississauga to gain their perspectives on key issues facing Veterans and their families.
Martin Magnan
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs
613-996-4649
Media Relations
Veterans Affairs Canada
613-992-7468
