Photo: Tom MacGregor

Veterans Affairs Minister John McCallum.

Modern-day Canadian Forces members are set to see radical changes to the support system available to them once they return to civilian life. In the spirit of the Veterans Charter established at the end of WW II, the federal government recently announced its intention to reform the current programs and services for those leaving the forces. The May announcement followed closely on the heels of documents released by the Veterans Affairs Canada-Canadian Forces Advisory Council, which indicated the urgent need for improvement.

Veterans Affairs Minister John McCallum was joined by National Defence Minister David Pratt at an Ottawa press conference. “When one million servicemen and women came home from the Second World War almost 60 years ago, a grateful and responsive Canada provided a wide range of programs to assist them,” declared McCallum. Many of these programs were, however, phased out as these veterans grew older. “What this leaves us with is an inadequate support system for today’s veterans. This is why government will undertake the most fundamental reform of veterans’ programs since the Second World War.”

Photo: Tom MacGregor

Defence Minister David Pratt.

The minister emphasized that the new programs would focus on wellness, and on helping veterans to reach their full potential in civilian life.The overhaul is to encompass: disability awards and wellness programs instead of the current pension system for new applicants; physical and psychological rehabilitation services, including vocational training; earnings loss support; job placement assistance; and more extensive health benefits to meet the needs of veterans and their families. McCallum estimated that the cost of the new programs would run to about $200 million a year over the first five years. The average age of CF members leaving the forces is 39, and some 3,000 do so each year.

Defence Minister Pratt welcomed the Veterans Affairs Canada initiative, saying he had seen

first-hand the sacrifices CF members make in serving Canada and other countries, such as Afghanistan and Rwanda. “In my view, we can and must do more (for modern-day veterans). Our people are our most important resource. Their health and well-being are central to our ability to defend our interests at home and promote our values abroad.”

Professor Peter Neary, who chairs the Canadian Forces Advisory Council, congratulated the ministers. “The vision for a modern-day veterans’ charter will be welcomed by Canadians across the country and across party lines because it’s a logical and necessary policy step. I believe we have now turned a corner in Canada in veterans’ benefits.”

McCallum said the government will begin consultations with veterans organizations on program design so that legislation can reach the House of Commons by the end of the year.

The Royal Canadian Legion will take a leading role at the discussion table, said Dominion President Allan Parks. “The big thing we’re looking forward to now is to sit down at the table and work out the rules and regulations of how this (reform) can be implemented so that everything that is there and has been there stays intact. For the modern-day veteran there’s a lot of changes and new programs we can initiate. The veterans groups have to work together to get this in place.”

Bob Cassels, president of Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada (ANAVETS), added, “Now that the minister has come forward and said the department is going to start working with the veterans organizations—The Royal Canadian Legion, ourselves and others—I think that’s a positive step so that we (can) make sure that the people who need help are going to get it.”

McCallum emphasized that those who are already receiving veterans benefits “in no way will be adversely affected by this new initiative.” Asked how the new system will operate for those who become disabled as a result of service, and whether there would be something akin to the War Veterans Allowance, McCallum responded, “The War Veterans Allowance is a model that we would hope would not have to be used for too many people…but in any situation there will be some who cannot (return to work) so we will be there with a program reminiscent of the WVA, the details of which have yet to be worked out. While we will always be there for those who are sick and disabled, increasingly our main focus will be to make people well.”