STEADYING THE COURSE
Report of the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
Chairman of the Subcommittee: The Honourable Orville H. Phillips
Deputy Chairman: The Honourable M. Lorne Bonnell
April 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE FIRST LEVEL OF ADJUDICATION
THE REVIEW AND APPEAL LEVELS OF ADJUDICATION
AMENDMENTS TO THE VETERANS LEGISLATION
MEMBERSHIP
The Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology:
The Honourable Mabel DeWare, Chairman
The Honourable Peter Bosa, Deputy Chairman
and
The Honourable Senators:
|
Bonnell, M. Lorne Cohen, Erminie Joy Cools, Anne C. *Fairbairn, Joyce, P.C. (or Graham, Alasdair) Forest, Jean B. Haidasz, Stanley Hervieux-Payette, Céline |
Lavoie-Roux, Thérèse Losier-Cool, Rose-Marie *Lynch-Staunton, John (or Kinsella, Noel) Perrault, Raymond J., P.C. Phillips, Orville H. |
*Ex Officio Members
Jill Anne Joseph
Clerk of the Committee
The Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs:
The Honourable Orville H. Phillips, Chairman
The Honourable M. Lorne Bonnell, Deputy Chairman
and
The Honourable Senators:
|
Cohen, Erminie J. Cools, Anne C. *Fairbairn, Joyce, P.C. (or Graham, Alasdair) |
Jessiman, Duncan J. Losier-Cool, Rose-Marie *Lynch-Staunton, John (or Kinsella, Noel) Perrault, Raymond J., P.C. |
*Ex Officio Members
Patrick J. Savoie
Clerk of the Subcommittee
ORDERS OF REFERENCE
Extract from the Journals of the Senate of Tuesday, December 10, 1996:
The Honourable Senator Bonnell moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Landry:
That the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology be authorized to examine and report upon implementation by the Department of Veterans Affairs of measures to expedite the adjudication of pensions; and
That the Committee submit its report no later than June 30, 1997.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Paul C. Bélisle
Clerk of the Senate
------------------
Extract from the Minutes of Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology of December 11, 1996:
The Honourable Senator Lavoie-Roux moved, -
That the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs be authorized to examine and report upon implementation by the Department of Veterans Affairs of measures to expedite the adjudication of pensions; and
That the Subcommittee present its report to the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology no later than June 23, 1997.
After debate,
The question being put on the motion, it was adopted.
Jill Anne Joseph
Clerk of the Committee
FOREWORD
For many years the Senate Veterans Affairs Subcommittee has undertaken the cause of veterans, to ensure that these special Canadians will always have access to the benefits and entitlements they so rightly deserve. As heroes age, and memories grow dim, we must not allow Canadians to forget the debt they owe to veterans and service persons.
As a Subcommittee of the Senate, we have collectively revisited the reforms undertaken by the Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of Bill C-67, An Act to establish the Veterans Review and Appeal Board, to amend the Pension Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to repeal the Veterans Appeal Board Act. This Subcommittee took a great leap of faith in 1994 when it allowed the bill to move through the Senate without amendment and quickly become law, and it appears that faith was well founded.
When our Subcommittee began hearings at Veterans Affairs Canada Headquarters, in Charlottetown, PEI, it was immediately apparent to those members of the committee who had worked on Bill C-67 that the pervasive attitudes in the department had changed.
I think I reflect the thoughts of the Subcommittee when I say that the veterans in Canada do have access to one of the best benefit and support systems in the world, but I also caution that we have not reached perfection yet, and work must be done to ensure all deserving veterans in Canada are afforded benefit of the doubt and fair access in obtaining benefits, entitlements, or services.
I hope this report and its title, Steadying the Course, deliver the message that we will remain vigilant to ensure that government gets on the right track before it's too late.
I would be remiss in not recognizing the excellent work of the Subcommittee Clerk, Patrick Savoie, our Library Researcher, Grant Purves, and the capable research and support staff in the offices of the chair and deputy chair. The work of these individuals in co-operation with officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs contributed to the quality of hearings and their ultimate product, this report.
As parliamentarians, it is encouraging to see the results of many years of study and lobbying come to fruition. It is my hope that the recommendations and observations contained in this report will assist government in further Steadying the Course.
Orville H. Phillips
Chairman
FOREWORD
Bill C-67, An Act to establish the Veterans Review and Appeal Board, to amend the Pension Act, to make consequential amendments to other Acts and to repeal the Veterans Appeal Board Act., has been a positive turning point for Canadian veterans.
Veterans Affairs Canada deserves a great deal of credit for the way in which they have accepted and implemented many fundamental changes to the pension adjudication process. "Turnaround" times at the first level of adjudication have been decidedly shortened and the department has given top priority to clearing the waiting list of applicants in a timely manner.
I wish to echo the words of the Chairman and add my own by saying how pleased the Subcommittee was with the cooperation we received from the department officials in Charlottetown, P.E.I., and throughout our study.
A special thanks must be given to David Nicholson, the Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada for his forthright answers to the Subcommittee. We have been assured that Mr. Nicholson's new duties with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency will not conflict with his commitments to our veterans.
I also wish to recognize the invaluable support the Royal Canadian Legion and the National Council of Veteran Associations have provided our Subcommittee for so many years. They represent their members' interests well.
Finally, the recommendations contained in this report look to the future, while remembering the past. I believe that theme reflects the renewed vision of Veterans Affairs Canada as they continue Steadying the Course.
M. Lorne Bonnell
Deputy Chairman