QUESTION PERIOD — Ministry of Veterans Affairs
Processing of Disability Benefits Applications
February 15, 2024
Welcome to the Senate, minister.
In February 2023, the Commissioner of Official Languages, Raymond Théberge, asked your department to take prompt action to ensure that processing times for francophone veterans’ applications for disability benefits were the same as for anglophones. Shockingly, the commissioner noted in a preliminary investigation report that, for the 2022-23 fiscal year, the average wait time for French-language applications was 40 weeks, compared with 32 weeks for English-language applications.
How has your department addressed this unacceptable disparity, and can you confirm whether this problem has now been resolved?
Thank you very much for that important question, Senator Cormier.
Again, I want to thank you for your hard work on Bill C-13, which has now become law, and on the amendments made to Bill C-35.
Like many of you, I think the processing times for applications from francophone veterans are totally unacceptable. I am pleased that the Department of Veterans Affairs has taken the necessary steps to ensure that these applications are reviewed as quickly as possible.
The department has hired more francophone and bilingual staff to make sure that the work is being done. I can tell you that French-language applications are now being reviewed faster than English-language applications, but that being said, we must continue the work and keep an eye on these applications to avoid reversing the trend.
