Response From Minister
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Minis t e r of Vet e rans A ff a i rs M A R 12 2 0 1 2 Min i st r e des A nci e ns Co mb att an ts Otta w a , Canad a K 1A O P4 Ms. Patricia Varga Dominion President The Royal Canadian Legion 86 Aird Place Ottawa, Ontario K2L OAl Dear Ms. Varga: /~ ' ?' " ~ J ;n t O Y 1 2 : ) MAR 0 6 2012 In response to your letter on behalf of the Veterans Consultation Group, I am pleased to take this opportunity to address the issues raised at its annual meeting. As you mention, Veterans Affairs Canada is undergoing a period of transformation dictated b y the changing d mographics of the Veterans it serves. This transformation is , first and foremost , abou t improving services to Veterans and their families. Work is under way in virtua l ly all areas of my Department to ensure that it continues to respond to the growing needs of Canada ' s older Veterans and the complex needs of Canadian Forces members and modem-day Veterans. While it is t rue that the Department ' s spending in the oming y ears is expected to decrease as , sadly, the number of Veterans from the Second World War and the Korean War dec ines , our Government has been very clear : there are no cuts to Veterans ' benefits. As part of the Government of Canada's ongoing efforts to modernize and balance the budget th r ough the deficit reduction action plan , Vete r ans Affairs Canada h as reviewed the pr g r ams and operations within its portfolio to ensure responsible spending and continued value for Canadian taxpayers. The results of this review wil l be announced in Budget 2012 . .. . /2
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Transcript of Response From Minister
8/2/2019 Response From Minister
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Minister
of Veterans Affairs
M A R 1 2 2 0 1 2Ministre
des Anciens Combattants
Ottawa, Canada K1A OP4
Ms. Patricia Varga
Dominion President
The Royal Canadian Legion
86 Aird Place
Ottawa, Ontario
K2L OAl
Dear Ms. Varga:/~ '?'"~J;nt O Y 1 2 : )
M A R 0 6 2 0 1 2
In response to your letter on behalf of the Veterans Consultation Group,
I am pleased to take this opportunity to address the issues raised at its annual
meeting.
As you mention, Veterans Affairs Canada is undergoing a period of
transformation dictated by the changing demographics of the Veterans it
serves. This transformation is, first and foremost, about improving services to
Veterans and their families. Work is under way in virtually all areas of my
Department to ensure that it continues to respond to the growing needs of
Canada's older Veterans and the complex needs of Canadian Forces members
and modem-day Veterans.
While it is true that the Department's spending in the coming years is expected
to decrease as, sadly, the number of Veterans from the Second World War and
the Korean War declines, our Government has been very clear: there are no
cuts to Veterans' benefits.
As part of the Government of Canada's ongoing efforts to modernize and
balance the budget through the deficit reduction action plan, Veterans Affairs
Canada has reviewed the programs and operations within its portfolio to ensure
responsible spending and continued value for Canadian taxpayers. The results
of this review will be announced in Budget 2012.
.. ./2
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The Department's projected spending for 2012-13 and onward, as outlined in
the 2011-2012 Report on Plans and Priorities, is based in part on forecastsfrom 2007. Projected program expenditures are adjusted each year through an
estimates process. It may interest you to know that the Department increased
its budget by an average of$150 million through in-year adjustments over the
past two years. The flexibility of the budget process will ensure that Veterans
carry on receiving all the benefits to which they are entitled and so richly
deserve.
Throughout its ongoing efforts to review and improve benefits for Veterans,
Veterans Affairs Canada will continue to reach out to and consult with
Veterans and their families, Veterans organizations and other stakeholders.My Department will fully consider their recommendations and is committed to
responding in concrete ways to keep its programs and services relevant for all
Veterans.
As you are aware, our Government recently introduced the Enhanced New
Veterans Charter Act to address concerns, including those raised by the New
Veterans Charter Advisory Group, about the benefits provided to ill and
injured Veterans. This new legislation offers significant improvements to thesupports available to seriously injured Veterans.
Finally, Veterans Affairs Canada, together with the Department of National
Defence, has been pleased to support the work of Queen's University and the
Royal Military College to found the Canadian Institute for Military andVeteran Health Research. The Institute is currently formulating its governance
sn:uc~re and plans to engage stakeholders in establishing its research Ipriorities.
Veterans Affairs Canada's Research Directorate is exploring ways to
strengthen the Department's collaboration with the Institute on research
relating to Veterans' health and rehabilitation. The Directorate recently gave a
presentation to the Departmental Stakeholder Committee, and it will continuel
to provide periodic updates at future Committee meetings.
I.../3
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I hope that the information provided is helpful. Again, thank you for sharing
the views of the Veterans Consultation Group. Our Government remainscommitted to meeting the needs of Veterans and their families now and in the
future, and your input is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Steven Blaney, P.C., M.P.
