October 14, 2011

Honouring the Veterans who reside in our riding has always held particular importance to me and I do what I can to ensure that our Veterans and their families are receiving the help they need.

As a former member of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, I can attest to the fact that the Department and its services needed to be modernized, especially when it came to meeting the needs of our newest and youngest veterans.

In the course of the last five years, a number of pressing issues, some of which go back decades, have been addressed.  Our Government has established the Veterans Bill of Rights, appointed the first-ever ombudsman for Canadian Veterans, extended the Veterans Independence Program to thousands of low-income survivors, and restored benefits to pre-1995 cutback levels for allied veterans and the inclusion of Korean war veterans and their families.

Today, we are recognizing and supporting those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and doubling the number of Veterans Affairs Canada operational stress injury clinics so that veterans scarred psychologically as a result of their service can get the assistance they need.

On October 6, 2011, our Government announced that enhancements to the New Veterans Charter are now in effect which will improve financial support for thousands of Canadian Veterans while providing full physical and psychological rehabilitation services, vocational assistance, health care benefits, and one-on-one case management to help Veterans make a successful transition to civilian life.

Key enhancements include:

• A minimum pre-tax income of $40,000 a year for Veterans who are in rehabilitation or, if they are no longer able to be gainfully employed, until age 65;
• Expanded eligibility for additional monthly allowances (worth up to $1,632 per month, payable for life) for seriously injured Veterans;
• A new $1,000 monthly supplement to the Permanent Impairment Allowance (payable for life) to help our most seriously injured or ill Veterans who are unable to return to suitable, gainful employment; and
• New payment options for Canadian Forces members and Veterans receiving a disability award. While these men and women still have the choice of a lump-sum payment, they are also now able to receive a disability award as either an annual payment (with interest) over any number of years they choose, or as a combination of a partial lump-sum payment and annual payments (with interest).

We realize that there is more to be done and that is why I appreciate meeting with Veterans and their families to learn of their stories and how we can continue to find ways to make their lives better.

I would like to thank our Kelowna and Oyama Legions and all their volunteers for their great support for our Veterans.  Recently my wife and I had an opportunity to attend appreciation dinners hosted by the Legions and it was a great opportunity to say “thank you” to our veterans for their years of service and sacrifice.

Canadians have a deep sense of responsibility and gratitude to the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country and made it the best place in the world to call home.  The annual Remembrance Day poppy drive will be starting soon and I encourage everyone to show their appreciation by buying and wearing one.

If you are a Veteran or a family member of a Veteran and need more information on the benefits and services available, please visit www.veterans.gc.ca.  If you cannot find the answers you are looking for, or require assistance, do not hesitate to contact my office at ron@cannan.ca.

Ron Cannan is the Member of Parliament for Kelowna-Lake Country