Veterans Affairs commits $78.1M to North
Money part of initiative to restore level of service in place before Harper administration
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Friday, September 2, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The federal government has announced Veterans Affairs Canada is going to provide an enhanced level of service and outreach to veterans and their families in Yellowknife and across the NWT.
Veterans Affairs minister Kent Hehr announced $78.1M over five years in the North as part of a $5.6B plan to improve veteran's services in Canada. - |
Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr came to Yellowknife and officially made the announcement in front of several current soldiers and veterans on Wednesday. He said the funding is part of the Liberal government's initiative to restore the level of service for veterans that he said was eroded by the government of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Harper's government closed nine Veterans Affairs offices in Canada in 2014. Hehr said those nine offices will reopen if they haven't already and two new ones will be added.
"We are going out and finding our veterans who may have fallen through the cracks, ensuring that they get the benefits they need as well as working with those who are case managed, those who want to build their lives through education and other opportunities going forward," Hehr said in an interview following his announcement. "We understand this area has been not well served under the former government. We're reinvesting in veterans ensuring they have opportunities to build their lives. That rebuilding starts today in the Northern communities."
Hehr said frontline department staff will travel to meet face-to-face with veterans and their families to share information on services and benefits. He said they will travel to Yellowknife and the territory regularly and on an as-needed basis.
He added part of the initiative has been to hire up to 400 new employees to help ensure that veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members as well as RCMP personnel and their families are provided with the best possible services when and where they need them. The goal now is to reduce case manager's caseloads to a maximum of 25 veterans, down considerably he said from what is was under the Harper government.
Hehr said there are about 300 veterans across the three territories that the department currently provides services for but added he expects that number to grow as people discover that they qualify for help from VAC.
The new program also covers the Canadian Rangers, a part of the military that is concentrated in the North and made up of mostly indigenous members.
"It's a commitment by our government to ensure that the North is looked after ... which was not happening before we came to power," said Hehr.
The government is spending $78.1 million over five years on Canada's veterans in the North. It is part of $5.6 billion the Liberals are spending to improve veteran's benefits and services across the country. That includes increased payments under the disability award and the earnings loss benefit. Veterans Affairs Canada has also expanded its program to allow for the funding of new war memorials.
Hehr said his department fully recognizes the sacrifices made by soldiers and their families, suggesting that issues such as post traumatic stress disorders due to combat fatigue will be taken more seriously. He added better pensions and medical benefits will also be part of the program.
Kevin McLeod is a retired Canadian military colonel who lives in Yellowknife and acts as an unofficial spokesperson for veterans in the city. He was at Wednesday's announcement and applauded Hehr.
"It's great to hear that veteran's affairs will make their services more accessible in the North. We live in a centre but there may be a veteran who lives in Inuvik or Tuk who might not get access or know that their issues are being heard," McLeod said. "In the past veterans might have to travel to Edmonton or they might have to Skype to get a live person who could tell them about services that they are entitled to."
McLeod estimated there are about 45 Canadian military veterans in Yellowknife that have served either in the reserves or regular forces, not including the Canadian Rangers.
