Questions Passed as Orders for Returns  With regard to the Last Post Fund and the agreements in place with Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) related to funeral expenses: (a) why does VAC not directly take care of the funeral expenses related to the death of veterans; (b) what restrictions exist that prevent a veteran or a veteran’s family from obtaining funds given for funeral expenses; (c) how many requests to cover funeral costs have been received by the Last Post Fund in each year since its creation; (d) of the requests in (c), how many were (i) accepted, (ii) rejected; (e) what were the reasons for every rejection in (d); (f) what is the breakdown of accepted requests, by veterans of (i) the First World War, (ii) the Second World War, (iii) the Korean War, (iv) the Gulf War, (v) NATO missions, (vi) Afghanistan, (vii) United Nations missions; (g) are the funds given to veterans to cover funeral expenses treated as taxable income; (h) are the funds given to the families of serving Canadian Forces members treated as taxable income; (i) what plan does VAC have to increase the amount given to families of veterans through the Last Post Fund; (j) what plan does VAC have to change the eligibility criteria for Last Post Fund resources; (k) what steps does VAC plan to take to increase the funds available to veterans so as to match what is given to serving members of the Canadian Forces for their funeral expenses; (l) what is the breakdown of contributions given to the Last Post Fund; (m) how much does VAC spend on the administration and promotion of the Last Post Fund; and (n) are funds allocated to the Last Post Fund subject to the Deficit Reduction Plan and budget cuts of 2011-2012, in the range of five to ten percent?

Veterans  The Royal Canadian Legion stated that the government had effectively limited the ability of the Last Post Fund to meet its mandate by reducing the estate exemption from $24,000 to $12,000. That happened under the Liberal government, but the Conservative government has done nothing to change the situation since 2006.

Veterans Affairs committee  For a number of reasons, the graves of some veterans were not marked with gravestones, whether upright or flat. As this became evident, the Last Post Fund sought the assistance of Veterans Affairs to resolve the marking of unmarked graves. Such is a Last Post Fund program, and it continues. In essence, where a grave remains unmarked for more than five years, the Last Post Fund will provide and install a military-type marker for such graves.

Veterans Affairs  Speaker, a funeral can cost as much as $13,000, yet Veterans Affairs provides only $3,600 through the Last Post Fund to bury low-income soldiers if they meet the outdated eligibility requirements. In the last six years, over 66% of applications to the fund were rejected, which meant over 20,000 veterans did not even qualify.

Government Response to Petitions  I move that the House recommend that the Minister of Veterans Affairs strike an independent task force to conduct a root and branch review of the last post fund and provide recommendations to the government on ways to enhance and improve access to funding to help cover burial costs of veterans.

Veterans Affairs  Would the minister consider appointing an independent panel to review the funding of the Last Post Fund to make recommendations on the appropriate levels of support for our brave veterans when their families deal with their funerals and burial costs? Would the minister consider this approach?

Veterans  I am obviously referring to Conservative members, because the NDP are all talk. The funeral and burial program is provided to veterans through the last post fund. It is provided to all veterans in need who have been injured in the line of duty.

Veterans  Mr. Speaker, that is patently false. The Last Post Fund does not supply the needs of all veterans. The fact is that we asked last week in the House of Commons when the government would ensure it for every single hero of our country who wore the uniform.

Veterans  Regarding the funeral and burial program, this is an important program delivered by the Last Post Fund to all injured veterans in need. We will keep improving all the services we provide to veterans.

Veterans  We are going to ask the government one last time. Will it now put the funding into the last post fund to ensure that every single veteran in this country, who served the country with the unlimited liability, gets the dignity that they and their families deserve? It is the least we can do.

Veterans Affairs committee  How long did it take before the government became involved in the Last Post Fund, and started funding it? Do you have those numbers?

Veterans Affairs committee  We have the means and the mechanism to do it now. Anyone who is aware of any unmarked veterans graves should contact the Last Post Fund or us, and we'll make sure that it's done.

Veterans Affairs committee  I have one quick last question. At our last meeting, we had the lieutenant general from the Last Post Fund as a witness to our committee. One of his comments in his presentation was that 28% of his budget is for operating expenses. He wasn't happy with that and was looking to make improvements.

Veterans Affairs committee  It has to do with the moneys allocated in law by the Government of Canada. It has nothing to do with the Last Post Fund. Continuing on, yes, in my opening remarks I attempted to convey that the Last Post Fund has been frustrated by the slowness of change. We used to pass humour about how long does it take to have regulations amended?

House debate  As the minister mentioned in his response to the member, the Department of Veterans Affairs works closely with the last post fund, which delivers the program on its behalf. It works hard to ensure funeral and burial assistance is offered to veterans who have died from injuries related to their service, regardless of their rank or the medals they have received.