Veterans Affairs committee  There is a dual award approach, meaning the disability award, the lump sum, was to recognize pain and suffering, so it's a non-economic aspect. The economic aspect, in terms of the impact of injuries on your ability to earn an income, is where the earnings-loss benefit comes in

Veterans Affairs committee  As Walter indicated, it's often very difficult to compare one system with another, because they can be very different, but for the Veterans Affairs system at the time when the new Veterans Charter was created, we looked at using a dual-award approach to compensate for injuries an

Veterans Affairs committee  The new Veterans Charter provides more for veterans' families than ever before. The death benefit, vocational rehabilitation, and financial benefits are available to spouses or common-law partners in cases in which the veteran is deceased or disabled.

Veterans Affairs committee  The new programs, which also included comprehensive rehabilitation, health care benefits, and career transition services, are based on the principles of modern disability management. They focus on early intervention and are tailored to the needs of the individual. They provide th

Veterans Affairs committee  The next step to opportunity is a new career. The new Veterans Charter provides career transition services to all releasing Canadian Armed Forces personnel, not just those who are medically released.

Veterans Affairs committee  Another top priority that was addressed in the new Veterans Charter was how to adequately meet the needs of survivors. These individuals have dedicated their lives to supporting their loved ones and helping them in their military careers and are instrumental in achieving a succes

Veterans Affairs committee  In March 2004, the Canadian Forces Advisory Council released a major discussion paper entitled Honouring Canada's Commitment: “Opportunity with Security” for Canadian Forces Veterans and Their Families in the 21st Century. In its report, the Canadian Forces Advisory Council calle

Veterans Affairs committee  During this period, focus groups were held with Canadian Armed Forces personnel and veterans and separately with the families of Canadian Armed Forces personnel and veterans to feed into program design. In addition, in advance of the legislation being tabled, information sessions

Veterans Affairs committee  For VAC, this significant transformation in veterans programs and services began with a study of the needs of veterans and their families, starting with the review of veterans’ care needs, which profiled veterans in receipt of VAC benefits and identified any gaps in benefits and

Veterans Affairs committee  In looking back at the military context then, there were several factors at play that sharpened the need for change. The Canadian Armed Forces were experiencing an increased operational tempo, and deployed Canadian Armed Forces members were facing traumatic war-like peacekeeping

Veterans Affairs committee  We don't currently have a good understanding of the number of homeless veterans in Canada. We do track the veterans we are providing outreach to and getting them into VAC programs and also into transitional housing, projects that we have under way with ESDC. Based on the numbers

Veterans Affairs committee  Sure, I can take that question. What has changed is that the regulations around vocational training, vocational rehabilitation, were very inflexible, very much had prescribed amounts for costs relating to each training item within the regulations. For example, for tuition, the m

Veterans Affairs committee  As you're aware, transition interviews are completed. It's mandatory for medically released veterans. Veterans who are voluntarily releasing can also obtain a transition interview. We don't have research right now in terms of the outcomes of those interviews, other than they ar

Veterans Affairs committee  Yes, I am aware that since, I believe 2006, there has been an increase of $5 billion in Veterans Affairs program budgets. Those increases have been—and I'll just give you an example—related to things such as in 2011, the new Veterans Charter enhancements were introduced. We also

Veterans Affairs committee  Sure. There were five prior to 2006, and there are currently 10 OSI clinics today. I could go on in terms of the list. Certainly on case management, we enhanced case management within the department as well.