Bill C-607 (Historical)

Independent and Effective Office of the Veterans' Ombudsman Act

An Act to establish the office of the Veterans' Ombudsman

This bill was last introduced in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session, which ended in March 2011.

Sponsor

Rob Oliphant  Liberal

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Outside the Order of Precedence (a private member's bill that hasn't yet won the draw that determines which private member's bills can be debated), as of Dec. 14, 2010
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment establishes the office of the Veterans’ Ombudsman and provides a mandate and a legislative framework for the Ombudsman to review certain matters relating to veterans and other clients and to review the exercise of the powers, duties and functions of the Minister of Veterans Affairs under the Department of Veterans Affairs Act and systemic issues that relate to the operation of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Independent and Effective Office of the Veterans' Ombudsman ActRoutine Proceedings

December 14th, 2010 / 10:05 a.m.
See context

Liberal

Rob Oliphant Liberal Don Valley West, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-607, An Act to establish the office of the Veterans' Ombudsman.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased this morning to introduce the independent and effective office of the Veterans Ombudsman bill, which if passed would give the Veterans Ombudsman independence from departmental and ministerial control and would shift the reporting requirements to Parliament itself.

Members of Parliament are fond of arranging Christmas gifts for our soldiers, particularly those on active duty in Afghanistan at this time of year. An effective and independent ombudsman to help them when they leave the forces, especially if they are injured, would be the best possible gift to give them.

This bill would provide veterans with an independent voice that could effectively advocate on their behalf. The bill would make significant changes to the scope of the ombudsman's ability to investigate problems, offer mediation services and comment on systemic issues using the same resources now committed to the current office. These powers and new reporting relationship would significantly strengthen the ombudsman's effectiveness at no additional cost to the taxpayer. As such, the bill would not require a royal recommendation. This is a serious bill for a serious problem.

This is the sort of holiday gift that Canadian soldiers and Canadian veterans want and deserve. I take this time to wish them all a very merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)