Yes, I can. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I refer you to part 4, division 2, articles 79 to 116 of the act. It is an act to amend the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act, which we more commonly refer to as the new Veterans Charter. There are four areas that are being proposed for amendment in this division of the act.
The first area would see an increase of the earnings loss benefit from 75% to 90% of a veteran's monthly gross pre-release salary. The earnings loss benefit is an economic impact benefit, which recognizes the impact of a service-related disability on an individual's ability to earn income following release from the military. This change would take effect as of October 1, 2016.
The second change that is proposed is a change to the permanent impairment allowance. First, it's recommending the change of the name to the “career impact allowance”. The permanent impairment allowance is an economic benefit that recognizes the lost opportunity that a permanent impairment has on employment and career progression. The name “permanent impairment allowance” does not accurately indicate what the award is for, hence the proposal to change the name to “career impact allowance”.
It is also proposed to change the term “totally and permanently incapacitated” to “diminished earning capacity”. In order for an individual to receive this award, they have to demonstrate that they have what we'll now be referring to, if this act goes through, as a “diminished earning capacity”.
Furthermore, in respect of the permanent impairment allowance, we are proposing to add an element to assess the impact of the service injury on a veteran's career advancement opportunities. Right now, there is no assessment that provides a measurement of the loss of earnings due to their service-related injury or illness. The proposal would provide for a functional capacity assessment to do so. That change would take effect as of April 1, 2017.
The other two changes have to do with the disability award, a lump sum payment that recognizes the non-economic impact of the pain and suffering. We propose increasing this lump sum payment to $360,000. It is currently about $310,000. Other changes will also be recommended for other types of awards that will all be part of the lump sum payment. It will take effect on April 1, 2017. There will also be a payment retroactive to April 1, 2006.
The last change is a clarification of the wording used. It concerns when the disability award becomes payable and how it is calculated. These are the four proposed changes for this part of the act.