Evidence of meeting #2 for Veterans Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was terms.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Director, Rehabilitation, Department of Veterans Affairs
I don't have the actual projections with me, but that was the initial upfront program investment.
Director, Rehabilitation, Department of Veterans Affairs
Yes, for the first five years.
Liberal
Bonnie Crombie Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
I understand. So how much more do we anticipate it will cost, then, than it was before the new Veterans Charter, on an annual basis? We don't know? Certainly it's more generous, so it would be much more costly.
Director, Rehabilitation, Department of Veterans Affairs
This was an absolute investment of new money at the outset, too.
Liberal
Bonnie Crombie Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
It's a good thing. I was just trying to understand what the costs will be.
Would we find it in the estimates?
Director, Rehabilitation, Department of Veterans Affairs
I think maybe the--
Liberal
Director, Rehabilitation, Department of Veterans Affairs
I think there would be some, and I understand our minister is here later in the week with tabling the estimates, so you can follow up on that.
Liberal
Bonnie Crombie Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Yes, please do. I'm sure that every member of the committee is acutely interested about what the cost of the program will be.
The benefits to young veterans who are at a lower salary and have a whole life career ahead of them but may not be eligible to participate because of injuries.... What do we do for the young veterans whose earning potential has been diminished as a result of their injury?
Director, Rehabilitation, Department of Veterans Affairs
The programs, as they're designed, are intended to compensate to a certain extent for that. All of the earnings-loss stream.... I mentioned the permanent impairment allowance, which is an allowance that takes into account someone's lack of capacity to participate in a career, or if they are able to work, that they recognize that those with higher levels of disabilities do experience a lack in career progression, so that is a benefit that is payable over the lifetime of the member.
Liberal
Bonnie Crombie Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Right. I'm specifically interested in whether or not it recognizes that individuals had promising careers ahead of them, they were bright and young, and that capacity has now been diminished. Would they be compensated for that reduced capacity?
Director, Rehabilitation, Department of Veterans Affairs
Yes, it's one component of the financial benefit package, with the earnings loss being the other piece. It would be payable until age 65. There's a supplementary retirement benefit as well, which is payable at age 65.
Liberal
Bonnie Crombie Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Let's talk about life after age 65. What happens to the benefit package?
Director, Rehabilitation, Department of Veterans Affairs
As I mentioned earlier, in the case of someone who's seriously disabled, the permanent impairment allowance would continue to be paid. The supplementary retirement benefit would be paid out at age 65 as a lump sum. At that point, they would be eligible for other government programs. If they're in low-income situations, the Canadian Forces income support program guarantees at least a basic standard of living from age 65.
Liberal
Bonnie Crombie Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Our veterans certainly feel there's a clawback after age 65.
Director, Rehabilitation, Department of Veterans Affairs
Mr. Stoffer alluded to that, as well.
Liberal
Bonnie Crombie Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Okay. What non-economic benefits are available in the new charter?
Director, Rehabilitation, Department of Veterans Affairs
The non-economic component of the dual-award approach is represented by the disability award benefit, in the case of disability, or by the death benefit, in the case of death, which would be payable to the surviving family.
Liberal
Bonnie Crombie Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
Is there spousal support in terms of a non-economic benefit for job placement or vocational assistance for the spouse or the family?
Director, Rehabilitation, Department of Veterans Affairs
There is significantly more family support under the new Veterans Charter.
In the case of someone who's more seriously disabled and where the veteran can't partake in vocational rehabilitation, the spouse can access that. We'll pay for the training. We'll pay for all of the associated expenses of tuition, child care, etc.
There's also a very generous package outlined in scenario four, in the case of death, where the surviving spouse would be paid the death benefit, which is currently $276,000.
The survivor would also be entitled to the earnings loss benefit until the veteran would have turned age 65. The supplementary retirement benefit would be payable. Educational assistance is offered to children for post-secondary studies. As well, the survivor in that case can access vocational assistance.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative David Sweet
Thank you, Madam MacCormack.
Madam Crombie, did you ask for some supplementary information?
Liberal
Bonnie Crombie Liberal Mississauga—Streetsville, ON
On the costing of the program, yes, I did. Thank you.
Conservative
Conservative
Ben Lobb Conservative Huron—Bruce, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I want to pick up on the topic that Mr. Stoffer brought up, which is the scenario wherein a reservist had served for six years and then had come back, some time later, with an issue. WIth Veterans Affairs and DND having a good relationship, can you tell the committee what work has been done to improve communication or to improve the documentation of injuries while in service so that it makes your job easier in later years? Could you talk a little more about the process as you see it?