Thank you, Mr. Chair.
First, I will deal with the seriously injured veterans. DND and VAC must ensure that all seriously injured veterans make application for pension claims and allowances before being discharged from the service, including the RCMP.
Seriously injured veterans must also include those individuals with PTSD. The severely injured veterans, upon discharge, and during their transition to civilian life, are at a very high risk to further injury and death. We highly recommend that Veterans Affairs Canada monitor their rehabilitation, mental health services, health care, and support for their families.
VAC must maintain regular personal contact with veterans and their dependants. It is recommended that Veterans Affairs Canada have a team of trained personnel to deal with issues for seriously disabled veterans, and PTSD. This team may save the lives of our veterans who are high risk, as witnessed in recent months with numerous recorded suicides. Veterans Affairs must give priority to all seriously injured veterans, including with PTSD, in all pension benefits and allowances.
As for support to veterans' families, Veterans Affairs Canada must keep a high level of communication with veterans and dependants to ensure that the well-being of all is carried out. Often, veterans experience difficulties with drugs, alcohol, psychological problems, and marital difficulties, with no advice. In view of this, it is recommended that Veterans Affairs Canada provide the appropriate counselling and lines of communication, with personal visits, to identify critical problem areas, with referrals to support groups. Veterans Affairs Canada must give priority for veterans to attend community colleges and universities, coupled with priority job placement and educational grants for deserving applicants. VAC often focuses on the actual veterans' issues, and not the extended family, which we think is very important.
Improvements to the way that VAC delivers programs under the Veterans Charter concerning services and benefits.... We at the NATO Veterans feel that it is imperative that VAC provide a higher standard of program and services to every veteran and their dependants. We have deep concerns with the recent VAC closures of district offices across Canada, and with the reduction of staff in the head office and also in the regional and district offices. This will affect the delivery of service, will overload the remaining staff, and will result in reduced productivity.
The Veterans Review and Appeal Board's proposal to conduct hearings by video and teleconference is indeed depriving the veterans of their rights to appear before a personal hearing for assessment and entitlement board hearings. The type of hearing should be at the discretion of the veteran.
In recent years, the veterans have indicated their unhappiness with the Veterans Review and Appeal Board, and often do not want to appear at hearings, as they feel that the members of the board are against them. To create a better rapport, we recommend that the chair of the VRAB, or his or her designate, attend the annual second career assistance network program, SCAN, which is conducted across Canada at Canadian Forces bases. This would facilitate a better understanding between the Veterans Review and Appeal Board and our veterans. Of course, the Veterans Review and Appeal Board chairman attends national conventions every two years with the Legion, and they also attend conferences with service officers across the country.
The NATO Veterans Organization of Canada firmly believes that Veterans Affairs Canada has the most outstanding and excellent benefits and services in the world. But what's most important to the veterans and their dependants is how these services and benefits are delivered to them. It is the responsibility and obligation of Veterans Affairs Canada and the government to deliver these benefits in a first-class manner.
They did not fail us; let us not fail them.
Thank you.