Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Once again, I promise that I'll try to speak slowly to make things easier for the interpreters.
Thank you so much for the invitation to appear before committee today.
To begin, let me first say that our government is grateful for the dedicated service of all Canadian members of the Canadian Armed Forces and veterans, including those who served in the Persian Gulf from 1990 to 1991. More than 4,000 Canadians were part of the international coalition of nations that fought to return freedom to the people of Kuwait.
Over 30 years later, we recognize that many military members have paid a heavy price for serving under such stressful conditions.
In terms of recognition, we understand that some Persian Gulf veterans are wondering about the designation of their service in this conflict.
Under the current legislative framework and designation practices within the CAF, the Persian Gulf is designated as the highest level of risk, a special duty area.
Throughout the years, veterans shared that the programs delivered under the Pension Act were no longer meeting the needs of modern-day CAF veterans and their families.
Changing demographics coupled with the need to respond to the changing needs of modern-day veterans prompted a replacement of the Pension Act in 2006, which was supported by all parties in the House of Commons at the time.
The new veterans charter, later called the Veterans Well-being Act, provides comprehensive rehabilitation, medical, psychosocial and vocational support, financial benefits, disability benefits, career transition services, access to the public service health care plan, and one-on-one case management for the most complex cases.
While the Pension Act addressed the needs of veterans through a single method of support, the disability pension, the Veterans Well-being Act was designed to provide a more varied suite of benefits in order to meet veterans where they were in terms of post-service needs.
Whereas most First and Second World War veterans were leaving the military in similar stages of life and therefore had similar needs, modern-day era veterans can make this transition at any stage, whether early on in their careers or later in life.
Through the Veterans Well-being Act, the government announced its pension for life plan, which reintroduced lifelong monthly payments with the pain and suffering compensation; established a new recognition benefit, the additional pain and suffering compensation; and introduced the income replacement benefit to simplify VAC's financial support programs by streamlining six different financial benefits into one, that being the new income replacement benefit.
We brought in better supports for the families of ill and injured veterans, including their caregivers, by eliminating time limits on vocational rehabilitation for veterans’ survivors and spouses, expanding access to military family resource centres and introducing the caregiver recognition benefit.
To meet the growing demands and needs of our veterans, our government has invested $11 billion in benefits and services.
We've also made changes to improve mental health care by introducing the automatic approval of mental health care claims. That way, veterans can get the help that they need when they need it.
Modern veterans, including those who served in the Persian Gulf, have sacrificed for our country. We owe them a debt of gratitude that can never fully be repaid.
I assure you that I take my responsibility as Minister of Veterans Affairs seriously. As a government, we're committed to ensuring that veterans receive the support needed during their transition and after their service.
This commitment also extends to the commemorative aspects of recognition, which can affect how veterans see themselves and feel appreciated by their fellow citizens.
It is my priority to ensure that veterans are recognized for their service, no matter where and when they served, whether it was in the Persian Gulf serving on humanitarian missions, supporting Canadians impacted by the forest fires in Jasper, or through search and rescue operations.
As veterans' week draws near, I want veterans and their families to know that we're thinking of them and that we recognize their many sacrifices in the service of Canada. We would like to thank them.
Lastly, to those veterans who are here, who have also shared their stories during this study, I want to say a sincere thank you. To all those who are listening today, thank you for your service to Canada. We truly remain a grateful nation.
With that, Mr. Chair, we are prepared to take some questions from committee members.
Thank you.
