Mr. Speaker, for over seven months our country has been gripped by this global pandemic and we have done our best to help the government provide the compassionate support Canadians need to take care of their families, but there is a problem. We have not seen that same compassion for Canada’s veterans from the Liberal government.
Shawn Dean devoted nearly three decades of his life to service for our country. He applied for his veteran’s pension over a year ago and was recently informed that his application was now in a 64-week “decision phase”. That is at least two years of waiting to receive the pension he earned and deserves.
Thousands of veterans are waiting for help with physical injuries and need mental health care for themselves and loved ones. The benefits backlog now stands at 50,000: an increase of 60% within the last three years. The PBO has said that VAC can dig itself out of its hole by doubling its current hiring plans and implementing the simplified, online application that this Liberal government announced five years ago.
Our veterans deserve better.