Julian Fantino

[Veterans Affairs, May 8th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to respond to the question. The hon. member is of course conscientious and concerned. I realize that, but Canadian veterans who have service-related conditions benefit from many of the initiatives that are in place to address not only their particular issues but their transition into civilian life, and of course, support for their families, as well, in a whole range of support systems that are geared and structured and available to them to help them through their difficult times. Of course, for any veterans who need help, or their families, we are here to do exactly that.

[Veterans Affairs, May 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the participants in the Soldier On Afghanistan relay are truly inspiring. I am humbled by their ongoing determination and their courage.

The relay began at Canadian Forces Base Trenton and will carry the last Canadian flag flown at our allied headquarters in Kabul to Ottawa. The relay will soon reach the Royal Military College in Kingston, and I encourage Canadians to follow its progress on Twitter at SoldierOnCan.

On behalf of this place, I would like to thank Soldier On for the important work they do helping ill and injured members of our forces. We are truly proud of their work and the participants in the relay.

[Veterans Affairs, May 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, this Friday, from coast to coast to coast, we will pause and remember those who laid down their lives in Afghanistan. Over 40,000 Canadians, service men and women, served in Afghanistan each day,making Canadians proud.

Thousands of schools, school boards, and teachers are on board with this particular initiative with the tribute. Municipalities right across our great country are making plans. I look to that member and the opposition party. Will you drop the politics and join in and pay your respects?

[Veterans Affairs, April 2nd, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, my position has not changed. Last November, I appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs to demonstrate my support for this new, comprehensive review of the new veterans charter.

Some have called the work done by Veterans Affairs a duty, a responsibility, a commitment, a social contract or a sacred obligation. I believe it is all of those things, and we are in fact acting to serve the best interests of our veterans right across the land and their families, unlike what we heard from that member.

[Business of Supply, April 1st, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I cannot help but enter the dialogue after hearing the member misquote and misrepresent what our government has in fact done for and on behalf of veterans and their families. His information with respect to where people have to go now to obtain services is absolutely not correct.

Veterans who need services who are under the care and support of Veterans Affairs Canada, do not have to leave at all. Since 2005–06, our government has put aside some $4.7 billion of extra funding for services and benefits for veterans and their families. The member is indicating otherwise when he and his party, the New Democratic Party, in at least eight consecutive budgets in which we proposed increased benefits and services for veterans and their families, voted against all of them. For the party to criticize any of that is the height of hypocrisy.

[Veterans Affairs, March 25th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, under the leadership of this Prime Minister, our government's commitment to veterans is spelled out in the legislation we passed in the House. Our commitment to veterans is spelled out in the veterans bill of rights, increased financial benefits for those who are seriously injured, and the creation of the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman.

I can understand why the NDP does not want to recognize this. Its parliamentary record is one of only voting against veterans' benefits and services.

[Veterans Affairs, March 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for his question. We are helping retrain injured soldiers with up to $75,800 for university or college training programs. We are opening private sector career opportunities with programs within the public service, such as Helmets to Hardhats and Hire a Veteran. For the first time in generations, veterans with three years of honourable service will have preferential treatment for entry into the federal public service.

This government is breaking new ground for veterans' benefits, while the other parties are breaking their promises by voting against them.

[Questions on the Order Paper, March 6th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the closure of some regional offices reflects the changing demographics of Veterans across Canada. The well-being of Veterans and their families is Veterans Affairs Canada’s top priority. The department is committed to providing them with the exemplary benefits and programs that they deserve, no matter where they live, as part of Veterans Affairs Canada’s ongoing work to improve service and adjust to the changing needs and demographics of Veterans. Case managers will continue to make home visits to Veterans who need them.

Veterans Affairs Canada has increased the number of case managers in areas of high demand and has opened and maintained 17 operational stress injury clinics and 24 integrated personnel support centres near Canadian Armed Forces bases and major cities across Canada.

Veterans Affairs Canada has also partnered with Service Canada to provide even more options to access the Department’s programs and services, especially for those living in rural or remote areas. Canadian Armed Forces personnel, veterans and their families can now obtain general information and apply for certain benefits at any one of the approximately 600 Service Canada centres nationwide, where they also have one-stop access to a wide range of other federal programs and services.

This will mean greater convenience and less travel for Veterans, because they are no longer limited to one location for in-person service. And, to provide even more support in regions where underused area offices will be winding down, a Veterans Affairs Canada client service agent will be posted in Service Canada Centre locations--specifically Kelowna, B.C.; Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Brandon, Manitoba; Thunder Bay, Ontario; Windsor, Ontario; Sydney, Nova Scotia; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; and Corner Brook, Newfoundland--to help Veterans with their benefits applications and answer any questions they may have.

Veterans across Canada can continue to expect the same high level of service and, as always, individuals can receive assistance directly from the department by calling its toll-free number, 1-866-522-2122, or by visiting its website, www.veterans.gc.ca.

[Veterans Affairs, March 4th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for his question.

A senior Public Service Alliance of Canada spokesman, John MacLennan, said the following about putting injured veterans at the front of the line: “It's not right.... It's disrespectful to public servants, topping up opportunities for veterans...”.

Big union bosses do not like helping injured veterans get federal public service jobs if they are qualified, which we, of course, are putting forward.

Will the opposition parties follow their big union bosses and vote against the hiring veterans act?

[Veterans Affairs, February 28th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, Canadian veterans are eligible for thousands of dollars worth of benefits and services that are not available to the general public, which makes any case of a veteran living on the streets terrible and unfortunate and simply unnecessary. We are addressing those issues.

Identifying veterans among the homeless is a daunting task. I call on anyone with information about a veteran living on the streets to contact my office or the department immediately.