The Women Veterans Council offers the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence insight on specific initiatives and priority areas from their unique points of view and lived experiences on all matters of importance to women (still-serving and Veterans).
Since 1885, women have significantly participated in the Canadian military and Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Despite ongoing efforts to meaningfully integrate women into the military, inequities remain including equity to benefits, data equity, economic equity, health equity and access to services, benefits, and program supports. To support the fastest growing cohort of Canadian Veterans – women – in recent years the Defence community, including Veterans Affairs Canada have been working to address those inequities. Women Veterans have stressed the need for VAC to provide tailored benefits, programs and services and provide a platform for sustained, active engagement. It is against this backdrop that the Women Veterans Council (the Council) is established.