Record of discussion – 27 June 2023

Tuesday, 27 June 2023
09:00 – 16:00 (AT)
In-person at the Jean Canfield Building, Charlottetown
Virtual – Microsoft Teams

Policy Advisory Group

  • Mitch Freeman, Director General, Policy and Research Division (Co-Chair)
  • Brian Forbes, National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada (Co-Chair)
  • Dennis Leblanc, Captain (Retired) (Co-Chair)
  • Carolyn Hughes, Lieutenant (Retired) Royal Canadian Legion
  • Kim Hendricken, Sergeant (Retired) RCMP Veterans Association
  • Mark Campbell, Major (Retired)
  • Scott White
  • Lori Buchart, Lieutenant Commander (Retired)
  • Tim Goddard
  • Keith McAllister, Master Corporal (Retired) Veterans UN-NATO Canada
  • Laura Kelly for Duane Shippers, Deputy Veterans Ombuds, OVO
  • Greg Adamthwaite for Dan Bouchard, Commodore (CMDRE) CAFTG

Regrets

  • Catherine Bergeron, Sergeant (Retired)
  • William MacDonald, Master Warrant Officer (Retired)
  • Joe Sharpe, Brigadier General (Retired)

Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs

  • Jeremy Keats for Sarah Cozzi Director of Policy OMVA

Veterans Affairs Canada Officials

  • Crystal Neary, Acting Senior Advisor, Engagements and Events, Veterans Affairs Canada, Commemoration and Public Affairs
  • Lisa Matte, Project Monitoring Officer, Engagements and Events, Commemoration and Public Affairs
  • Noah Ellis, Project Monitoring Officer, Engagements and Events, Commemoration and Public Affairs
  • Amy MacDougald, Senior Advisor, Engagements and Events, Commemoration and Public Affairs

Presenters

  • Chris Hutt, Senior Operations Manager, Service Delivery and Program Management

Land Acknowledgement

The VAC co-chair gave a land acknowledgement indicating that meeting was taking place on the unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq people and asked all members for reflection based on where they are located throughout Canada.

Opening Remarks and Welcome Message from the Deputy Minister

The VAC co-chair opened the meeting with introductory remarks and welcomed members to Veterans Affairs Head Office in Charlottetown. They also welcomed Paul Ledwell, Deputy Minister who also welcomed advisory group members and thanked them for their hard work and dedicated service.

The VAC co-chair then introduced the meeting topics, highlighted some administrative considerations for the day and noted that the group is well positioned to provide recommendations to the Minister regarding policy topics. They highlighted aspects that have been previously discussed at past PAG (Policy Advisory Group) meetings, though stressed the importance of concentrating on the issues facing veterans in 2023.

The Deputy Minister provide the advisory group a summary of the department's current priorities, which include:

Diversity

  • Typically, government places everything in one box and strives to provide a solution for the majority. A consequence to this has been inequitable treatment for the most vulnerable or under-represented. Therefore, the Government has focused on diversity, to ensure that the delivery of benefits, their design and the veteran experience is equitable across an array of intersectional considerations.

Transition

  • Every veteran has a distinct transitional experience. Transition should begin prior to the actual start of the transition, so that veterans are knowledgeable of the supports and processes available to them in order to have all the necessary support prior to, during, and following transition.

Vulnerable Veterans

  • Veterans who have gone completely off the grid, especially homeless veterans, are of greater risk of being missed. Under-represented and vulnerable veterans face unique challenges and Veterans Affairs Canada needs to design supports appropriately. Veteran employment is a major focus of the Department.

The members thanked the Deputy for the opening remarks and recognized the importance of hearing directly from the DM and Minister to better understand the departmental priorities.

Introduction of Members

Given that the majority of members were present, and for the first time in a face to face environment, each member provided an introduction of themselves and their experience. It was clear that the group has the correct expertise and experience to provide meaningful recommendations to the Minister.

Record of Discussion from the March 16, 2023 meeting

The VAC co-chair highlighted the meeting meetings from the March 16 2023 meeting for the group’s consideration. There was much discussion which resulted in two amendments to the circulated record of discussion.

  • Under the header of “Review of Policy Advisory Actions” update to include the following:

    “Drawing from the backgrounder that was created in September of 2022, the objective of the advisory group is to emphasize an overview of the most important recommendations and to discuss how the group would want to proceed in order to produce a comprehensive offering of programs and services for veterans, such as:

    • Additional compensation benefits for greater financial stability
    • The definition and implementation of the One Veteran One Standard concept;
    • Family Supports inclusive of spouses and dependents; and Employment.”
  • Include the previous report as an appendix.

The membership approved the amended record of discussion as noted above.

Discussion and Recommendation Formulation

Topic #1 – Employment

Chris Hutt, Senior Operation Manager in the Service Delivery and Program Management division, presented information on the National Veterans Employment Strategy and VAC’s goal of addressing unemployment and underemployment within the Veteran demographic. Moreover, he outlined how VAC could make finding employment opportunities easier for Veterans, during and after their period of transition. The group discussed what was presented, providing thoughtful insights.

The group discussed several points:

  • Veteran unemployment is the same or better than the Canadian population.
  • There are however certain segments that have greater unemployment.
  • The strategy has four pillars:
    • Supports and Services
    • Veteran Ready Employers
    • Public Service as a Leader
  • Enhanced Partnership
  • It was noted that the RCMP has no official transition program
  • How effective is the Public Service hiring program?
  • Mapping of transferrable skills, which is a CAF/VAC responsibility.
  • Educational Partnerships in other countries offer fast tracked programs that recognize military experience as credits allowing veterans to obtain a certification faster. Moreover, upon completion, an organization gets an experienced employee rather than a ‘recent’ grad.
  • Impact of education and the veteran’s ability on the family unit?

Recommendation: The MPAG would support a) the utilization of financial subsidies and/or tax credits to encourage employers to hire a veteran or a veteran family; and b) the adoption of a policy wherein preference would be given regarding federal contracts to employers who retain a specific percentage of veterans and/or veteran family members.

Topic #2 – Veteran Families—One Veteran One Standard

The Advisory Group discussed issues faced by Veterans families, both during service and afterward. This included how supports could be modified or expanded to meet a newly evolved definition of the family, the harmonization of legislative regimes towards a comprehensive model of wellness, regardless of service location or time

There was significant debate regarding the definition of family and the benefits offered. The group highlighted the lack of family supports at present and the second order consequence on the family unit as a result of the veteran’s service. This could be in the form of health, employment, loss of career, or transitory supports. While this may not result in a disability claim directly to the family member, it is often the case that a family member requires health care treatment, predominantly within the mental health domain.

There was much discussion based on the OVO report1 in this area and that perhaps it could be the basis of future policy consideration.

The resulting discussion was another recommendation.

Recommendation: Consider defining ‘family unit’ and then expand program eligibility for that group, specifically with mental health treatment benefits and wellness programs. The veteran’s service is the root cause of second order consequences on the family and therefore should be eligible with or without the veteran’s consent.

Furthermore, consideration should be given to fine-tune family supports inclusive of concepts around attendance allowance, a new family benefit to recognize the impact of the veteran’s disability on his or her family, and update the eligibility criteria for spousal support within the Veterans Independence Program.

Topic #3 - Education Training Benefit

The Advisory Group discussed the role of education and training benefits offered by VAC and CAF (Canadian Armed Forces). The group examined how those benefits exist within a wider context of supports and services and recommends that some modifications be made to existing benefits, so as to increase the period of eligibility and expand access to Veteran’s families.

There was also an explanation to all group members as to the what education services exist currently, both while a member is still in CAF, and after their release. It was not clear that this information is well known, and Navy Cpt Adamthwaite offered to share a document to help explain. The members were very appreciative. This lead to a suggest to have a tour of CAF TG (Transition Group) at the September PAG meeting. Navy Capt Adamthwaite indicated that he would be pleased to provide the opportunity.

This discussion lead to the following recommendation.

Recommendation: The MPAG proposes that a) VAC eliminate the limitations as to the applicability of the Veterans Education and Training Benefit so as to make this particular benefit available to all veterans and not just those who have served since April 1, 2006; and b) family members (spouses and dependent children) should not only have an independent right to VAC VOC-REHAB and employment policies, but also to the Education and Training Benefit without the current restrictions that curtail their opportunity to access these programs and c)Expand the Education and Training Benefit from 10 years to 15 years.

Topic #4 - Future Income Model

The group discussed the current income replacement benefits for those experiencing income loss, due to a service related disability. The Advisory Group had previously examined the benefits as well as areas for improvement.

The discussion focused on the most severely disabled, using the example of a seriously disabled private, being baselined at 90% of their private salary with a 1% career progression index, for life. The group, while noting that there are variances across the veteran community, highlighted that for the most serious disabled, this is insufficient.

Therefore the group has made a recommendation to improve the Well-being Act in this area:

Recommendation: Consider, for the most seriously disabled veteran, a progressive future loss of income model as noted in various courts, the OVO report2 and previous PAG recommendations. In this context, enhance the Income Replacement Benefit as a single stream of income for life based on a progressive future loss of income concept in accord with what the disabled veteran would have earned in their military career if the veteran had not been injured.

Closing Remarks/Next Steps

A confirmed date of September 26 was decided for the next face to face meeting, with potential agenda items of: One Vet One Standard, Family, Program Communication and Knowledge, Employment, Veterans Survivors Fund, Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP), marriage over 60 and Stakeholder Summit.

There was also confirmation to attempt to have a CAF TG visit the afternoon of the 25 September to provide the group with an overview of the services and supports offered by the CAF Transition Group.

The Minister’s Office expressed their appreciation for the work of the Advisory Group and emphasized their shared commitment to providing the best possible services and support to Canadian Veterans.

The co-chairs indicated that the conversation is appreciated and that Advisory Groups are important to Veterans and families. Departmental staff were thanked for their continued support.

The representative of the Canadian Armed Forces present at the meeting encouraged advisory group members to reach out with any additional information discussed such as transition.

The advisory group discussed upcoming dates for the next in-person Policy Advisory Group meeting, scheduled for September 25 and 26, 2023 in Ottawa. The co-chair also encouraged members to review their schedules for the March 2024 in-person meeting, which will be discussed in greater detail in September.

The meeting adjourned at 4:00pm Atlantic.

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