August 31, 2016
Pearson Boardroom, International Development Research Centre (IDRC),
8th floor, 150 Kent Street, Ottawa, Ontario
In Attendance
- Bernard Butler, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Policy and Commemoration Branch (VAC co-chair)
- Major (Retired) Mark Campbell
- Brian Forbes, National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada (co-chair)
- Michel Houle, Veterans UN-NATO Canada
- Master Warrant Officer (Retired) William MacDonald
- Luc O’Bomsawin, Aboriginal Veterans Autochtones
- Brigadier General (Retired) Joe Sharpe
- Commodore (Retired) Andrea Siew (co-chair)
- Sharon Squire, Deputy Ombudsman, Office of the Veterans Ombudsman (Observer)
Regrets
- Michael Blais, Canadian Veterans Advocacy
- Major-General John Milne, Canadian Armed Forces
- Brad White, Royal Canadian Legion
Record of discussion
The co-chairs opened the meeting, and thanked members for their hard work, noting that the group is tackling complex policy issues and a challenging agenda. The co-chairs mentioned that it had been a productive summer and that this meeting would provide the Policy Advisory Group with an opportunity to formulate the final draft of the group’s recommendations for the Minister.
1. Mandate Letter Commitments Update
The Group registered significant concerns related to the Budget 2016 announcement around the increase to 90% of pre-release salary through the Earnings Loss Benefit (ELB) due to come into force on 1 October 2016, noting particularly the resulting disparity between the ELB and Service Income Security Insurance Plan Long-Term Disability (SISIP LTD) benefits.
Members’ interventions noted the:
- inequality of SISIP LTD benefits, whether covered by the Pension Act or the New Veterans Charter (NVC) and whether the injury was service-related or not
- multiple standards which exist, including the SISIP vocational rehabilitation program
- paramount need for transparent communications in relations to the ELB top up and SISIP LTD
- universality of service under the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and that all injuries should be considered service-related because of the universality of service requirement
The Department acknowledged the gaps and underlined the need for the ongoing collaboration with the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and Finance Canada as well as the Department of National Defence. Members were asked for their perspective on the definition of non-service related injuries and how SISIP LTD and ELB could be made more complementary programs.
A brief update on the Career Impact Assessment (CIA), which will replace the Permanent Impairment Allowance (PIA), followed. Officials reiterated that no one will get less money, and that the Department is considering non-mandatory factors related to length of service and degree to which a Veteran’s impairment has an impact on his or her ability to earn, as possible eligibility criteria.
Members noted that:
- VAC should consider making CIA-related communications veteran-centric and easy to understand
- testing the degree of impairment could make the process more complex and less transparent
- there is a need to fairly and accurately compensate for injury and the impact of the injuries on one’s life
VAC Senior Director, Policy Directorate, made a presentation on the education benefit, given the Minister’s mandate to “provide full support for the costs of up to four years of college, university, or technical education for Canadian Forces veterans after completion of service.”
Members noted the education benefit should be:
- aimed at supporting a successful transition, based on finding new purpose after service
- based on recognition of service
- offered to reservists
The Group agreed to provide further feedback at a later date.
2. Have Your Say
VAC provided a brief update on the Have Your Say online feedback mechanism launched by Minister Hehr at the May 2016 Stakeholder Summit.
- From May to August 2016, 130 submissions were received with more than half commenting pensions and financial benefits.
- Comments indicated overwhelming support for lifetime pension, in monthly payments and retroactive.
- Negative feedback and concerns were expressed about the NVC Disability Award lump-sum.
- Families and caregivers were identified as needing more support.
3. Office of the Veterans Ombudsman Research and Findings – Family Caregivers
The Office of the Veterans Ombudsman (OVO) presented its research and findings on family caregivers. The main points included:
- Further research on the Canadian caregiver experience is needed
- Caregivers experience worse health outcomes, strain on family relationships, workplace problems, higher levels of burden, stress, mental health problems and lower levels of life satisfaction than non-caregivers
- OVO recommends to the implementation of a caregiver benefit
Members agreed that there is need for such a benefit and it should:
- be needs-based, recognize time spent caring for Veteran family member, complexity of issue, pressures on family
- be provided to all veterans’ caregivers, not only those who had to leave their careers
- take into account impact on children
4. Office of the Veterans Ombudsman Actuarial Analysis of economic benefits
OVO presented an actuarial analysis to compare financial outcomes for the main benefit models related to CAF career profiles, Pension Act benefits, New Veterans Charter benefits and other recommended benefits.
Members raised the following points:
- Consider the costs of injuries, on individual and families, that aren’t adequately captured because they are paid out of pocket
- Define what financial security means
- Better assess the future loss of income and its impacts
5. Next Steps
- The Group is working on its final draft recommendations on financial benefits for the Minister
- The Policy Advisory Group presented its recommendations at the next Stakeholder Summit on October 5-6, 2016