Canada’s Veterans have served our country with honour, and they deserve not only our greatest recognition and respect for their service, but also the best possible services and support that we can provide to them and their families. This Departmental Plan outlines our priorities for achieving that in 2022-23.
At the top of our list is reducing processing times for disability benefits decisions. I know this is the issue of greatest concern for Veterans and their families, and justifiably so. We will build on the positive changes and momentum of recent years, and continue to report transparently on a regular basis.
Part of this work goes hand-in-hand with our focus on modernizing the way we operate. This includes leveraging technology where we can, increasing automation and digitization, using human-centred design, and making sure employees have the right tools and skills to get the job done. All this will help the Department be more efficient and improve the way we deliver services.
As we work to fulfill our mandate, we remain committed to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion for all of our Veterans. In terms of service delivery, we will continue to reach out to the most vulnerable Veterans to make sure they can easily access the services they need in a timely manner. This is especially important as COVID-19 continues to impact people in a variety of ways that can affect their well-being.
Our staff aren’t immune to these impacts either. Just as we treat Veterans with care, compassion, and respect, we must do the same for our employees. We’ll continue to put their health and well-being front and center as we navigate the later stages of this pandemic, allowing for flexibility and creativity in getting the job done for our Veterans and their families.
Finally, it is our collective responsibility to remember and honour the sacrifices of those who have served our country. This year, we will commemorate the 105th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and the 30th anniversary of the first large-scale Canadian participation in the Balkans with the United Nations Protection Force. More broadly, we will continue to modernize our commemoration efforts, leveraging technology and virtual engagement, so that we can bring the experience of our oversees memorials back home to Canadians.
All of this is no small feat, but I know we are up to the task. Our employees across the country will work together as a team to achieve these goals, so that we can provide Veterans, former Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP members, and their families, with the vital services that they deserve.
Sincerely,
The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, PC, MP
Minister of Veterans Affairs and
Associate Minister of National Defence