It is an honour to serve as the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, and I’m pleased to present the 2019–20 Departmental Results Report.
Reducing wait times for Disability Benefit applications remains our top priority. We’ve hired hundreds of new employees since the summer of 2020, improved how we use technology, and tested new innovative ways to make the application process more efficient.
In 2019, the Department introduced Pension for Life, a combination of benefits that provide recognition, income support and stability to members and Veterans who experience a service related illness or injury. The experience gained through this work will inform and shape future improvements.
Improving the transition of CAF members and their families to post-service life is also vitally important. We hosted two Career and Education Fairs, government provided $390,000 over three years for Operation Entrepreneur and as a result of investments made in Budget 2019, the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence officially opened its doors on 1 April 2020 date. We also held our first Women Veterans Forum and created the Office of Women and LGBTQ2 Veterans. These efforts are an important step in ensuring truly equal access to our benefits and services for women and LGBTQ2 Veterans.
This past year also marked a number of important commemorative anniversaries. In 2019–20, we recognized the 75th anniversaries of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, the Italian Campaign and the Battle of the Scheldt—all key events leading to the end of the Second World War. As we adapt to fewer in-person events and ceremonies as a result of COVID-19, we will need to continue to find new and exciting ways to tell these important stories, and too keep alive the legacies of those who fought and died in service of Canada.
All of this work is made possible by our dedicated employees who strive to meet the needs of Canada’s Veterans and their families. I am especially proud of how they responded to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to maintain the services we provide to Veterans.
We will continue to push forward on these and other priorities in the years ahead. After all, Canada’s Veterans deserve our very best.
Sincerely,
The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, PC, MP
Minister of Veterans Affairs and
Associate Minister of National Defence