To the Editor:
We all know the old adage: 'Actions speak louder than words'. There is no more appropriate statement when you look at how this government continues to treat our Veterans and their families. Much has been said about how the government supports its Veterans and the endless effort and resources Veterans Affairs Canada and Canadian Forces programs and services offer Veterans and their families, but the reality is quite different.
The Canadian Forces Ombudsman's recently released report on the government's inequitable treatment of injured reservists is just another example of the continuing unfair and inequitable treatment of our Veterans and their families. Members of the Reserve Force have proudly served alongside their Regular Force counterparts and tragically have suffered the same fate; either in terms of permanent disability, injury or in some cases have died in service to their country. According to the federal government, this is where the similarities end. If you served your country as a Reservist, you may or may not be cared for if you are injured. The Ombudsman wrote about it in 2008 and now, four years later, it is sad to see, that despite having accepted the recommendations, this government has failed to implement what they said they would. All our Veterans and their families deserve to be treated with dignity, fairness and equity. Our Veterans are simply asking the federal government to show the same level of enthusiasm for our Veterans after they have been injured as when it sent them in harms way.
On behalf of The Royal Canadian Legion and its 330,000 members, I am raising again the issues of dignity, fairness and equity that continue to be ignored by this government. The lack of dignity and fairness with respect to Funerals and Burials for Veterans in need, highlights the value this government places on those who have served their country. In fact, the government spent more on Remembrance and Commemoration activities and the promotion of the War of 1812 than it would take to address the deficiencies in the Funeral and Burial Program to provide a dignified funeral to our Veterans who are in financial need.
What happened to fair and equitable care for Veterans who fought for this country to provide the rights and freedoms we all enjoy today? How can this government continue to differentiate between classes of Veterans? Why is a Reservist who is injured, disabled or killed in the service of his/her country less entitled than his/her Regular Force counterpart standing beside him or her? Why are married or common-law servicemen and women worth more than single servicemen and servicewomen? Why does the government continue the 'clawback' of RCMP disability benefits when they have already been forced to cease this unfair practice for CF Veterans? There is only one Veteran and they should be treated with dignity, fairness and equity.
While this government is eager to talk about all they have done for Veterans, actions do speak louder than words. Canada's Veterans are still waiting for action on issues including:
Despite being highlighted by the CF Ombudsman in 2008, there has been no change to the Accidental Dismemberment Insurance Plan which provides less to a Reservist for a loss of a limb than it does to Regular Force members.
RCMP members in receipt of a disability pension continue to have their Long Term disability payments reduced by an equal amount. The Federal Court ruled that this practice was inappropriate for CF members - what is the government waiting for?
Under the New Veterans Charter, single CF members whose death is attributable to military service are not eligible for a death benefit however married or common-law service members are.
The Earnings Loss Benefit for Regular Force and full-time reservists is set at $ 40,000 for those undergoing rehabilitation or who cannot return to work. Part time reservists are however entitled to only $ 24,300. How is this fair and equitable treatment?
The Earnings Loss Benefit should reflect lifelong earnings projections and be for life. Stopping this income compensation at age 65 seriously disadvantages our seriously injured Veterans and their families who have sacrificed for this country.
The Veterans Affairs Education Assistance Program provides financial assistance for post-secondary education to the children of CF members who have lost their lives attributable to service. It is however not available to the children of the servicemen and women who have suffered severe and permanent impairment attributable to their military service. Why does this government not recognize the lifelong challenges and limitations of these CF members and extend the Education Assistance Program to their children?
Under the Pension Act, there is a provision for Attendance Allowance which recognizes the care giving requirements for disabled veterans; however, the New Veterans Charter does not have a similar program thus forcing the families of veterans to cope themselves with the costs of care giving. RCMP members continue to be ineligible for the Veterans Independence Program.
The CF Legacy of Care Program restricts access to portions of its program for ill and injured servicemen and servicewomen to only those who served in Afghanistan. Why the discriminatory treatment of the ill and injured? All veterans who sustain illness and injury while serving their country should have access to the same benefits, regardless of where and when they serve.
Funeral and Burial benefits for low income Veterans continue to be increasingly confusing to access and when they are approved are insufficient to meet today's costs. Why will the government not extend the criteria to allow modern day veterans without the financial means to cover their funeral? Why has this government not kept pace with the reality of these economic times?
The New Veterans Charter when introduced in 2006 was heralded with much fanfare and celebrated as a living document. While changes were introduced in 2010 to improve financial benefits, there still remain issues of dignity, fairness and equity. Much has been stated about improved benefits, services and programs to our Veterans and their families by the federal government.
However, the most important outstanding issue that has not yet been resolved is ensuring the fairness and equity in the availability of benefits, services and programs for our Veterans and their families who have been injured attributable to their service, no matter where and when they have served. There is only one Veteran and they answered the federal government's call so why is the federal government not answering their call now that they have been injured?
The Royal Canadian Legion asks that the government commit to the review of the New Veterans Charter in 2013 and take the necessary action to ensure fair and equitable treatment in the availability of benefits, services and programs for our men and women who serve their country. Actions do truly speak louder than words.
Lest We Forget, Gordon Moore, Dominion President, The Royal Canadian Legion.
