New Veterans Charter must be improved says NDP

HALIFAX – NDP Veterans Affairs Critic Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Eastern Shore) wants the Conservative government to allocate more financial and human resources in the upcoming federal budget for disabled veterans, military personnel, and their families. Stoffer was joined by Megan Leslie (Halifax), Nova Scotia NDP Leader Darrell Dexter, as well as Bill Maguire, a director of the Operational Stress Service Injury Support (OSSIS) centre in Halifax, and Dr. Heather MacKinnon (Ret’d Lieutenant Commander), a medical doctor specializing in veterans’ care.

“Now is the time to re-open the two year old Veterans Charter and make improvements,” said Stoffer. “Young veterans with high levels of disability and their families are dealing with financial hardship and are struggling through a system of bureaucratic red tape.”

Stoffer pointed out that the federal government offers a maximum lump sum payment of $250,000 to its most severely disabled soldiers whereas Britain recently doubled its compensation to wounded soldiers to $855,000 US. In addition to receiving a lump sum payment, injured soldiers in Britain with a high level of disability are also entitled to a lifetime monthly disability payments. Compared to Canada, Australia also provides a more developed budget to care for its veterans and their families.

Under the new Veterans Charter, Canada eliminated monthly disability pension payments for modern day veterans in lieu of a one-time only lump sum benefit.

“Quite frankly, men and women who have been injured while serving their country deserve to be treated fairly,” said Dexter. “The financial compensation they receive now is not enough to pay for a lifetime of medical expenses and to provide for their family. In fact, many disabled veterans and their families are living at or below the poverty line.”

Stoffer also pointed to a report published last February by researchers at the University of Alberta that found that families who care for seriously disabled, younger veterans are at a “substantially higher risk of poor financial, social and health outcomes than any other group of caregivers.”

“Three and a half years ago, when this new legislation passed, Minister Thompson said the Charter was a ‘living document’ and that they would improve it as required. Now is the time, in advance of the upcoming federal budget, to make those changes,” said Leslie.