June 27, 2018 – The following is NCVA's formal response to Veterans Affairs Canada's request for comments and observations concerning Bill C-74 Part 4 (Pension for Life) and, more particularly, the "Notice of Intent" to amend the Veterans Well-being Regulations contained in the Canada Gazette. These proposed regulatory changes will complement this legislation, which was formally passed in Parliament this past week, and essentially deal with the "Pension for Life" proposals announced by the Minister on December 20, 2017.
Our position as adopted at our NCVA 2017 Annual Meeting in Toronto remains consistent as to the fact that the legislation has failed to live up to the Liberal government's 2015 election commitment to address the inequities in the New Veterans Charter and continues to ignore the "elephant in the room" which has overshadowed this entire discussion.
As stated in our many submissions to the Department, the Minister and Parliament, the government has not satisfied veterans' expectations with regard to this fundamental mandated commitment to "re-establish lifelong pensions" under the Charter so as to ensure that a comparable level of financial security is provided to all disabled veterans and their families over their life course.
We will continue to pursue changes to the legislation to make it more inclusive prior to its formal implementation on April 1, 2019, pursuant to the specific recommendations contained in our 2017 legislative platform.
Submission to Veterans Affairs Canada – June 2018
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