MP Ted Opitz addresses participants at Canadian Military and Veterans Health Research Forum
TORONTO, Nov. 25, 2014 /CNW/ - On behalf of the Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Ted Opitz, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre, today addressed participants at the fifth annual Canadian Military and Veteran Health Research Forum.
During the forum, MP Opitz announced that the Government of Canada will support a research project, conducted by the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research, to assess how operational stress injuries affect the mental health of spouses and children of Canadian Veterans.
Quick Facts
- On October 1, 2014, the Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of Veterans Affairs announced, through the Government Response to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs report, The New Veterans Charter: Moving Forward, that the Government of Canada is taking action to strengthen support for Veterans and their families.
- On November 23, 2014, the Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of Veterans Affairs, and the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of National Defence, announced new and expanded mental health initiatives for Veterans, serving military members, and their families. These initiatives, which amount to an investment of $200 million, were developed collaboratively by the Department of National Defence (DND), Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and Health Canada.
- The Government of Canada will invest $25,000 for a new research project, conducted by the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research, to examine the challenges and opportunities for families living with Veterans with operational stress injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder.
- The Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) is an innovative organization that engages existing academic research resources and facilitates the development of new research, research capacity and effective knowledge translation. With a network of academic researchers from across Canada, it serves as the hub for 34 Canadian universities who have agreed to work together in addressing the health research requirements of the Canadian military, Veterans and their families.
Quotes
"Our Government is proud to partner with the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research to gain a better understanding of the mental health challenges faced by families of Veterans. To ensure that Veterans and their families receive the support and recognition they deserve, the importance of research, and building research partnerships, cannot be overstated."
The Honourable Julian Fantino, Minister of Veterans Affairs
"As a Veteran I recognize, firsthand the vital role that families play in the lives of Canada's men and women in uniform, and how Veterans' health issues can impact those who stand by their side. It is important that we learn about these impacts and how best to support the families of Canada's Veterans."
Ted Opitz, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke Centre
"This funding begins to respond to a critical area of military and Veteran health research—that of Veteran's spouses and children. This funding will make an important contribution to advancing our foundational knowledge about the impacts on spouses and children once military personnel transition out of active service."
Dr. Alice Aiken, Director of CIMVHR
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SOURCE: Veterans Affairs Canada
Barbara Mottram, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs, 613-996-4649; Media Relations, Veterans Affairs Canada, 613-992-7468
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