WINNIPEG, July 29, 2015 /CNW/ - Today James Bezan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Selkirk–Interlake, on behalf of the Honourable Erin O'Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs, confirmed the Government of Canada's commitment to providing service excellence for Veterans.
MP Bezan announced a total of 30 new hires by the end of March 2016 in Western Canada, including 20 in case management and 10 in disability benefits processing. These new hires will reduce Veterans Affairs Canada's (VAC) case manager ratio to no more than 30 individuals for every case manager. Case managers will have more time to address the complex needs of Veterans. The additional disability benefits staff will, amongst other duties, increase capacity to support Veterans by assisting with their applications, more adjudicators will render decisions, and more staff will process payments. This means Veterans will have faster access to disability benefits as well as health care funding and mental health treatment.
The Government of Canada places the highest priority on service excellence and continues to ensure Veterans and their families have the support and services they need, when they need them.
Quick facts
- This announcement builds on Minister O'Toole's recent announcement that VAC will hire a total of 146 new staff, including 34 case managers and 52 disability benefits staff, in Atlantic Canada.
- Veterans Affairs Canada will hire 101 disability benefits staff and 167 new case managers across Canada to provide direct service to Veterans and their families.
- VAC will have a total of 309 new hires across Canada by 2020.
- Veterans Affairs Canada provides disability benefits totalling about $2 billion a year to approximately 180,000 individuals, including Veterans, CAF serving personnel, former and serving RCMP, and surviving family members.
Quotes
"The Government of Canada continues to improve the care and benefits provided to those injured in the service of Canada. Front-line staff is being hired in the locations where they are needed most. These significant investments in programs and services are to ensure Veterans and their families receive the care and support they need, now and in the future."
The Honourable Erin O'Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs
"The Government of Canada is improving the support for Canada's Veterans and Canadian Armed Forces personnel through these new hires. We aim to respond to the needs of our Veterans and their families more quickly to ensure that those who stood up for Canada are treated with care, compassion and respect."
James Bezan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Selkirk–Interlake
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Associated Links
- Achieving service excellence through enhanced services
- Veterans Affairs Canada, Charlottetown hires
- Veterans Affairs Canada, Atlantic Region hires
- Veterans Affairs Canada, Case Management hires
SOURCE Veterans Affairs Canada
Martin Magnan, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs, 613-996-4649; Media Relations, Veterans Affairs Canada, 613-992-7468
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