The NDP considered the following:
4-01-13 Omnibus 1 – Veterans
As Compiled by the Resolutions Committee
Submitted by Sackville-Eastern Shore, London—Fanshawe, London West
Part 1 – Veterans’ Care
BE IT RESOLVED that the following clauses be amended to Section 4.6 of the policy book by adding the following:
New Democrats believe in:
T. Improving, reviewing, and updating the New Veterans Charter including the lump-sum payment for injured veterans.
U. Applying the principle of One Veteran, One Standard to all federal government programs and services for veterans. Eliminate the current program approach that unfairly establishes “classes” of veterans and family members and offers benefits based on where or when the veteran served and the type of service.
Part 2 – Fairness for CF and RCMP veterans and their families
BE IT RESOLVED that the following clauses be amended to Section 4.6 of the policy book by adding the following:
V. Responding to the concerns of veterans exposed to nuclear weapon trials and those who assisted in the Chalk River clean-up, known as Canada’s “Atomic Veterans”.
W. Respond to concerns about unequal standards of care for injured reservists.
Part 3 – Support for CF and RCMP Veterans and their families
BE IT RESOLVED that the following clauses be amended to Section 4.6 of the policy book by adding the following:
X. Better support for those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Operational Stress Injuries (OSI) for currently serving CF and RCMP members, veterans, and their families.
Y. Review outstanding grievances of CF and RCMP veterans who have been exposed to occupational hazards like asbestos, depleted uranium, defoliant spraying, and others, to see where departmental benefits and services can be applied. No veteran should fall through the cracks.
Z. Support research on unique challenges and health needs of military and RCMP veterans and their families and develop strategies to meet their health needs.
Part 4 – Replacement of Policy on Economic Security for CF and RCMP Veterans
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Section 4.6 of the policy book be deleted:
i. Ensuring economic security for Canadian Forces veterans and families, including all spouses, by extending the Veterans Independence Program and enhancing survivors’ pensions.
and replaced by:
i. Ensuring economic security for Canadian Forces and RCMP veterans and their families by extending the Veterans Independence Program, enhancing survivors’ pensions, and supporting homeless or at risk veterans.
Part 5 – Replacement of Policy on Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP)
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Section 4.6. in the policy book be deleted:
k. Ending the unjust cuts to the Service Income Security Insurance Plan for medically released members of the Canadian Forces and former RCMP members.
and replaced by:
k. Ending the unjust offset of Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) disability pensions for medically released members of the RCMP, similar to the end of the unjust offset of Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP) that affected injured Canadian Forces veterans.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Section 4.6 of the policy book be deleted:
l. Supporting initiatives to help veterans transition into the civilian workforce, such as “Helmets-to- Hardhats” program to help veterans transition to construction and shipbuilding trades.
and replaced by:
l. Supporting initiatives to help veterans transition into the civilian workforce including programs that help veterans transition to construction and shipbuilding trades.
Part 7 – Replacement of Policy on Veterans Review and Appeal Board (VRAB)
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Section 4.6 of the policy book be deleted
S. Eliminating the Veterans Review and Appeal Board and/or reforming the Board by appointing its members from the military, RCMP, and medical personnel, in order to ensure that veterans’ appeals are fairly reviewed by their peers
and replaced by:
S. Replacing the Veterans Review and Appeal Board with a medical evidence-based peer reviewed process for disability benefit applications in consultation with veterans and veterans’ organizations.
Part 8 – Recognition of Aboriginal Veterans
BE IT RESOLVED that the following clauses be amended to Section 6.4 of the policy book by adding the following:
New Democrats believe in:
j. Enhance recognition of the contribution of Aboriginal veterans.
Part 9 – Apology to Gay and Lesbian Veterans
BE IT RESOLVED that the following clauses be amended to Section 6.2 of the policy book by adding the
following:
New Democrats believe in:
i) Respond to the concerns of gay and lesbian veterans who were forced out the military with an eye
to removing the “dishounourable discharge” from their records.
Part 10 – Enhancement of Veterans’ Rights
BE IT RESOLVED that the following clauses be amended to Section 6.5 of the policy book by adding the following:
New Democrats believe in:
(d) Enhancement of Veterans rights so that principles of fair treatment will guide legislation, programs, and services that provide on-going support of CF and RCMP veterans and their families
(e) Ensuring veterans programs and services are kept current, quickly respond to identified gaps in veterans’ care, and continually update programs to ensure needs of veterans and their families are met.
(f) Expanding the role of Veterans Ombudsman to provide independent analysis and reports to Parliament.
(g) Adopt an Identity Card for CF and RCMP veterans and their families to better facilitate contact and communication with veterans and create efficiencies in the delivery of programs.
Part 11 – Greater Recognition of Women Veterans
BE IT RESOLVED that the following clauses be amended to Section 6.1 of the policy book by adding the following:
New Democrats believe in:
k) Greater recognition of the significant contributions of women while serving in Canada’ military or RCMP whether they served during war, here at home, or on peacekeeping missions and that measures are in place to continually safeguard equality of all serving members.
Part 12 – Veterans
BE IT RESOLVED THAT the following clauses be added to Section 4.6 in the policy book, with the first clause replacing clause “s” and all subsequent clauses being alphabetized accordingly.
- Replacing the Veterans Review and Appeal Board with a medical evidence-based peer reviewed
process for disability benefit applications in consultation with veterans and veterans’
organizations. - Improving, reviewing, and updating the New Veterans Charter including the lump-sum payment
for injured veterans. - Applying the principle of One Veteran, One Standard to all federal government programs and
services for veterans. Eliminate the current program approach that unfairly establishes “classes”
of veterans and family members and offers benefits based on where or when the veteran served
and the type of service. - Ending the unjust offset of long-term disability pension benefits for medically released members
of the RCMP. (Disability pension payments from Veterans Affairs are offset when members
receive long-term disability benefits through the Great West Life Assurance Company Group
Policy for disabilities or injuries that occurred while on duty). - Better compensation, recognition, and call for public inquiry for veterans exposed to nuclear
weapon trails and those who assisted in the Chalk River clean-up, known as Canada’s “Atomic
Veterans”. - Better support for those suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or Operational
Stress Injuries (OSI) for currently serving CF and RCMP members and veterans. - Expanding the role of Veterans Ombudsman to provide independent analysis and reports to
Parliament. - Ensuring veterans programs and services are kept current, quickly respond to identified gaps in
veterans’ care, and continually update programs to ensure needs of veterans and their families
are met.
NDP MPs Peter Stoffer and Irene Matthyssen spoke to this motion.
Motion passed.