Budget 2017 - And VAC Part in it -

There's that "option" word again. How about stop taxing my EELB and CIA/S

Government of Canada details enhanced support for Veterans and their families

Budget 2017 addresses financial security, education and family support

EDMONTON, March 29, 2017 /CNW/ - Canada's women and men in uniform have served our country with bravery, honour and dignity—putting their lives at risk to protect the values we cherish most. Our Veterans deserve our greatest recognition and respect for their service.

The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, met with Canadian Forces Members and their families at the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC) in Edmonton today to provide details on Budget 2017 initiatives to assist Canada's Veterans and their families.

Budget 2017 builds on the foundation that was established in Budget 2016 and will recognize the important role of caregivers, help more families, support mental health and provide for the education and training Veterans need to find the work they want in their post-military lives.

Budget 2017 would expand access to the Veteran Family Program across all 32 MFRCs in Canada. A pilot project previously allowed access for medically released Veterans and their families to seven MFRCs across the country, and to the telephone-based Family Information Line and the www.CAFconnection.ca website. Previously these services were only for still-serving members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

Minister Hehr also announced today that the Veterans Affairs Canada's Service Delivery Review, a detailed assessment of service delivery channels, is now complete. The recommendations developed will establish a new vision for an ideal service model focused on the Veteran.

"When a member serves, the whole family serves along with them. Families and caregivers are the backbone of the support Veterans need during their service, their transition to post-military life and afterwards. Their mental health and well-being are a priority.

"The Service Delivery Review was an important step in making it easier for Veterans and their families to understand and access programs and services. They have earned our respect and gratitude. And as the Minister of Veterans Affairs, I will ensure that we continue to honour their service to our great nation."

The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of the Department of National Defence.

Budget 2017 highlights:

Expanding the Veteran Family Program across all 32 Military Family Resource Centres (MFRCs). The expansion of the program would result in medically released Veterans and their families having continued and uninterrupted access to all 32 MFRCs across the country, in addition to the other resources that were part of the initial pilot.

$133.9 million over six years to create a new Veterans' Education and Training Benefit. The new benefit would provide $40,000 in support for the costs of up to four years of College, University or Technical Education of their choice to all Canadian Armed Forces Regular Force and Reserve Force Veterans with at least six years of military service and $80,000 in support for those with at least 12 years of service.

Redesigning the Career Transition Services (CTS) program, which would include an expansion of current eligibilities; the removal of time limits for Veterans, reservists and survivors to access benefits; and simplification or elimination of the application process for participants.
Enhancing and simplifying support to Veterans' families and caregivers by replacing the Family Caregiver Relief Benefit with a $1,000 monthly, tax-free benefit paid directly to a Veteran's caregiver.

$4 million over four years to establish a Veteran Emergency Fund to enable Veterans Affairs Canada to address unique and urgent veteran-specific situations.

$13.9 million over four years to establish a Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund. This fund would be used for the development of new and innovative ways to support Veterans and their families by providing financial support to organizations to conduct research and implement initiatives and projects. These organizations can be non-profit, voluntary and, in some cases, for-profit as well.

Plans to create a new Centre of Excellence in Veterans' care, specializing in mental health, post-traumatic stress disorder and related issues for both Veterans and first responders.

Budget 2017: http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/about-us/department-officials/minister/budget

Service Delivery Review: Delivering Service Excellence: http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/about-us/reports/sdr-delivering-service-excellence

http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-details-enhanced-support-for-veterans-and-their-families-617471603.html

Blink your are right on all counts. The top brass do not get pay equity compared to their civilian counterparts. That is true for all CAF members. What pisses me off is the bureaucrats that are hiding behind the MVA and the ADMVA. These people are the ones that really call the shots in Ottawa. They are the ones getting the big bucks and controlling the bucks we should be getting. In fairness uncle Walt is probably doing the best he can under the restrictive control imposed by the "fat cats". I think he drank the kool aid as a coping mechanism.

Generals salaries sucks....[ (they aren't into it for the bucks maybe for a little prestige ]
Then again, we all as retired or serving veterans have public prestige.

Generals get the same 2% pension income per yr as we all do or did peaking at 70% . The top General makes less than the average Oil field worker in Fort Mac when you include overtime bonuses & when the oil boom is on. (BTW Average education for an oil field worker is less than grade 12)

The top General CDS makes slightly less than a Maritime Canadian Dentist or a brand new Family doctor in Cumberland County NS.
Do not tell me they do not work 1000s of hours of unpaid overtime,mind you, we all did our share equally too. (Base Commanders as Colonels and Wing Commander work their hearts out. Just as a motivated Private or Corporal etc does throughout his or her career !

Never Forget:
The initial real reason we are getting anything for PTSD is all because of the the work/suffering of a General namely LT Gen Romeo Daillaire!!!!

Please do not think that for a moment "Walt" doesnt give a S##T.... HE DOES!

Generals surely aren't in it for the money compared to the private sector for the level of responsibility its Peanuts.

There is work to do, lots of work to complete this process of the care of disabled veterans but we are winning----- slowly!

IMO

Lol prawnstar you hit it on the head there. It's a shame..VVV...

Uncle Walt drank the kool aid and he wants us to suck it up.

It must be nice to be in his shoes: military pension of General (negotiated) + current salary... and telling veterans: you have it good, we are looking after you. Be patient and it will be getting good even more. By the way, make sure you vote for me comes next election:)
My thought (somewhat biased:))

I'm not sure about Uncle Walt, the old General now that's he's been assimilated into the Vacs black hole, can spin a story like the rest of the political puppets. I was hopeing for better things from him. Thought?

New budget aims to give veterans better access to education, job market and health care

Published on March 28, 2017


Walt Natynczyk speaks to a group of veterans at the Summerside Legion during a medal presentation on Tuesday.

With the release of the 2017 federal budget, Walt Natynczyk is looking forward to implementing measures to better take care of Canada’s veterans.

Natynczyk, deputy minister of Veterans Affairs, spoke Monday in Summerside about the recent budget saying it’s focusing on three main areas for those transitioning from the Canadian Armed Forces: access to education, families and mental health.

“This is our third budget, and with every one so far, government has provided additional services to veterans. It’s something to clap about,” said Natynczyk.

“About a year and a half ago, the government gave a list of 15 mandates to my minister. And in the budget of 2016 we were able move up on some of those, like increasing disability award and reopening offices, including the one in Charlottetown.”

The most recent budget is significant, said Natynczyk.

“It’s not the same amount of money, but this budget is about the well being of veterans. Often we focus on the money, but we’ve found that when a veteran has something to do the veteran is happier with their retirement.

“I call it the GI bill. It’s a benefit for all members of the Canadian Armed forces beginning April 1, 2018, that allows them access to up to $40,000 for education after six years of service and up to $80,000 for education after 12 years of service.”

Because the mandates are still a work in progress, Natynczyk isn’t sure if veterans who have already gone to school after transitioning will be reimbursed the money they played for education. These details have yet to be worked out.

Natynczyk and the department are also working on job placement.

“Now there will be a program to help veterans through the education process but also with resume writing and job placement, which is key,” he added.

Veterans Affairs is also launching a pilot program that will allow those discharging from the Armed Forces, who have been injured, have access to all 32 military and family resource centres.

He added, “This budget is to ensure that the veteran can transition with a sense of purpose, financial security, a roof over their head and a sense of identity.”

http://www.journalpioneer.com/news/local/2017/3/28/new-budget-aims-to-give-veterans-better-access-to-education--job.html

I don't think this link has been posted. If it has sorry for the repeat.
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/03/24/bill-morneau-veterans-pensions_n_15588576.html

Iceman wrote:

Trooper wrote:With respect to the Grandfather Clause within the PA, this clause is in place to allow those Veterans who were receiving benefits from the PA prior to April 01, 2006 to continue receiving those benefits.
No change in this regard.

With respect to BILL C-42 and the pension act, the way I read it still leaves room for those who were granted a pension for an injury or disease from the Pension Act, to receive an award payable under this act, (PA), after 2006.

I know this part of the bill, it was always in place, unless I'm missing a part of the bill.
The difference in entitlement I think relates between what is a pension, versus an allowance.

Pension Act

19 (1) The portion of subsection 3.‍1(1) of the Pension Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

No award payable

3.‍1 (1) Despite any other provision of this Act, no award is payable under this Act in respect of any application made by or in respect of a member of the forces after April 1, 2006 unless

(2) Paragraph 3.‍1(1)‍(b) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(b) the application is in respect of the death of a member of the forces, if the death occurred before April 1, 2006 OR is the result of an injury or a disease, or the aggravation of an injury or a disease, for which a pension has been granted.

So bottom line, it is the allowance that reflects what is available for application under the charter, from those carrying 1% or more from the PA.
I don't see any change, whatever is in place with the FCRF regarding those receiving a pension from the old act and not being able to apply, I would guess that the same will be in place with the CRB.

Unless I'm missing something?

This was my mistake. I went through it again. I had interpreted it that 3.1(1)(a) would be gone as well.
Most of the changes to the pension act are just replacing the coming into affect of the new veterans charter with April 1, 2006.

The crb however.
The fcrb says receiving a pension of 1% or more.
The crb says received any pension or compensation from the pension act

Iceman,

The BILL's can throw us all off, sometimes I have to re - read them several times, and even then I don't get it right.
These guys do not like to write in English.

One other point to make is a Veteran who is receiving the Exceptional Incapacity Allowance under the Pension Act is not eligible for the Permanent Impairment Allowance, soon to be the Career Impact Allowance.

Trooper wrote:With respect to the Grandfather Clause within the PA, this clause is in place to allow those Veterans who were receiving benefits from the PA prior to April 01, 2006 to continue receiving those benefits.
No change in this regard.

With respect to BILL C-42 and the pension act, the way I read it still leaves room for those who were granted a pension for an injury or disease from the Pension Act, to receive an award payable under this act, (PA), after 2006.

I know this part of the bill, it was always in place, unless I'm missing a part of the bill.
The difference in entitlement I think relates between what is a pension, versus an allowance.

Pension Act

19 (1) The portion of subsection 3.‍1(1) of the Pension Act before paragraph (a) is replaced by the following:

No award payable

3.‍1 (1) Despite any other provision of this Act, no award is payable under this Act in respect of any application made by or in respect of a member of the forces after April 1, 2006 unless

(2) Paragraph 3.‍1(1)‍(b) of the Act is replaced by the following:

(b) the application is in respect of the death of a member of the forces, if the death occurred before April 1, 2006 OR is the result of an injury or a disease, or the aggravation of an injury or a disease, for which a pension has been granted.

So bottom line, it is the allowance that reflects what is available for application under the charter, from those carrying 1% or more from the PA.
I don't see any change, whatever is in place with the FCRF regarding those receiving a pension from the old act and not being able to apply, I would guess that the same will be in place with the CRB.

Unless I'm missing something?

This was my mistake. I went through it again. I had interpreted it that 3.1(1)(a) would be gone as well.
Most of the changes to the pension act are just replacing the coming into affect of the new veterans charter with April 1, 2006.

The crb however.
The fcrb says receiving a pension of 1% or more.
The crb says received any pension or compensation from the pension act

Well it looks like this summers tour for Hehr will have a power point presentation with lots and lots of baffle gab.

Its better then hearing the mandate letter repeated at every stop.