Re: Parliament unanimously approves plan to stop leaving money unspent at Veterans Affairs Canada

by czerv Fri 07 Dec 2018, 08:47

I vote, so they do not sit there on their assets long enough to get gov pension.

by Guest Fri 07 Dec 2018, 00:15

bigrex wrote:Yes, but a promise that is only half fulfilled, is better than promising to not do anything. just look at the last election. The Tories promised a Veterans' ID card. The NDP promised to change rules for surviving spouses if married after age 65. The Liberals promised the most, and as flawed as the PFL is, they still increased the ELB to 90% (even if those at the mandate minimum didn't get much of an increase). I would say that they also increased the LSA, and paid top up amounts, but that is actually turning out to be hurting us, going forward.

I'll give you that, the liberals threw us a few bones, so what happens if the cons or NDP get in next time and say " were scrapping those liberal perks, we have our own ideas" ,vets just end up playing monkey in the middle

by bosn181 Thu 06 Dec 2018, 21:50

sad when we have to pick the one to vote for based on who willing to give more scraps off the table lol.

by **bigrex** Thu 06 Dec 2018, 20:35

Yes, but a promise that is only half fulfilled, is better than promising to not do anything. just look at the last election. The Tories promised a Veterans' ID card. The NDP promised to change rules for surviving spouses if married after age 65. The Liberals promised the most, and as flawed as the PFL is, they still increased the ELB to 90% (even if those at the mandate minimum didn't get much of an increase). I would say that they also increased the LSA, and paid top up amounts, but that is actually turning out to be hurting us, going forward.

by Guest Thu 06 Dec 2018, 20:13

bigrex wrote:i agree with Bruce. If one of the parties, promises to increase the PFL to PA levels, or eliminate the clawback of lump sum awards from future PFL payments, then they will probably get at least a consideration for my vote. Especially if the other parties claim they are happy with the current direction at VAC.

but that’s just it, they all “ promise” to do this or that, but once they get in power , despite being video taped saying they promise this or that, they can just change their minds and veterans literally don’t have a leg to stand on, to do anything about it

by **bigrex** Thu 06 Dec 2018, 20:06

i agree with Bruce. If one of the parties, promises to increase the PFL to PA levels, or eliminate the clawback of lump sum awards from future PFL payments, then they will probably get at least a consideration for my vote. Especially if the other parties claim they are happy with the current direction at VAC.

by Guest Thu 06 Dec 2018, 10:02

I thought this article came out today, but it came out a month ago, not sure how I missed that.

I just vote for whoever I figure will screw us the least.

by Guest Thu 06 Dec 2018, 09:39

Bruce72 wrote:Parliament unanimously approves plan to stop leaving money unspent at Veterans Affairs Canada
By Brian Hill Online Writer & Researcher, Investigative Global News

An NDP plan to end the practice of leaving money unspent at Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) was unanimously approved by the House of Commons Tuesday afternoon, just five days before Remembrance Day and the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Proposed Monday and voted on Tuesday, the NDP motion says the government should “automatically carry forward all annual lapsed spending at the Department of Veterans Affairs to the next fiscal year, for the sole purpose of improving services for Canadian veterans.”

The motion states that any money carried forward should be targeted toward VAC meeting its own standards in the 12 service areas where it is currently failing, including improving wait times for disability benefits, telephone services, vocational training and rehabilitation programs.

As Global News first reported in September, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government has allowed more than $372 million meant to help veterans and their families go unspent since taking office in November 2015. This is despite promises from then-Liberal leader Trudeau, who in August 2015 said that leaving money meant for veterans unspent was “wrong,” that a government led by him would fix it.

Tuesday, Trudeau made good on that promise.

“Our government is and continues to be committed to supporting and honouring Canada’s veterans and their families,” he said. “And of course we will be supporting the NDP motion.”

This also follows more than $1.1 billion of unspent funding at VAC during the time Stephen Harper’s Conservatives were in power.

According to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, this proposal will “end the theft” at VAC and stop veterans from being “robbed” of the resources they so badly need and deserve.

“Over the past number of years money is promised to Veterans Affairs, that money has lapsed or not been spent,” Singh said Monday. “That means veterans have been robbed of finances and resources for the services they need. This has to end.

While motions passed in the House of Commons are not binding — meaning the government has no legal obligation to stick to the plan — they carry significant meaning.

Singh says this plan could mean as much as $124 million a year more for veterans. He also says it’s an important first step in ensuring veterans who’ve sacrificed so much have access to the benefits they need in a timely manner.

Since taking office, Trudeau’s Liberals have reopened nine veteran service offices closed by the Harper Conservatives. The government has also rehired roughly 470 front-line staff — including case managers — who work closely with veterans.

The NDP says with unspent money at VAC now being carried forward, the number of front-line staff at VAC can increase dramatically, meaning shorter wait times and better outcomes for veterans.

© 2018 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

so what now, were all supposed to vote NDP this time because they “ promise” not to do what the Conservatives and Liberals have done to vets, they are all guilty, and the vet vote is such a small part of the Canadian population, they don’t care how loud we rattle our sabres

by Guest Thu 06 Dec 2018, 09:24

Parliament unanimously approves plan to stop leaving money unspent at Veterans Affairs Canada
By Brian Hill Online Writer & Researcher, Investigative Global News

An NDP plan to end the practice of leaving money unspent at Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) was unanimously approved by the House of Commons Tuesday afternoon, just five days before Remembrance Day and the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

Proposed Monday and voted on Tuesday, the NDP motion says the government should “automatically carry forward all annual lapsed spending at the Department of Veterans Affairs to the next fiscal year, for the sole purpose of improving services for Canadian veterans.”

The motion states that any money carried forward should be targeted toward VAC meeting its own standards in the 12 service areas where it is currently failing, including improving wait times for disability benefits, telephone services, vocational training and rehabilitation programs.

As Global News first reported in September, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government has allowed more than $372 million meant to help veterans and their families go unspent since taking office in November 2015. This is despite promises from then-Liberal leader Trudeau, who in August 2015 said that leaving money meant for veterans unspent was “wrong,” that a government led by him would fix it.

Tuesday, Trudeau made good on that promise.

“Our government is and continues to be committed to supporting and honouring Canada’s veterans and their families,” he said. “And of course we will be supporting the NDP motion.”

This also follows more than $1.1 billion of unspent funding at VAC during the time Stephen Harper’s Conservatives were in power.

According to NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, this proposal will “end the theft” at VAC and stop veterans from being “robbed” of the resources they so badly need and deserve.

“Over the past number of years money is promised to Veterans Affairs, that money has lapsed or not been spent,” Singh said Monday. “That means veterans have been robbed of finances and resources for the services they need. This has to end.

While motions passed in the House of Commons are not binding — meaning the government has no legal obligation to stick to the plan — they carry significant meaning.

Singh says this plan could mean as much as $124 million a year more for veterans. He also says it’s an important first step in ensuring veterans who’ve sacrificed so much have access to the benefits they need in a timely manner.

Since taking office, Trudeau’s Liberals have reopened nine veteran service offices closed by the Harper Conservatives. The government has also rehired roughly 470 front-line staff — including case managers — who work closely with veterans.

The NDP says with unspent money at VAC now being carried forward, the number of front-line staff at VAC can increase dramatically, meaning shorter wait times and better outcomes for veterans.

© 2018 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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