Vets lifelong challenge

There is no doubt in my mind that local staff in our Veterans Affairs office are to be commended in what they do and how they do it. All office staff across Canada too should share the same compliments.

Every MPs will openly tell you how wonderful the Canadian Military are, how great they are to serve and protect our country and others and yet when it comes to taking care of them which government is bound to do, government lacks in this department.

It took approx two hours for the veteran to fill in the required forms which seems excessive and from that point on it seems to go down hill. The veteran may or may not hear back from VA for approx 90 days or more, their claim must be forwarded to head office and will be adjudicated taking up to and over a year. This still does not mean the veteran will receive any form of compensation and of course there are appeals in the process which most who present a claim will have to do. So now the veteran may be into two years waiting, fighting, frustrated, ready to give up waiting for an answer.

PM Trudeau said he was going to bring back the life long disability pension but he has not. VA is in the process to determine whether they will continue with the award which replaced the lifelong disability pension saving government millions of dollars and at the same time this award does away with helping the spouse and children should the veteran pass away, they serve too. So it would seem an award is best for government as it saves them money and somehow the disabled veteran is healed.

PM Trudeau said veterans need not take government to court over their disability needs but yet, he has continued the on going law suit Equitas, has against the crown.

This lawsuit Equitas seeks to make veterans equal to all the rest of Canadians under the Pension Act. Why should they not be equal? This would bring back the life long disability pension and I believe should the veteran pass, the spouse would receive 100% help and children would be included.  Not like it is today because of the Liberals who did away with the lifelong disability pension.

We are not at war anymore. Canada has not made up her mind if we will engage in peacekeeping yet we send personnel to assist other nations in war efforts. So the civilian side of Canada quickly forget their Military and don't care if their veterans who are disabled receive their just rewards, lifelong disability pensions. 

Back a veteran every day and not only on the 11th of November.

Dale Dirks