The CF Report

April 1, 2006: On Track

On December 17, 2005, our Department started asking for public feedback on The Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act. Many people know this Act as the New Veterans Charter. The new Charter offers a foundation on which Canadian Forces Veterans and their families can draw support as they enter a new phase of their lives.

The proposed regulations were published in the Canada Gazette from December 17 to January 30, giving Canadians a chance to look at them and give us their comments. We have reviewed those comments and are taking them into consideration as we finalize the regulations. The next step will be getting approval from the Government of Canada on the final regulations. We hope to begin delivering the new services and benefits to CF Veterans and their families on April 1, 2006.

VAC would like to take this opportunity to thank the many Veterans' organizations that offered their advice and guidance during the development of the New Veterans Charter. Their input will continue to add value and guide us as we put in place the new programs and services.

Learning Our New Way of Business

Commander Kevin Greenwood, the Commanding Officer of HMCS Winnipeg, watches a replenishment at sea in the Gulf of Aden.

The New Veterans Charter is the greatest change to Veterans' services and benefits in the past 60 years. To help us deliver our new suite of services and benefits under the new Charter, our employees have been involved in one of the largest training exercises in the history of the Department. This training is needed to maintain our goal of providing the highest level of customer service to you.

Employees across the country - from those of us who answer your calls to those who process your pension applications - will receive this training. It is a big change in how we do business and we expect to face some challenges along the way.

Our #1 priority is making sure that you receive the services and benefits you need in a timely and courteous manner. That's why we have plans in place to minimize any service disruptions during the training period. We want to thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we ready our staff to serve you better.

The Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada believe that this new Veterans Charter is an excellent piece of legislation which will serve our Veterans well now, and into the foreseeable future. - Kenneth Henderson, Dominion President, The Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada.

In my opinion, Bill C-45 is the most important piece of legislation on behalf of the Modern Day Veteran and his/her family passed in the last 50 years. - Colonel (Ret) Donald S. Ethell, OC, OMM, OStJ, AOE, MSC, CD, Immediate Past National President, Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping.

I am a member of one of the Veterans' organizations who meet regularly with senior VAC officials to ensure the New Veterans Charter will be the best that it can be. Veterans Affairs Canada has listened to our concerns and has improved the new Charter considerably based on the opinions, concerns and suggestions raised by members of the Veterans' committee. - Dave Munro, CD, National President, Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association.

We fully support the proposed Regulations as detailed in the Canada Gazette. - Pierre Allard, Director, Service Bureau, Royal Canadian Legion, on behalf of Mary Ann Burdett, Dominion President.

Client Self-Screening Information

A self-screening tool has been developed to help you figure out what programs and services you might be eligible for under the New Veterans Charter. If you think you may be eligible, please call Veterans Affairs at 1-866-522-2122 (en français, au 1-866-522-2022) for more information and eligibility requirements.

Becoming a Leader in Treating Operational Stress Injuries

The official opening of the National Centre of Expertise; from left to right: Lina Carrese, Manager of the National Clinical Centre of Expertise, Francis Scarpaleggia, M.P. for Lac-Saint-Louis, Serge Gingras, Director, Professional Services, Ste. Anne's Hospital, Johanne Isabel, Ste. Anne's Centre Manager and François Fournier, representing the Centre's clients.

The National Clinical Centre of Expertise located within Ste. Anne's Hospital in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue outside of Montréal is now a centre of excellence when it comes to assessing and treating operational stress injuries (OSI) for our Veterans, CF and RCMP members. The Centre's mental health team is looking for new ways to assess and treat people with psychological injuries resulting from military or operational trauma. They will do that by:

• conducting research in the field of OSIs;
• identifying the most up-to-date and effective ways to treat OSIs;
• developing new treatment programs;
• holding forums where experts can discuss their research and share their ideas;
• creating educational materials for you and your family; and
• creating educational materials for people who provide the help and treatment to you and your family.

This National Centre plans to share this new information with the military and the civilian health care communities across the country. That means regardless of where you live or where you're stationed you will get the best possible treatment for OSIs available.

CF members and Veterans no longer have to qualify for a disability pension in order to get help for their OSIs. The New Veterans Charter means CF members and Veterans with OSIs such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder will be able to get better and faster treatment for their conditions.

Transition Scenario

Rob* is a 32-year-old Veteran. He was medically released from the Canadian Forces after serving 13 years, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and back problems. Rob is having trouble adjusting to family and civilian life. His PTSD and other health problems mean he can't do some of the things he used to at home and in his community.

Under the New Veterans Charter, Rob is eligible for the following programs and services:

• Case Management - After release, all of the services and benefits Rob receives will be set out in a case plan and managed by a VAC Area Counsellor. Follow-up and monitoring will make sure the programs and servicesm are coordinated, making a difference, and ultimately improving the quality of life for Rob and his family.
• Rehabilitation Program - Rob will receive health and psycho/social rehabilitation to help him stabilize his PTSD symptoms and help him deal more effectively with his health problems. Other rehabilitation therapies will help to ease him back into family and community activities. Job retraining or extra schooling is available through DND from the Service Income Security Insurance Plan - Long Term Disability (SISIP-LTD). If Rob's health problems are too severe and he cannot work, his wife can receive career counselling, job training, and job search help under the Rehabilitation Program.
• Financial Benefits - Rob will receive monthly financial support (75% of his gross pre-release military salary) from SISIP-LTD during his treatment (other CF Veterans who may not be eligible for benefits from SISIP-LTD but who have a rehabilitation need related to their service and are having trouble re-establishing in civilian life may receive the same benefits from VAC). If Rob still can't work after completing treatment because of his health he can continue to receive SISIP-LTD benefits until he reaches age 65. If so, he may also be eligible for a Supplementary Retirement Benefit from VAC to compensate for the lost opportunity to contribute to a retirement fund. If Rob is able to work after the rehabilitation, he may receive monthly income support from VAC while searching for a job.
• Disability Award - Rob may be awarded a lump sum disability award. If so, the payment would be related to his level of disability and will not affect the monthly income replacement he receives from SISIP-LTD.
• Health Care - Rob and his family are eligible for health care coverage through the Public Service Health Care Plan. However, even if he isn't, he would be eligible for similar coverage through VAC's new programs.