New Minister of Veterans Affairs: Mandate Letter, etc.

[daftandbarmy]

The new Minister did say he was going to travel and "listen" to Veterans.  :rofl:

I hear that VAC is currently going through some kind of new IT system install, which has held up files for weeks, with a good chance it will all be an even bigger mess after 01 April, so he'd better do his field trips now...

 

[Rifleman62]

See last para. Do you think that the Budget will have a bunch of taxpayer funded, Liberal promises, to bribe the votes to vote Liberal?
Something more for Vets?

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/macaulay-faces-tough-task-repairing-relations-with-angry-veterans-community-1.4319539

MacAulay faces tough task repairing relations with angry veterans' community - CP - 1 Mar 19

OTTAWA -- When he was named Friday as Canada's latest minister of veterans affairs, Lawrence MacAulay was given the difficult task of sweetening the Trudeau government's relations with embittered veterans and selling the Liberals' controversial pension plan for those injured in uniform.

MacAulay's move to veterans affairs from the Agriculture Department, where he had been for the past three years, was part of a mini-cabinet shuffle prompted by Jody Wilson-Raybould's sudden resignation from the portfolio after only a few weeks in the job. The move comes at a critical time for veterans and the Liberals, who enjoyed strong support from former service members in the last election but are now facing widespread anger and frustration from the community ahead of this year's vote.

That frustration is fed by the fact MacAulay is the fifth person to hold the veterans-affairs portfolio in less than four years under the Liberals, counting Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan's temporary assignment after Wilson-Raybould's resignation."What it has sent as a message is that the veterans portfolio hasn't been a priority, that our veterans themselves have not been a priority to the government," said Virginia Vaillancourt, national president of the Union of Veterans' Affairs Employees. "And he's going to have a lot of relationships to mend and fix due to the constant turnover that we've seen in the minister's role."

MacAulay's appointment Friday was met with some extremely cautious optimism given his past role in the 1990s as secretary of state for veterans affairs under Jean Chretien and the fact the longtime MP is from P.E.I., where Veterans Affairs Canada is headquartered.
Yet there were also questions about whether he is simply a placeholder given that the next election is only a few months away -- and whether he will actually be able to address the veteran community's numerous concerns and grievances.

In an interview with The Canadian Press before he flew to P.E.I. Friday, MacAulay said his plan is to sit down and take a close look at "what's there, what's been done and what can be done better for veterans." Yet he also defended the Trudeau government's record, saying "it's kind of a shame" if veterans feel the Liberals have been ignoring them or have broken promises to the community since taking office. "My understanding is that what we indicated we would do we are doing or in the process of doing," MacAulay said, citing the re-opening of several Veterans Affairs offices closed by the Conservatives and the introduction of a new pension plan as examples. "I think you'd find there's a lot of veterans who are quite pleased with what's taken place."

Yet that pension plan, in particular, has been anything but well received -- as MacAulay is likely to find out. The federal Liberals promised during the last election to reinstate a lifelong disability pension after many veterans complained the lump-sum payment and other benefits that replaced it in 2006 were far less generous. While the pledge was widely interpreted as a promise to bring back the pre-2006 pension system, the Trudeau government instead introduced its own version that will come into effect on April 1, which many veterans have described as a betrayal. An analysis by the parliamentary budget office last week found the Liberals' so-called Pension for Life plan is not only less generous than the pre-2006 pension, but will provide less financial compensation to the most severely injured veterans than even the current system does.

"(MacAulay) has to do more than just verbiage. He has to come back with some specific proposals to address the inequity," said Brian Forbes, chairman of the National Council of Veteran Associations, which represents more than 60 veteran groups across Canada. "I truly believe that if he doesn't do something along those lines, then the election has to be impacted at least to some extent by the fact that many veterans will either stay home or vote into another party. They're not going to get that grandiose support they got in 2015."

There have also been concerns about the long delays and obstacles many veterans continue to face getting services and benefits, which Royal Canadian Legion national executive director Brad White said "has to be cleaned up." One of the key questions, however, is how much room -- and money -- MacAulay will have to manoeuvre before the writ is dropped given that the federal budget will be unveiled in less than three weeks and many of its measures have already been nailed down. "So things are pretty well set," White said. "I'm not going to say in stone. But I think it's pretty well set for the rollout of the budget."

 

[daftandbarmy]

See last para. Do you think that the Budget will have a bunch of taxpayer funded, Liberal promises, to bribe the votes to vote Liberal?
Something more for Vets?

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/macaulay-faces-tough-task-repairing-relations-with-angry-veterans-community-1.4319539

MacAulay faces tough task repairing relations with angry veterans' community - CP - 1 Mar 19

OTTAWA -- When he was named Friday as Canada's latest minister of veterans affairs, Lawrence MacAulay was given the difficult task of sweetening the Trudeau government's relations with embittered veterans and selling the Liberals' controversial pension plan for those injured in uniform.

MacAulay's move to veterans affairs from the Agriculture Department, where he had been for the past three years, was part of a mini-cabinet shuffle prompted by Jody Wilson-Raybould's sudden resignation from the portfolio after only a few weeks in the job. The move comes at a critical time for veterans and the Liberals, who enjoyed strong support from former service members in the last election but are now facing widespread anger and frustration from the community ahead of this year's vote.

That frustration is fed by the fact MacAulay is the fifth person to hold the veterans-affairs portfolio in less than four years under the Liberals, counting Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan's temporary assignment after Wilson-Raybould's resignation."What it has sent as a message is that the veterans portfolio hasn't been a priority, that our veterans themselves have not been a priority to the government," said Virginia Vaillancourt, national president of the Union of Veterans' Affairs Employees. "And he's going to have a lot of relationships to mend and fix due to the constant turnover that we've seen in the minister's role."

MacAulay's appointment Friday was met with some extremely cautious optimism given his past role in the 1990s as secretary of state for veterans affairs under Jean Chretien and the fact the longtime MP is from P.E.I., where Veterans Affairs Canada is headquartered.
Yet there were also questions about whether he is simply a placeholder given that the next election is only a few months away -- and whether he will actually be able to address the veteran community's numerous concerns and grievances.

In an interview with The Canadian Press before he flew to P.E.I. Friday, MacAulay said his plan is to sit down and take a close look at "what's there, what's been done and what can be done better for veterans." Yet he also defended the Trudeau government's record, saying "it's kind of a shame" if veterans feel the Liberals have been ignoring them or have broken promises to the community since taking office. "My understanding is that what we indicated we would do we are doing or in the process of doing," MacAulay said, citing the re-opening of several Veterans Affairs offices closed by the Conservatives and the introduction of a new pension plan as examples. "I think you'd find there's a lot of veterans who are quite pleased with what's taken place."

Yet that pension plan, in particular, has been anything but well received -- as MacAulay is likely to find out. The federal Liberals promised during the last election to reinstate a lifelong disability pension after many veterans complained the lump-sum payment and other benefits that replaced it in 2006 were far less generous. While the pledge was widely interpreted as a promise to bring back the pre-2006 pension system, the Trudeau government instead introduced its own version that will come into effect on April 1, which many veterans have described as a betrayal. An analysis by the parliamentary budget office last week found the Liberals' so-called Pension for Life plan is not only less generous than the pre-2006 pension, but will provide less financial compensation to the most severely injured veterans than even the current system does.

"(MacAulay) has to do more than just verbiage. He has to come back with some specific proposals to address the inequity," said Brian Forbes, chairman of the National Council of Veteran Associations, which represents more than 60 veteran groups across Canada. "I truly believe that if he doesn't do something along those lines, then the election has to be impacted at least to some extent by the fact that many veterans will either stay home or vote into another party. They're not going to get that grandiose support they got in 2015."

There have also been concerns about the long delays and obstacles many veterans continue to face getting services and benefits, which Royal Canadian Legion national executive director Brad White said "has to be cleaned up." One of the key questions, however, is how much room -- and money -- MacAulay will have to manoeuvre before the writ is dropped given that the federal budget will be unveiled in less than three weeks and many of its measures have already been nailed down. "So things are pretty well set," White said. "I'm not going to say in stone. But I think it's pretty well set for the rollout of the budget."

All the more reason to push for VAC to be delivered under the MND, perhaps led by an Associate Minister/ Deputy etc. The continuity and connections are too important to risk with a 'revolving door' leadership program.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Bumped with the latest VAC mandate letter (highlights mine) ....

Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Mandate Letter

Office of the Prime Minister

Dear Mr. MacAulay:

Thank you for agreeing to serve Canadians as Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence.

On Election Day, Canadians chose to continue moving forward. From coast to coast to coast, people chose to invest in their families and communities, create good middle class jobs and fight climate change while keeping our economy strong and growing. Canadians sent the message that they want us to work together to make progress on the issues that matter most, from making their lives more affordable and strengthening the healthcare system, to protecting the environment, keeping our communities safe and moving forward on reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. People expect Parliamentarians to work together to deliver these results, and that’s exactly what this team will do.

It is more important than ever for Canadians to unite and build a stronger, more inclusive and more resilient country. The Government of Canada is the central institution to promote that unity of purpose and, as a Minister in that Government, you have a personal duty and responsibility to fulfill that objective.

That starts with a commitment to govern in a positive, open and collaborative way. Our platform, Forward: A Real Plan for the Middle Class, is the starting point for our Government. I expect us to work with Parliament to deliver on our commitments. Other issues and ideas will arise or will come from Canadians, Parliament, stakeholders and the public service. It is my expectation that you will engage constructively and thoughtfully and add priorities to the Government’s agenda when appropriate. Where legislation is required, you will need to work with the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and the Cabinet Committee on Operations to prioritize within the minority Parliament.

We will continue to deliver real results and effective government to Canadians. This includes: tracking and publicly reporting on the progress of our commitments; assessing the effectiveness of our work; aligning our resources with priorities; and adapting to events as they unfold, in order to get the results Canadians rightly demand of us.

Many of our most important commitments require partnership with provincial, territorial and municipal governments and Indigenous partners, communities and governments. Even where disagreements may occur, we will remember that our mandate comes from citizens who are served by all orders of government and it is in everyone’s interest that we work together to find common ground. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs is the Government-wide lead on all relations with the provinces and territories.

There remains no more important relationship to me and to Canada than the one with Indigenous Peoples. We made significant progress in our last mandate on supporting self-determination, improving service delivery and advancing reconciliation. I am directing every single Minister to determine what they can do in their specific portfolio to accelerate and build on the progress we have made with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.

I also expect us to continue to raise the bar on openness, effectiveness and transparency in government. This means a government that is open by default. It means better digital capacity and services for Canadians. It means a strong and resilient public service. It also means humility and continuing to acknowledge mistakes when we make them. Canadians do not expect us to be perfect; they expect us to be diligent, honest, open and sincere in our efforts to serve the public interest.

As Minister, you are accountable for your style of leadership and your ability to work constructively in Parliament. I expect that you will collaborate closely with your Cabinet and Caucus colleagues. You will also meaningfully engage with the Government Caucus and Opposition Members of Parliament, the increasingly non-partisan Senate, and Parliamentary Committees.

It is also your responsibility to substantively engage with Canadians, civil society and stakeholders, including businesses of all sizes, organized labour, the broader public sector and the not-for-profit and charitable sectors. You must be proactive in ensuring that a broad array of voices provides you with advice, in both official languages, from every region of the country.

We are committed to evidence-based decision-making that takes into consideration the impacts of policies on all Canadians and fully defends the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. You will apply Gender-based Analysis Plus (GBA+) in the decisions that you make.

Canada’s media and your engagement with them in a professional and timely manner are essential. The Parliamentary Press Gallery, indeed all journalists in Canada and abroad, ask necessary questions and contribute in an important way to the democratic process.

You will do your part to continue our Government’s commitment to transparent, merit-based appointments, to help ensure that people of all gender identities, Indigenous Peoples, racialized people, persons with disabilities and minority groups are reflected in positions of leadership.

As Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, you will continue to ensure that the Government lives up to its sacred obligation to our Veterans and their families. You will continue to ensure that Veterans receive the respect, support, care and economic opportunities that they deserve. This includes working with the Minister of National Defence to ensure a seamless transition for Canadian Armed Forces members to Veterans Affairs Canada programs and services.

I will expect you to work with your colleagues and through established legislative, regulatory and Cabinet processes to deliver on your top priorities. In particular, you will:

- Create a new rapid-response service staffed by social workers, case management counsellors and peer support workers.
- Ensure that every single Canadian Veteran is directly offered a conversation with a support worker to make sure they know about the help available to them and how to access it.
- Provide Veterans with a new benefit of up to $3,000 in additional free counselling services before a disability claim is required.
- Implement a system of automatic approval for the most common disability applications.
- Work with the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion to create national employment and training support services to provide career counselling, job matching and other employment help tailored to the needs of military and policing families.
- Build new, purpose-built accessible and affordable housing units, with a full range of health, social and employment supports for Veterans who need extra help.
- Conclude contribution agreements to support the creation of the Centre of Excellence on Chronic Pain and ensure that the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research can continue to respond to the unique health needs of military members, Veterans and their families.
- With its contribution agreement in place, ensure funding to help the Juno Beach Centre continue to deliver its mandate to preserve the legacy of all Canadians who served during the Second World War.
- Deliver a higher standard of service and care, and ensure that a “one Veteran, one standard” approach is upheld.
- Continue to streamline the current suite of benefits with the goal of reducing overlap and administrative burden, and further improving Veterans Affairs Canada’s performance, as well as the client experience for Veterans, both as they transition to civilian life and as their needs change throughout their lives.
- Improve transparency and communications so that Veterans and their families have clarity about and predictability of available benefits and services.

These priorities draw heavily from our election platform commitments. As mentioned, you are encouraged to seek opportunities to work across Parliament in the fulfillment of these commitments and to identify additional priorities.

I expect you to work closely with your Deputy Minister and their senior officials to ensure that the ongoing work of your department is undertaken in a professional manner and that decisions are made in the public interest. Your Deputy Minister will brief you on the many daily decisions necessary to ensure the achievement of your priorities, the effective running of the government and better services for Canadians. It is my expectation that you will apply our values and principles to these decisions so that they are dealt with in a timely and responsible manner and in a way that is consistent with the overall direction of our Government.

Our ability, as a government, to implement our priorities depends on consideration of the professional, non-partisan advice of public servants. Each and every time a government employee comes to work, they do so in service to Canada, with a goal of improving our country and the lives of all Canadians. I expect you to establish a collaborative working relationship with your Deputy Minister, whose role, and the role of public servants under their direction, is to support you in the performance of your responsibilities.

We have committed to an open, honest government that is accountable to Canadians, lives up to the highest ethical standards and applies the utmost care and prudence in the handling of public funds. I expect you to embody these values in your work and observe the highest ethical standards in everything you do. I want Canadians to look on their own government with pride and trust.

As Minister, you must ensure that you are aware of and fully compliant with the Conflict of Interest Act and Treasury Board policies and guidelines. You will be provided with a copy of Open and Accountable Government to assist you as you undertake your responsibilities. I ask that you carefully read it, including elements that have been added to strengthen it, and ensure that your staff does so as well. I expect that in staffing your offices you will hire people who reflect the diversity of Canada, and that you will uphold principles of gender equality, disability equality, pay equity and inclusion.

Give particular attention to the Ethical Guidelines set out in Annex A of that document, which apply to you and your staff. As noted in the Guidelines, you must uphold the highest standards of honesty and impartiality, and both the performance of your official duties and the arrangement of your private affairs should bear the closest public scrutiny. This is an obligation that is not fully discharged by simply acting within the law.

I will note that you are responsible for ensuring that your Minister’s Office meets the highest standards of professionalism and that it is a safe, respectful, rewarding and welcoming place for your staff to work.

I know I can count on you to fulfill the important responsibilities entrusted in you. It is incumbent on you to turn to me and the Deputy Prime Minister early and often to support you in your role as Minister.

Sincerely,

Prime Minister of Canada signature

Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of Canada

Text also attached in case link doesn't work.

 

[gryphonv]

>Provide Veterans with a new benefit of up to $3,000 in additional free counselling services before a disability claim is required.

While there are many great things about the announcement. This one sounds amazing to me. As someone who was fortunate and had counseling services transition from when I was in the military to being released, i know how valuble it is. I just hope those of us who are suffering get some education on what is available to them.

There needs to be an information campaign to track down and help inform veterans of what they are entitled.

There seems to be a focus on the recently released or soon to be released. But that is a small part of the veteran population. There are many elderly veterans that fell through the cracks. I would love to see more effort to reach out to them.

 

[Teager]

>Provide Veterans with a new benefit of up to $3,000 in additional free counselling services before a disability claim is required.

While there are many great things about the announcement. This one sounds amazing to me. As someone who was fortunate and had counseling services transition from when I was in the military to being released, i know how valuble it is. I just hope those of us who are suffering get some education on what is available to them.

There needs to be an information campaign to track down and help inform veterans of what they are entitled.

There seems to be a focus on the recently released or soon to be released. But that is a small part of the veteran population. There are many elderly veterans that fell through the cracks. I would love to see more effort to reach out to them.

I see VAC attacked anytime they try to provide information on the benefits they provide. Just look at there Facebook page of people saying VAC needs to stop with there propaganda. Except it's literally information on the benefits they provide. There is a difference between benefits provided and informing people about it versus the issues that surround some benefits.

In my opinion VAC has become damned if they do and damned if they don't by veterans.

 

[57Chevy]

- Implement a system of automatic approval for the most common disability applications.

As stated above:
What would those common disabilities be ?

 

[brihard]

>Provide Veterans with a new benefit of up to $3,000 in additional free counselling services before a disability claim is required.

While there are many great things about the announcement. This one sounds amazing to me. As someone who was fortunate and had counseling services transition from when I was in the military to being released, i know how valuble it is. I just hope those of us who are suffering get some education on what is available to them.

There needs to be an information campaign to track down and help inform veterans of what they are entitled.

There seems to be a focus on the recently released or soon to be released. But that is a small part of the veteran population. There are many elderly veterans that fell through the cracks. I would love to see more effort to reach out to them.

I'm reserving judgment on this one, primarily for the reason that that happens to correspond exactly with the Veterans Assistance Service that already exists- $150/hr is a typical fee for clinical counselling. Veterans Assistance Service (aka CFMAP aka EAP) give twenty one hour sessions per issue to veterans and immediate family. 20 x $150= $3000. It's an excellent service and one they absolutely SHOULD advertise more. For these reasons, and because the numbers line up pretty much exactly, I'm skeptical that there's anything new coming versus maybe some sort of rebranding of an existing but underutilized service. I don't give them the benefit of the doubt anymore.

I see VAC attacked anytime they try to provide information on the benefits they provide. Just look at there Facebook page of people saying VAC needs to stop with there propaganda. Except it's literally information on the benefits they provide. There is a difference between benefits provided and informing people about it versus the issues that surround some benefits.

In my opinion VAC has become damned if they do and damned if they don't by veterans.

Concur. When they *do* try to get info out e.g., over Facebook, I see a handful of regulars who just crap all over them almost obsessively. It's annoying.

The worker bees at VAC are not the problem. The people pushing info out on social media are not the problem.

 

[MJP]

Concur. When they *do* try to get info out e.g., over Facebook, I see a handful of regulars who just crap all over them almost obsessively. It's annoying.

The worker bees at VAC are not the problem. The people pushing info out on social media are not the problem.

The violent minority will always over overpower the rationale middle