Question Period Note: WELL-BEING FUND

• The Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund was announced in Budget 2017 to focus on the overall well-being of Veterans and their families.

• The Well-Being Fund provides support to organizations, including non-profit, volunteer, and in some cases, for-profit, who submit proposals for projects and initiatives related to issues impacting Veterans and their families.

• Veterans Affairs Canada fosters strong collaboration and supports innovation by providing grants and contributions to organizations striving to improve the lives of Veterans and their families through innovative projects, initiatives and research.

BACKGROUND – VETERAN AND FAMILY WELL BEING FUND

Each year Veterans Affairs Canada receives numerous requests and proposals for funding from outside organizations in support of initiatives and projects that are aimed at improving the health and well-being of Veterans and their families. Many times these proposals seek funding to conduct research or to develop, test, and implement new and innovative programs and services that will target various sub-groups of Veterans Affairs Canada’s target populations. Before implementing the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund, Veterans Affairs Canada did not have a mechanism through which it could support these organizations financially to further its mandate in relation to care, treatment, re-establishment or to support the objective of well-being for Veterans.

Previously, Veterans Affairs Canada’s responses to these organizations have been to:
1) decline funding;
2) seek funding through “one-off” Treasury Board Submissions;
3) fund proposals internally via Veterans Affairs Canada’s O&M funding;
4) provide “in kind” funding (e.g. assigning part time Veterans Affairs Canada human resources to the project to assist with outreach or project management); or
5) redirect the requests to other sources of federal funding, such as the partnership programs offered through Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

The Well-Being Fund provides a strategic approach to ensure that Veterans Affairs Canada has the capacity to support innovation in Veteran health and well-being, and prevents duplication of service and program delivery and fill gaps.

The creation of the Fund was announced on March 23, 2017 as part of the Government of Canada’s 2017 Budget.

None