Question Period Note: BUDGET 2019

• Budget 2019 continues to reflect the responsibility to ensure that all Veterans and their families receive the support and services they need, when they need it.

• The 2019 Budget builds on the historic investments made in Budgets 2016-2018 that improved financial security and other supports and services for Veterans and their families.

• In total, our Government of Canada has invested $10.3 billion in Veterans’ initiatives since 2016.

• This Budget proposes to invest a further $256 million in Veterans and their families including:

o $41 million over five years, starting in 2019-20, and $5.4 million ongoing, to make the transition process simpler and seamless for Veterans.

• We have proudly fulfilled our commitment to deliver an Education and Training Benefit to Veterans.

• The Education and Training Benefit provides flexibility and financial support so that each Veteran can make the choices that best suit their needs and those of their families.

• As of April 1, 2018, honourably released Veterans with 6 years of service (2,191 days) are able to receive up to $40,960 and those with 12 years of service (4,382 days) are able to receive up to $81,920.

• Education and Training Benefit funding totaled $12.3M in 2018-2019. In 2019-2020, the Education and Training Benefit has provided funding to 1,706 Veterans (1,135 Veterans accessed a formal plan; 571 Veterans accessed a short course) as of September 30, 2019. In 2019-20, it is forecasted that Education and Training Benefit will provide funding to 1950 Veterans, totaling $29.6 M.

• As of July, 5, 2019, Supplementary Reservists—who previously had to release from the Canadian Armed Forces to access the benefit—have access to this additional support to help them transition to post-military careers and life.

o $20.1 million over five years, starting in 2019-20, with $5 million per year ongoing, to create a Centre of Excellence on Chronic Pain Research. Plus, an additional $10 million over 4 years ($25 million over 10 years), starting in 2020-21, to fund ongoing operations at the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research.

o $150 million over 5 years, starting in 2019-20, to establish a new Veterans Survivors Fund to better support Veterans who married over the age of 60 and their spouses.

o $2.9 million over three years, starting in 2019-20, to the Highway of Heroes Fund Budget to honour the service, dedication, and sacrifice of Veterans and their families.

o $2.5 million over five years, starting in 2019-20, to help the Juno Beach Centre continue to deliver its mandate, and

o $30 million in 2019-20 to commemorate Métis Veterans.

BACKGROUND – BUDGET 2019 – Investing in the Middle Class

Key Elements

Budget 2019 proposes measures for:

• Supporting Veterans as They Transition to Post-Service Life
• Supporting Research on Military and Veteran Health
• Supporting Veterans’ Families
• Commemorating Canada’s Veterans

In 2019 Budget for Veterans:

Supporting Veterans as They Transition to Post-Service Life

Budget 2019 proposes a number of initiatives to make the transition process simpler and seamless for veterans, including, for example:

• Expanding access to support provided by the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group to ensure that members of the Canadian Armed Forces—not just those who are ill and injured—benefit from personalized support services.
• Enhancing training available on transitioning to civilian life, to improve members of the Canadian Armed Forces’ knowledge of programs, benefits and available services.
• Launching a new online questionnaire to help Veterans Affairs Canada identify members of the Canadian Armed Forces at risk of a difficult transition and proactively inform them about the services and benefits that may help them most.
• Improving service to departing members by making benefit application and information sharing between Veterans Affairs Canada and the Department of National Defence simpler and more streamlined.
• Launching a personalized transition guide, available through a service member’s My VAC Account, to help them better navigate the process from beginning to end.

In addition, in Budget 2019 the Government proposes to amend legislation to expand eligibility for the Education and Training Benefit, so that members of the Supplementary Reserve can access the Benefit. Launched on April 1, 2018, the Education and Training Benefit provides veterans with up to $80,000 for education. Supplementary Reservists—who were previously ineligible for this benefit—will now have access to this additional support to help them transition to post-military careers and life.

With these examples and measures to improve administrative processes, Veterans and members of the Canadian Armed Forces will be better supported as they transition out of service life. To support these measures, Budget 2019 proposes to provide Veterans Affairs Canada with $41.0 million and $5.4 million ongoing and the Department of National Defence with $94.3 million over six years, beginning in 2018–19, with $19.0 million per year ongoing.

Supporting Research on Military and Veteran Health

The rate of chronic pain among veterans, in particular, is almost double that of the general Canadian population. Budget 2019 proposes to create a Centre of Excellence on Chronic Pain Research. Working closely with veterans, partners and experts in the field, the Centre will help ensure that veterans’ chronic pain realities are reflected in research on chronic pain treatment, and help pilot innovative therapies and enhance treatment options. To support the centre, Budget 2019 proposes to provide Veterans Affairs Canada $20.1 million over five years, starting in 2019–20, with $5 million per year ongoing.

This work will be complemented by that of the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR), which brings together a network of 43 Canadian university members, 10 global affiliates, four philanthropic organizations, three industry partners, several government departments and more than 1,700 researchers—all committed to improving the way that Canada cares for members of the military, veterans and their families. Organizations like the Royal Canadian Legion that need to develop effective, evidence-based services for veterans and their families rely on the research done by CIMVHR.

To 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, Budget 2019 proposes to provide Veterans Affairs Canada with $25 million over 10 years, starting in 2020–21, to fund CIMVHR’s ongoing operations.

Supporting Veterans’ Families

To better support veterans who married over the age of 60 and their spouses, Budget 2019 announces a new Veterans Survivors Fund committing $150 million over 5 years starting in 2019–20 to Veterans Affairs Canada. With these funds, the Government will work with the community to identify impacted survivors, process their claims and ensure survivors have the financial support they need. The Government will announce additional details on this measure in the coming months.

Commemorating Canada’s Veterans

In honour and remembrance of those who have served during times of conflict, the Highway of Heroes project will see 2 million trees being planted between Trenton and Toronto: one tree for every Canadian that has served since Confederation. So far, over 90,000 trees have been planted.

To support the Highway of Heroes project, Budget 2019 proposes to provide funding of $2.9 million over three years, starting in 2019–20, to the Highway of Heroes Fund, through Veterans Affairs Canada.

The Juno Beach Centre is a Second World War museum in Normandy, France, that pays homage to the Canadians who lost their lives during the Second World War. The Centre’s mandate is to preserve the legacy of all Canadians who served during the Second World War for future generations. The Centre has been receiving operating funding from Veterans Affairs Canada since 2007.

To help the Centre continue to deliver its mandate, Budget 2019 provides $2.5 million over five years, starting in 2019–20 to Veterans Affairs Canada.

Many young Métis men and women served in the Canadian Forces during the Second World War. To recognize the contribution of Métis veterans to the country’s Second World War efforts and to commemorate the sacrifices and achievements of all Métis veterans, Budget 2019 provides $30 million to Veterans Affairs Canada in 2019–20.

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