Question Period Note: EMPLOYMENT FOR VETERANS

• Our government is committed to helping releasing Canadian Armed Forces members and Veterans successfully transition from military to civilian life.

• We take a whole of government approach to ensuring that transitioning members find meaningful and substantive employment as and when they need it.

• Veterans Affairs Canada, the Department of National Defence, the Public Service Commission, and Employment Services Development Canada are working collaboratively on initiatives that will support and advance employment for all Veterans.

BACKGROUND – EMPLOYMENT FOR VETERANS

We are committed to working with our government partners such as the Canadian Armed Forces, Employment and Social Development Canada and the Public Service Commission, as well as with organizations outside of Government to enable successful transition for releasing members.

During their military service, Veterans develop skills and abilities from first class training and experience. We want to help Veterans leverage those abilities to achieve their post service goals.

In addition to other services and benefits that assist Canadian Armed Forces/Veterans find employment such as Career Transition Services, Vocational Rehabilitation services, and the Education and Training Benefit, Veterans Affairs Canada established the Veterans in the Public Service Unit in 2017, designed to assist more Veterans find employment in the public service.

In 2018, Veterans Affairs Canada partnered with the newly formed Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group to lead and coordinate efforts to improve departmental support to Veterans and their families in three key areas: career transition and employment, homelessness/at-risk Veterans; and families. Together with Employment and Social Development Canada, we are developing a Career Transition and Employment Strategy for Veterans and Canadian Armed Forces personnel who are making the transition to civilian employment.

Veteran Hiring in the Public Service

As of September 2019, Veterans Affairs Canada had 174 employees who self-identified as having Canadian Armed Forces experience. This information is gathered through a voluntary survey. Given the large number of recent hires and the voluntary nature of the survey, this number may be understated.

Canada has invested in the education, training and leadership development of its Veterans, and we want to help them use those abilities and successfully transition from military to civilian life. Veterans are a talented labour pool and it makes sense to assist those who chose to continue to serve Canada by transitioning to government jobs.

To help Veterans and Public Service hiring managers take advantage of the hiring entitlements for Veterans under the Public Service Employment Act, Veterans Affairs established the Veterans in the Public Service Unit in 2017 to

• Educate and invigorate public service hiring managers to leverage the Veterans Hiring Act in accessing the pool of high quality Veterans within the labour market;
• Help Armed Forces personnel and Veterans seeking information on Public Service hiring opportunities and entitlements under the Public Service Employment Act through mentorship and peer support.

In 2015, the Veterans Hiring Act amended the Public Service Employment Act to provide eligible Veterans with enhanced entitlements for jobs in the federal public service for five years after their date of release. Under the Act, these include Priority consideration for Veterans who were medically released; and Preference to the appointment of eligible Veterans who qualify on externally advertised public service hiring processes. As well, the area of selection for internally advertised public service hiring processes was expanded to include Canadian Armed Forces members with at least three years of military service, within the five year period following their date of release.

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