Question Period Note: MAIN ESTIMATES – DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET 2019-2020

• Veterans Affairs Main Estimates reflect this government’s continued commitment to Veterans to restore critical access to services and improve the long-term financial security and independence of ill and injured Veterans and their families.

• Over 90% of the Department’s budget represents payments to Veterans, their families and other program recipients.

• Increases to Veterans Affairs Canada’s budget reflect the historic steps taken to ensure Canadian Veterans and their families are treated with care, compassion and respect.

BACKGROUND – MAIN ESTIMATES – DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET 2019-2020

• Veterans Affairs Canada’s planned spending each year is established through the Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates.

Main Estimates 2019-2020
• Main Estimates provides a detailed listing of the resources required by Veterans Affairs Canada for the upcoming fiscal year in order to deliver its programs. The 2019-20 Main Estimates provide Veterans Affairs Canada funding of $4.42 billion, which represents a net increase of 25.4million (or .6%) in comparison to last year’s Main Estimates (2018-19).

Summary of key changes:
• $89 million increase in Vote 1 (Operating) related to adjustments in:
o Regular Operating – funding for Service Excellence and implementation funding for Pension for Life, and
o Funding related to the increased demand for health and rehabilitation services.
• $146 million decrease in Vote 5 (Grants and Contributions) primarily related to adjustments in:
o Disability Pensions ($71M Decrease) – Decline in the number of War Service Veterans and Survivors

o Due to the transition of Pension for Life suite of programs, the following programs are being adjusted:
Decreases due to sunsetting Veterans Well-being Programs:
 Disability Awards - $934M decrease (Phasing out the Disability Award program as a result of the new Pain and Suffering Compensation)
 Earnings Loss and Supplementary Retirement Benefit - $646M decrease (Phasing out the Earnings Loss program as a result of the new Income Replacement Benefit)
Increases due to PFL Implementation:
 Pain and Suffering Compensation - $685M Increase
 Income Replacement Benefit - $628M Increase
 Additional Pain and Suffering Compensation - $102M Increase (Replaces Career Impact Allowance)
 Supplementary Retirement Benefit Grant Payout - $54M Increase (One-time payout)

o Education and Training Benefit ($39M Increase) – New benefit introduced on April 1, 2018

• This year’s Main Estimates include items pertaining to Budget 2019 initiatives such as:

• $1 million related to Commemorating Canada’s Veterans through the Highway of Heroes project. The project will see 2 million trees being planted between Trenton and Toronto: one tree for every Canadian that has served since Confederation.

• $0.5 million related to the Juno Beach Centre - a Second World War museum in Normandy, France, which pays homage to the Canadians who lost their lives during the Second World War.

• $30 million related to Recognizing Métis Veterans. These funds will be used to recognize the contribution of Métis veterans to the country’s Second World War efforts and commemorate the sacrifices and achievements of all Métis veterans.

• $0.9 million related to Supporting Research on Military and Veteran Health. 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.

• $14 million related to Supporting Veterans as They Transition to Post-Service Life. Budget 2019 proposes a number of initiatives to make the transition process more simple and seamless for veterans as they transition out of service life.

• $30 million related to Supporting Veterans’ Families. To better support veterans who married over the age of 60 and their spouses, Budget 2019 announced a new Veterans Survivors Fund.

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