Question Period Note: OMBUDSMAN REPORT – CANADIAN ARMED FORCES

• Close coordination between Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Canada is vital to the successful transition from military to civilian life.
• The Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Canada are aware that some medically released members experience delays in receiving their benefits and are committed to honouring those that have selflessly served this country, by continuing to take substantial steps to finding solutions that will improve the health, well-being and financial security of Canadian Veterans and their families.
• Under the Seamless Transition plan, the departments are looking at ways to provide all releasing members, Veterans and their families with timely and easy access to programs and services, as early as possible in the transition process. Barriers to success will be addressed before a member releases from the military.

Title: Office of the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman Report Simplifying the Service Delivery Model for Medically Releasing Members of the Canadian Armed Forces Release

Context: The Office of the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman released a report following a review to identify opportunities to improve service to the approximately 1,500 members who are released each year due to illness or injury.

• I thank the Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman for the thorough review and recommendations on this most recent report.
• Considerable work has been completed to streamline and simplify the transition from service in the Canadian Armed Forces. For example, Enhanced Transition Services, a new joint Veterans Affairs Canada/Canadian Armed Forces initiative, is about Veterans Affairs Canada engaging earlier with releasing Canadian Armed Forces members and their families, as early intervention is one of the critical components of a successful transition. This initiative has been implemented at all 24 Integrated Personnel Support Centres, and it has:
o contributed to increased awareness among Canadian Armed Forces Case Managers about the importance of more coordinated pre-release applications for Veterans Affairs Canada benefits;
o allowed Veterans Affairs Canada Case Managers to engage earlier with releasing Canadian Armed Forces members; and,
o led to more Veterans Affairs Canada staff within the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces release process that will further facilitate Veterans Affairs Canada’s early involvement in the transition process.
• Both Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Canada have made major progress on service delivery and processing files, streamlining the disability benefits decision processes. Files are now well within the Canadian Armed Forces 30-day timeline; however, efforts continue to be made to seek gradual improvements to the overall process.
• This most recent report makes three key recommendations that touch both National Defence and Veterans Affairs mandates.
• We recognize that there is more to be done and we are working diligently with the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence to fulfill our common core goal of a Seamless Transition. Together, the Department of National Defence, the Canadian Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs Canada are continuing to address issues of mutual interest and concern.
• We can improve the current service delivery model and ensure a standard approach that would eliminate barriers to a successful transition for medically releasing members.
 
I look forward to discussing the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Ombudsman’s recommendations with my colleagues, stakeholders and other Canadians.

The report, titled Simplifying the Service Delivery Model for Medically Releasing Members of the Canadian Armed Forces, presents three recommendations to provide a seamless transition for medically releasing members of the Canadian Armed Forces. The military Ombudsman suggests a new Business Process which certain aspects impact Veterans Affairs Canada’s current Service Delivery Model.

The military Ombudsman makes three recommendations to the Minister of National Defence to deliver a seamless transition:
• That the Canadian Armed Forces retain medically releasing members until all benefits and services from the Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans Affairs Canada and Service Income Security Insurance Plan have been confirmed and put in place.
• That the Canadian Armed Forces establish a Concierge Service for all medically releasing members that would assist members and their families for all administrative matters regarding their transition.
• That the Canadian Armed Forces leads the development of a secure web portal that would contain information for all Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans Affairs Canada and Service Income Security Insurance Plan programs and services. The portal would enable members to input their information once and with the member’s consent, the portal would automatically apply for all services and benefits consistent with the member’s needs.

Improving the process for medically releasing Canadian Armed Forces members who transition to Veterans Affairs Canada’s services and benefits forms part of both National Defence and Veterans Affairs mandates.

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