Question Period Note: OFFICE OF THE VETERANS OMBUD 2023 REPORTS (2022-2023 ANNUAL REPORT /2023 SPOTLIGHT)

• Veterans Affairs Canada appreciates the work and dedication of the Veterans Ombud and her staff.

• We welcome the Ombud’s views and recommendations in her Annual Report and the Spotlight (previously named “Report Card”) and take them into consideration when establishing priorities to better serve Veterans and their families.

• Veterans Affairs Canada places the highest priority on ensuring Veterans have the services they need.

• We look forward to continuing our collaborative work with the Ombud and her office to identify opportunities for improvement.

BACKGROUND — OFFICE OF THE VETERANS OMBUD 2023 REPORTS

(2022-2023 ANNUAL REPORT /2023 SPOTLIGHT)

2022-2023 Annual Report

The 2022-2023 Annual Report was released on November 28, 2023. The Report summarized the actions OVO has taken to help individual Veterans and their families with specific needs. It also highlights the OVO’s efforts to influence change for the larger Veteran community.

In 2022-2023, the OVO received a total of 1470 complaints with 1292 being within their jurisdiction. The OVO received 210 requests for information. 642 OVO cases were referred to VAC. OVO was able to investigate 94% of complaints within 60 days, responded to 82% of information requests within 5 days and making 86% of referrals within 10 days.

2023 Spotlight

The “2023 Spotlight: Progress Update on OVO Recommendations to VAC” was published on December 7, 2023 and tracks progress made by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) in implementing recommendations made by the OVO throughout the course of their systemic investigations.
Summary of findings:
• 22 systemic reviews completed with 102 recommendations.
• 23 recommendations have been overtaken by events and no longer relevant.
• VAC has implemented 70% (55 of 79 valid recommendations).
• The OVO recognizes that some of their recommendations require consultation or legislative and/or regulatory changes that can take considerable time and effort.
The OVO recognizes progress made in three areas:
• Peer Support for Veterans who have Experienced Military Sexual Trauma
• Adjudication of Sexual Dysfunction Claims Consequential to an Entitled Psychiatric Condition:
• Disability Pension Reductions due to Merlo Davidson Settlement Compensation.
Three outstanding recommendations are of particular concern to the OVO:
• Equitable access to timely decisions, regardless of gender and language;.
• Ensure family members have access to federally funded mental health treatment in their own right.
• Continue to conduct and publish Gender-Based Plus Analyses for the establishment and monitoring of programs.

WHEN PRESSED:

Ombuds 2023 Spotlight (previously named Report Card)
Q1 – What is the Veterans Ombud’s Spotlight?

Since 2017, the Office of the Veterans Ombud (OVO) has published an Annual Spotlight which tracks progress made by VAC in implementing recommendations made by the OVO throughout the course of their systemic investigations.
Q2 – What are the recommendations for VAC in the 2023 Ombud’s Spotlight?

The Spotlight notes that improvements are still needed in the department’s efforts to provide equitable access to timely decisions, regardless of gender and language, ensure family members have access to federally funded mental health treatment in their own right and continue to conduct and publish Gender-Based Plus Analyses for the establishment and monitoring of programs.
Ombuds 2022-23 Annual Report
Q3 – What is the Veterans Ombud Annual Report?
The annual report summarizes actions the OVO has taken to help Veterans and their families and highlights the OVO’s efforts to influence change for the larger Veteran community. The report presents some of the most common issues concerning the Veteran community and recommends ways Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) can help or address these issues.
Q4 – What concerns were identified in the 2022-2023 Ombud’s Annual Report?
The Ombud identified various concerns notably regarding wait times for disability benefits decisions, RCMP Woman Veterans who are claimants in the Merlo Davidson settlement who are also recipients of a VAC disability pension and barriers for Indigenous Veterans accessing VAC services.
Q5 – When were the Ombud’s 2023 Spotlight and 2022-2023 Annual Report 2021-2022 published?

The 2022-2023 Annual Report was released on November 28, 2023 and the OVO Annual Spotlight was published December 07, 2023.