Question Period Note: LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL ADVISORS IN AFGHANISTAN

• The Department of National Defence hired Canadian citizens as public servants to work alongside the Canadian Armed Forces in Afghanistan as Language and Cultural Advisors. These individuals do not have access to Veterans Affairs Canada benefits.
• In January 2025, the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Ombud issued a report that made recommendations to the Department of National Defence respecting the Language and Cultural Advisors. The Report does not make any recommendations for amendments to Veterans Affairs Canada’s mandate or program eligibility.
• Veterans Affairs Canada will continue to monitor this issue in collaboration with the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.
• We are grateful to these individuals for their service to Canada.

During the Afghanistan conflict, approximately 81 Canadian citizens, mostly of Afghanistan and Pakistani heritage, were recruited to work as term public service employees called Language and Cultural Advisors (LCAs) in Afghanistan. They advised the CAF on language and cultural matters and worked alongside CAF members on the front lines during combat operations. Some have had difficulty receiving assistance for their disabilities, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which they attribute to their time working in Afghanistan.
The Canadian citizen LCAs are distinct from the Afghanistan citizen interpreters who were also hired by DND/CAF and worked alongside the military in Afghanistan.
Pursuant to the Government Employees Compensation Act, federal employees such as the LCAs who are injured at work receive benefits from the Government of Canada through workers’ compensation. The Federal Workers’ Compensation Service of Employment and Social Development Canada partners with provincial workers' compensation boards to deliver these benefits. In the case of the LCAs, the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is responsible for assisting them.
On January 22, 2025, the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Ombud (DND/CAF Ombud) published online the Report entitled, “Standing together: Ensuring fair treatment for Canadian Language and Cultural Advisors who served in Afghanistan.” It had been provided to the Minister of National Defence on December 6, 2024.
The Minister of National Defence responded to the Report https://www.canada.ca/en/ombudsman-national-defence-forces/reports-news-statistics/ombudsman-letters/2025/response-from-mnd-lca-report-20250121.html) in a letter dated January 21, 2025. The Minister:
Acknowledged that the experiences of the LCAs exposed required improvements, which have already been made, including measures being put in place to limit the frequency and duration of civilian employment on overseas operations, and guidance being provided on pre-deployment health assessment and post-deployment follow-up care; and
Noted that the existing regime under the Government Employees Compensation Act aligns with the spirit of the recommendations and that DND's Office of Disability Management is monitoring the progress of files and has been and continues to support the LCAs through this process.
The Report does not make any recommendations for amendments to eligibility for Veterans Affairs Canada’s mandate or programs, and it appears from the Minister of National Defence’s January 21, 2025, letter that no immediate action is being considered by National Defence.

Q1 – What does the Report “Standing together: Ensuring fair treatment for Canadian Language and Cultural Advisors who served in Afghanistan” from the DND/CAF Ombud recommend?
The Report recommends that:
1. Under authority of the Minister of National Defence, the Department of National Defence immediately offer independent assessments to the Language and Cultural Advisors who served as term employees of the DND between 2006-2014 and who claim to have been adversely or permanently affected by their employment.
These assessments should:
• Determine the physical and psychological care required for the affected individuals;
• Determine the long-term needs of the affected individuals; and
• Serve as the basis to develop and fund a reasonable care plan.
2. The affected individuals should be awarded immediate and reasonable financial compensation in line with jurisprudence in similar situations.
Q2 – Does the Report impact Veterans Affairs Canada?
The Report notes that the Language and Cultural Advisors are not eligible for Veteran’s benefits because the Veterans Affairs Canada mandate does not provide benefits to DND civilian employees.
The Report does not make any recommendations for amendments to Veterans Affairs Canada’s mandate or program eligibility.
Q3 – Can VAC provide benefits to civilians?
Yes, under certain circumstances that are within our legislation. For example: the Civilian War-related Benefits Act (for certain civilians who were injured in an action or counteraction during WWII) and the Flying Accidents Compensation Regulations (for certain federal employees who are injured during a flight undertaken in the course of duty).
Q4 – Why is Veterans Affairs Canada not currently helping this group?
This group does not meet the eligibility criteria outlined in legislation.
Q5 – What would be required for Language and Cultural Advisors to access VAC benefits?
Veterans Affairs Canada legislation would need to be updated to include this specific group, and/or the National Defence Act would need to be amended to modify the definition of a ‘member’.