Question Period Note: OFFICE OF THE VETERANS OMBUD REPORTS (2024-2025 ANNUAL REPORT and the 2025 SPOTLIGHT)

• Veterans Affairs Canada appreciates the work and dedication of the Veterans Ombud and her staff.
• We welcome the Ombud’s report and recommendations and will work collaboratively with the OVO to continue to improve the support we provide to Veterans and their families.
• We remain committed to reducing processing times for disability benefits and removing inequities faced by Veterans and their families.
• Veterans Affairs Canada is working to ensure Veterans receive the high-quality care they expect and deserve.

2024-2025 Annual Report
The Office of the Veterans Ombud 2024-2025 Annual Report was released on June 17, 2025. The annual report summarizes 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.
Areas of concern include:
• Veterans’ lack of access to doctors and the impact this has on claims;
• family doctors and specialists refusing to fill out complex VAC paperwork;
• mental health supports for families;
• survivors receiving incorrect information from VAC, impacting eligible benefits
It also highlights reports and recommendations from the previous year, including the 2024 Spotlight and two new recommendations regarding fairness issues with Additional Dependant Care reimbursement under the Rehabilitation program.
2025 Spotlight
The Spotlight tracks VAC’s progress in implementing OVO recommendations dating back to 2007. Each recommendation reflects a concern by the OVO that a piece of legislation, process, or procedure contains a systemic inequity or unfairness.
The 2024-25 Spotlight:
• Acknowledged VAC’s progress in addressing gender inequalities related to sexual dysfunction claims as a result of psychiatric conditions.
• Raised concerns that mental health support access for Veterans’ families depends on the Veteran engaging in treatment, which is not always feasible.
• Raised concern that the “Relatives” section of the VIP Benefits at Home Policy may unfairly assume a Veteran’s live-in relatives will perform household and/or grounds maintenance tasks.
• Related to Pain and Suffering Compensation (PSC), the Spotlight called on VAC to:
o Resolve a perceived unfairness for single Veterans without dependent children who would have received more money from a one-time Pain and Suffering Compensation payment than from monthly payments, if they had chosen the lump sum option before they passed away. and
o Until this is resolved, ensure Veterans receive clear information about what happens should they die without having chosen the lump sum payment.

QUICK FACTS & FIGURES
2024-2025 Annual Report
• Released on June 17, 2025.
• Summarizes actions the OVO has taken to help individual Veterans and their families with specific issues.
• Presents some of the most common issues concerning the Veteran community and recommends ways VAC can help or address these issues.
In 2024-2025, the OVO received a total of 1848 requests:
• 1569 complaints:
o 496 OVO cases referred to VAC;
o 500 cases reviewed;
o 177 cases outside their jurisdiction; and
o 396 assessments not initiated.
• 279 requests for information.
The OVO was able to investigate 93% of complaints within 60 days.
2025 Spotlight
• Released on September 4, 2025.
• Outlines the implementation status of recommendations made by the OVO throughout the course of their systemic investigations.
Status of 107 recommendations in the Spotlight as of March 31, 2025:
• 46 recommendations were implemented
• 8 recommendations are partially implemented
• 2 recommendations are in progress
• 2 new recommendations not tracked yet
• 17 recommendations have not been implemented
• 32 recommendations are no longer being tracked (i.e., no longer relevant)
As of March 31, 2025, 75% of the recommendations currently being tracked have been actioned (i.e., fully/partially implemented or in progress).