Question Period Note: VETERANS AFFAIRS CANADA LITIGATION

• Canada’s Veterans deserve our greatest recognition and respect for their service.
• Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is committed to ensure that Veterans and their families receive the right benefits and supports when they need them.
• Sometimes Veterans and their families feel that VAC did not get it right. It is their right to pursue legal actions to resolve their concerns and the Department respects that process.
• The Department strongly encourages Veterans and their families to contact us whenever they have questions or need support so that VAC can work with them to find solutions to whatever issues they are facing.
• VAC will continue to take action to strengthen supports available to Veterans and their families.

Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is currently involved in several legal actions. These include class actions, court actions, judicial reviews and human rights complaints focused specifically on Departmental benefits and services, or where VAC is an interested party.
The Department works closely with the Department of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. The Attorney General of Canada has responsibility for all litigation for or against the Crown, any department, or Crown agent corporations.
As these matters are in front of the court, it would be inappropriate to discuss them in any more detail.

VAC Response to Veterans’ Legal Actions
• Veterans, like all Canadians, can use all avenues available to them, including legal action, if they feel government programs are not adequate. If a legal action impacts the Government of Canada, the Government is obligated to defend itself against claims that are unfounded in Canadian law.
Settlement vs. Litigation
• Legislation, regulations and policies are the cornerstones of support for Veterans and their families. Veterans Affairs Canada has an obligation to provide those supports in a manner that is consistent with the legal authorities Parliament has put in place. While negotiated agreements and outcomes are preferred wherever possible, there are cases where the Government has the obligation to defend itself against unfounded claims.