Re: National Council of Veteran Associations (NCVA)

by **Alpha** Thu 15 Dec 2022, 5:42 am

NCVA UPDATE

A Future Roadmap: For VAC To Address Inequities In Veterans' Legislation

December 5, 2022 – Having just commemorated Remembrance Day, there continue to be significant concerns with respect to veterans' legislation, regulation and policy, necessitating further action by the Government and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) to rectify the ongoing inequity and injustice impacting disabled veterans and their families.

Based on recent exchanges with the Minister, Lawrence MacAulay, and senior officials of the department, VAC unfortunately tends to underline the incremental progress that has been achieved on a number of issues, including the intolerable backlog/wait time crisis and the insidious issue of military sexual trauma within the Canadian Armed Forces.

However, it must be recognized that, although the Minister and the department continue to deliver statements of good intention, it is readily apparent that the machinery of government does indeed move extremely slowly in actually implementing needed overall legislative reform.

Read more in Esprit de Corps.

by Charlie Fri 24 Mar 2023, 11:34 am

NCVA UPDATE

One Veteran – One Standard

February 15, 2023 – The National Council of Veteran Associations (NCVA) continues to take the position that there is much to do in improving veterans' legislation so as to address the financial and wellness requirements of Canada's veterans' community. This is particularly so with respect to the Pension for Life (PFL) provisions originally announced in December 2017 and formally implemented on April 1, 2019.

It has become self-evident that the greater majority of disabled veterans are not materially impacted by the PFL legislation in that the new benefits under these legislative and regulatory amendments have limited applicability – indeed, some seriously disabled veterans are actually worse off.

In our considered opinion, this PFL policy fails to satisfy the Prime Minister's initial commitment in 2015, in response to the Equitas lawsuit, to address the inadequacies and deficiencies in the New Veterans Charter/Veterans Well-being Act (NVC/VWA) and continues to ignore the "elephant in the room" that has overshadowed this entire discussion.

Read more in Esprit de Corps.

by Monsfool Wed 29 Mar 2023, 7:09 am

NCVA UPDATE

Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs calls for the elimination of the "gold digger's clause"

February 21, 2023 – The National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada (NCVA) and our 68 member-organizations have made submissions to government for over 25 years with respect to our concerns vis-à-vis Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) retirees and the infamous "marriage after 60" clawback provision. This continues to be a very important issue within the NCVA Legislative Program, in view of the fact that more and more CAF retirees (including many NCVA members) are living longer and marrying for a second time.

Representing a major development with respect to this crusade, the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA), after many months of study, released its final report in December 2022 on this contentious marriage after 60 provision of the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act (the "gold digger's clause").

On balance, the report contains a strong set of recommendations, particularly Recommendation 9 which calls for the Government of Canada to repeal the Marriage after 60 clause in the CFSA and the RCMP Superannuation Act.

Read more in Esprit de Corps.

by Monsfool Tue 06 Jun 2023, 7:15 am

NCVA UPDATE

VAC fails veterans' families and caregivers

May 18, 2023 – Since the enactment of the New Veterans Charter in 2006, the National Council of Veteran Associations (NCVA) has taken the strong position that the Government has not sufficiently addressed the plight of families of veterans, particularly in circumstances where a member of the family, often a spouse, is required to act in the role of caregiver to a disabled veteran.

As a matter of legislative background, the Family Caregiver Relief Benefit was introduced by the Government in 2015. This program proved to be clearly inadequate, as it failed to provide appropriate financial support for the families of seriously disabled veterans where significant needs of attendance must be provided by a caregiver who often has had to leave their employment to do so.

Read more in Esprit de Corps.

by **Stargunner** Wed 04 Oct 2023, 6:57 am

NCVA UPDATE

Remembering Gene Heesaker (1923-2023)

October 3, 2023 – We are saddened to advise of the passing of Gene Heesaker, a member of NCVA since 1946 and a longtime member of the Executive, on Sunday, September 24. Most recently, he held the position of Honorary Vice-Chairman for Life.

Gene worked tirelessly on behalf of veterans, through both NCVA and his own veterans' association, the Canadian Corps Association. He represented NCVA on numerous pilgrimages over the years, including visits to Vimy Ridge and Juno Beach.

Gene's obituary can be viewed here.

The National Council of Veteran Associations

by Monsfool Sat 28 Oct 2023, 4:56 am

NCVA UPDATE

Roadmap for Veterans Affairs Canada 2023-24

October 27, 2023 – Upon an evaluation of the past year, the National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada (NCVA) and our 68 member-associations continue to have significant concerns with respect to veterans legislation, regulation and policy, which will necessitate further action by the Government and Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) to rectify the ongoing inequity and injustice impacting disabled veterans and their families.

With the appointment of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor as the new Minister of Veterans Affairs/Associate Minister of National Defence, we are hopeful that she will provide a "breath of fresh air" and invigorated momentum for the required legislative reform.

Read more in Esprit de Corps.

by **Navigator** Sat 27 Jan 2024, 6:08 am

NCVA UPDATE

Income replacement: disabled veterans deserve better support

January 23, 2024 – The National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada (NCVA) continues to take the long-held position that SISIP LTD/VOC REHAB should be eliminated, placing all SISIP LTD and VOC REHAB under Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) for all service attributable and non service attributable medical releases with no premiums. In effect, a one program/one service delivery model.

Read more in Esprit de Corps.

The National Council of Veteran Associations

by Armoured Wed 28 Feb 2024, 6:11 am

NCVA UPDATE

Implementing the Roadmap for Veterans Affairs

February 12, 2024 – In the Esprit de Corps article of November 2023, the National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada (NCVA) set out a roadmap for Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) for 2024 with regard to reforming veterans legislation. At its annual meeting held in Toronto later that month, the member-organizations of NCVA fully endorsed the following recommendations as a substantive means for implementing this roadmap for VAC.

Read more in Esprit de Corps.

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