Government of Canada confirms new hires to support Veterans in Ontario

SCARBOROUGH, ON, July 29, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Erin O'Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs, today reinforced Veterans Affairs Canada's (VAC) commitment to providing service excellence for Veterans.

Minister O'Toole announced a total of 83 new hires by the end of March 2016 in Ontario, including 52 in case management and 31 in disability benefits processing. These new hires will reduce VAC's case manager ratio to no more than 30 individuals for every case manager. Case managers will have more time to address the complex needs of Veterans. The additional disability benefits staff will, among other duties, increase the capacity to support Veterans by assisting with their applications, more adjudicators will render decisions, and more staff will process payments. This means Veterans will have faster access to disability benefits as well as health care funding and mental health treatment.

The Government of Canada places the highest priority on service excellence and continues to ensure Veterans and their families have the support and services they need, when they need them.

Quick facts

• This announcement builds on the Minister's recent announcement that VAC will hire a total of 146 new staff, including 34 case managers and 52 disability benefits staff, in Atlantic Canada.
• Veterans Affairs Canada will hire 101 disability benefits staff and 167 new case managers across Canada to provide direct service to Veterans and their families.
• VAC will have a total of 309 new hires across Canada by 2020.
• Veterans Affairs Canada provides disability benefits totalling about $2 billion a year to approximately 180,000 individuals, including Veterans, CAF serving personnel, former and serving RCMP members, and surviving family members.

Quote

"The Government of Canada is taking the well-being of our Veterans and former RCMP members and their families very seriously. We have heard from stakeholders across the country loud and clear, and we continue to review and evaluate services to ensure Veterans' needs are met. This initiative is evidence of the Government of Canada's commitment to ensuring Veterans and their families are treated with care, compassion and respect."
The Honourable Erin O'Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs

Related Product

• Infographic

Associated Links

• Achieving service excellence through enhanced services
• Veterans Affairs Canada, Charlottetown hires
• Veterans Affairs Canada, Atlantic Region hires
• Veterans Affairs Canada, Case Management hires

SOURCE Veterans Affairs Canada

For further information: Martin Magnan, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs, 613-996-4649 ; Media Relations, Veterans Affairs Canada, 613-992-7468