Government of Canada hires new staff to support Veterans in Québec

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Veterans Affairs Canada

Jul 29, 2015, 12:15 ET

VALCARTIER, QC, July 29, 2015 /CNW/ - Today on behalf of the Honourable Erin O'Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Pierre Lemieux, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, confirmed the Government of Canada's commitment to providing service excellence for Veterans.

Parliamentary Secretary Lemieux announced a total of 43 new hires by the end of March 2016 in Quebec including 35 in case management and eight in disability benefits processing. These new hires will reduce Veterans Affairs Canada's (VAC) case manager ratio to no more than 30 individuals for every case manager. This will give case managers more time to address the complex needs of Veterans. The additional disability benefits staff will ensure there is more capacity to support Veterans who need help completing their application, more adjudicators to render decisions, and more staff to 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 by making sure Veterans and their families have the support and services they need, when they need them.

Quick facts

  • This announcement builds on Minister O'Toole'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.

Quotes

"As the needs of our Veterans change, so must our services to these brave men and women. These new hires mean Veterans will have faster access to disability benefits as well as health care funding and mental health treatment. The Government of Canada continues to make significant investments in programs and services that ensure Veterans and their families receive the care and support they need, now and in the future."
The Honourable Erin O'Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs

"Our Government is improving the care and support of Canada's Veterans who keep our country safe. These new people being hired are evidence of our Government's commitment to ensuring Veterans and their families are treated with care, compassion and respect."
Pierre Lemieux, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs

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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

Organization Profile

Veterans Affairs Canada

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Government of Canada