Minister of Veterans Affairs launches online engagement tool for Canadians

Minister Hehr concludes Stakeholder Summit and announces broad consultations and Veteran satisfaction survey

OTTAWA, May 11, 2016 /CNW/ - The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, concluded a two-day Stakeholder Summit in Ottawa with a live town hall event on Facebook and an announcement of ongoing consultations with Canadians and Veterans from coast-to-coast-to-coast.

Minister Hehr launched a "Have Your Say" online engagement tool to further involve Veterans, stakeholders and Canadians in a constructive dialogue on Veterans' issues and priorities. The Minister will also travel across the country in the coming weeks to meet with Veterans and continue to engage stakeholders.

In addition, Minister Hehr announced the reinstatement of the Veteran satisfaction survey which was discontinued in 2010.The return of the survey will provide Veterans with a direct line to offer feedback, and will supply Veterans Affairs Canada with evidence-based data to improve front-line services.

Quick Facts

• The Stakeholder Summit is an in-person event to discuss stakeholder priorities. Ninety representatives from Veterans' stakeholder groups attended the Stakeholder Summit on May 9-10.
• The overall goal of the Stakeholder Summit is to engage Veterans and Veterans' stakeholders on common goals and seek advice and input on new and existing initiatives to support Veterans.
• Minister Hehr's opening remarks for the Summit were streamed live and a town hall event was held on Facebook. Both Facebook events reached a total of more than 168,000 people and more than 10,000 people viewed the broadcast. More than 1,700 reactions and comments were posted on the Veterans Affairs Canada Facebook page during the two-day Summit.
• The Have Your Say consultation tool is available on the Veterans Affairs Canada website and Veterans, stakeholders and Canadians are invited to provide their feedback.
• Last month, Minister Hehr announced the formation of six ministerial advisory groups to help inform service delivery policy and program development at Veterans Affairs Canada. Records of discussion of these meetings will also be made public at veterans.gc.ca.
• Veterans Affairs Canada will continue to listen to Canadians and all interested and engaged stakeholders.

Quotes

"I am committed to consulting with Veterans, stakeholders and Canadians to establish sound policy and ensure Veterans and their families get the services they need, and that they are served with care, compassion and respect. By meeting with Veterans from across the country and broadening the reach online, I want to open up the dialogue and hear directly from those we serve."
The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister for National Defence

SOURCE Veterans Affairs Canada

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