Newmarket-Aurora MP Lois Brown welcomes the establishment of a Legacy of Care program for seriously injured Canadian Forces (CF) personnel and their families. A total of $52.5 million over five years in support of five new initiatives was recently announced by the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada and Minister of State.
"The Government of Canada recognizes the exceptional challenges faced by seriously injured Canadian Forces personnel and their families as a result of sacrifices made in service to this country," said Minister MacKay. "With these new measures, our government is establishing a legacy of care that improves the quality of life for our seriously injured personnel and their families."
“Veterans and Canadian Forces personnel have sacrificed much for our country. In return, it is only right that we provide them the support they need, when they need it,” said MP Brown.
The five initiatives are:
- Barrier-Free Transitional Accommodations
Families are sometimes required to travel or relocate in order to gain access to the optimal rehabilitation site for the member. Rehabilitating personnel and their families have, at times, been placed in accommodations that present barriers to their independence. Permanent, sustainable, barrier-free transitional accommodations located close to each of the seven CF rehabilitation centres will significantly reduce the challenges facing injured personnel and their families. - Support Services While in Transitional Accommodations
In order to ease the burden placed on the families of our injured personnel, and to allow them to focus on recovery, dedicated support services will be provided at transitional accommodations. These services will include wheelchair-accessible transportation to and from treatment and activities related to rehabilitation, along with associated support services such as caregiver respite, childcare and delivery of medical supplies and groceries. - The Canadian Forces Attendant Care Benefit
Many Canadian Forces members who have suffered serious injuries require assistance to adapt to their new life or to face the challenges of rehabilitation. A family member or a close friend of a seriously injured CF member may give up employment or other obligations in order to provide the necessary care. With this initiative, caregivers for CF members who require assistance will be provided financial support in the form of reimbursement of expenses up to a maximum of $100/day directly associated to the care that they receive. - CF Spousal Education Upgrade Program
The current Spousal Education Upgrade Program, administered by Veterans Affairs Canada, reimburses tuition fees of up to $ 20 000 to allow dependants and survivors of injured Canadian Forces personnel to further their education. Under the new Veterans Charter, both survivors of military personnel killed after April 1st, 2006, and spouses of severely injured Canadian Forces personnel who have been released can access the benefits provided by this program. However, this benefit was previously only accessible through VAC after a member was deceased or had been released from the CF. In order to have a more comprehensive approach, the eligibility of this benefit is being extended to the survivors of CF personnel killed after October 7th, 2001, as well as to spouses of permanently incapacitated personnel. This will allow eligible survivors and spouses to access these benefits earlier, and from either the CF or VAC. - Enhancing Case Management Support for Seriously Ill and Injured CF Members
- Experience confirms that seriously injured modern-day Veterans have more intense case management needs, and their recovery tends to take longer than expected. Research shows that early intervention, comprehensive case management and treatment, and adequate financial support are crucial to a Veteran's rehabilitation. Given this, as part of its national enhanced case management strategy, VAC will provide capacity to coordinate and accelerate services to seriously injured Veterans in Afghanistan and other areas of conflict. The Department has also:|
- expanded its network of case managers by an additional 20 case managers to meet ongoing and increasing demand;
- realigned case management resources to areas with the greatest need such as Integrated Personnel Support Centres (IPSC) which are located in areas with a large numbers of CF deployments, including Canadian Forces bases in Edmonton, Shilo, Gagetown, Petawawa, and Valcartier. IPSCs are a joint initiative between VAC and DND that offer a "one-stop service"-where seamless, coordinated assistance and access to key VAC and DND services are provided to CF regular and reserve force members and their families;
- and given case managers more authority to make timely decisions that are critical to recovery, rehabilitation and transition to civilian life.
The Government of Canada continues to listen to the concerns of ill and injured Canadian Forces personnel, Veterans, and their families. This announcement is another step in a series of actions the Government of Canada is taking to deliver improvements in support and care for our Veterans and their families.
