BLUE

Spring 2015

The

Newsletter of the

FSNA

Fighting for our Pensions Page 9

Recent Changes

Reporting Back

from the Stakeholders Meetings Pages 5 & 10 from the Ombudsman Council Page 13

The VAC Gets Busy

Page 1

Myth Busting

by the Veterans Ombudsman Page 15

The

1

BLUE

The Blue Beret Reports:

Recent Changes from VAC

9

The Blue Beret Reports:

FSNA Fighting for our Pensions

Spring 2015

5

The Blue Beret Reports:

VAC Stakeholders Meeting November 2014

10

The Blue Beret Reports:

Veterans Summit Meeting April 2015

7

The Blue Beret Reviews:

Pte Thompson and the Queen’s Scarf

13

The Blue Beret Reports:

Veterans Ombudsman Council Meeting November 2014

PUBLICATION ADVISORY The Blue Beret Newsletter is an official publication of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association (CPVA) registered with Library & Archives Canada. PUBLISHING The Blue Beret is published in May and November. We welcome items of interest to veterans. Articles should be provided at least two weeks prior to the month of publication and be submitted in electronic format. Please address queries, comments and articles to the Editor at [email protected]. The Blue Beret is available on the CPVA website at www.cpva.ca. DISCLAIMER Opinions expressed by contributors in The Blue Beret are not necessarily those of the CPVA. An Editorial Review Board reviews all articles for form and content. AUTHORIZATION FOR REPRODUCTION Unless otherwise indicated, the information contained in The Blue Beret may be reproduced, in whole or in part, and by any means, without charge and without permission from the CPVA, provided reasonable due diligence is exercised in order to ensure the exactitude of the information reproduced, that the CPVA is mentioned as the source organization, and the reproduction is not presented as an official version nor as a copy having been made in association with the CPVA or with its consent. To obtain permission for reproduction please email the Editor at [email protected]. THE CANADIAN PEACEKEEPING VETERANS ASSOCIATION Founded in 1991 by former Canadian Peacekeepers and federally incorporated in 1993, the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association (CPVA) is a national, democratic, apolitical, non-profit, veterans-only organization open to all veterans. The CPVA is neither a sect nor a paramilitary organization. More on page 18.

15

The Blue Beret Reports:

Veterans Ombudsman Myth Busting COVER PHOTO Page 16 || 3 September 2013; Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Captain Nicholas Payne (left) from 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment and Captain Fábio Nunes (right) from Brazilian Army talk during a dismounted presence patrol in Port-au-Prince, Haiti during Operation HAMLET. Photo: MCpl Marc-André Gaudreault, Canadian Forces CombatCamera.©Allrightsreserved.PhotoNumberIS20132002-007 reproduced with the permission of DND/CAF. (Link to photo.)

The BLUE Beret Reports Donald MacPherson

National Secretary, CPVA

Veterans Affairs Canada:

Recent Changes V

eterans Affairs Canada (VAC) announced a new benefit for seriously wounded veterans on 9 March: the Retirement Income Security Benefit (RISB), which aims to top up existing benefits after the veteran reaches the age of 65. A week later, on 17 March, VAC announced changes to the Permanent Impairment Allowance (PIA), expanding its eligibility. At the same time, VAC announced a new benefit, the Family Caregiver Relief Benefit (FCRB), which would provide an annual tax-free grant to eligible veterans. You will find the VAC press releases reproduced here on the right, as we discuss those changes and their impact on veterans. Retirement Income Security Benefit Severely disabled veterans may currently receive the Earnings Loss Benefit (ELB), which is intended to compensate the veteran for their inability to earn an income because of their disability. This benefit ends when the veteran reaches 65, reducing their income considerably. In one example cited by VAC, the income of a veteran turning 65 would be reduced to 18% of what he had been earning the day before his birthday. The RISB is designed to top up the veteran’s income to a level of 70% of their VAC payments prior to their 65th birthday, paid

March 9, 2015 – Toronto – Veterans Affairs Canada Press Release Government of Canada Announces Enhanced Lfetime Support for Injured Veterans and Their Families: New monthly benefit addresses significant gap for Canada’s moderately to severely disabled Veterans and survivors. The Honourable Erin O’Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs, unveiled a proposed new financial benefit today aimed at providing financial stability to Veterans who are moderately to severely disabled and their families. The Minister was joined by Veterans’ groups, members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Veterans Ombudsman, Guy Parent. Currently, the Earnings Loss Benefit—upon which many moderately to severely disabled Veterans rely—is not available after the age of 65, resulting in a drop in the Veteran’s annual income. The new Retirement Income Security Benefit announced today would provide these Veterans with continued assistance in the form of a monthly income support payment beginning at age 65. The proposed Retirement Income Security Benefit would work in concert with existing services and benefits to establish a continuum of support that spans a disabled Veteran’s entire life. It is designed for those whose ability to

Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association | Spring 2015 | The Blue

1

The BLUE Beret Reports as a monthly payment starting when they turn 65. Veterans who were approved for the ELB before they turned 65 and are elibigle for a disability benefit, will qualify for the RISB once they turn 65. Survivors of veterans qualified for the RISB will also be entitled to a monthly payment. While this is obviously a big step forward for veterans, it falls considerably short of the recommendations of the Veterans Consultation Assembly (VCA), which has stated that the ELB should be increased to 100% of Slide graphic courtesy VAC. pre-release income, continue for life, and must include increases for the projected career earnings of a Canadian Armed Forces member. This was recommendation #3 from the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA) in their June 2014 report The New Veterans Charter: Moving Forward (link to PDF version here).

Learn more about the ACVA report: Refer to our article on page 1 of The Blue Beret, Fall 2014

CPVA believes that this change falls short of the goal on several fronts. In addition to failing to meet the 100% level, as it is still just a proposal, there is no indication whether the RISB would be indexed annually, whether it would be retroactive, or how it might be adjusted (presumably reduced) in coordination with other income. Permanent Impairment Allowance Introduced in 2006, the PIA provides taxable benefits to qualifying veterans for the rest of their lives, including after age 65. Veterans may qualify for this benefit if most of the activities of daily life (mobility, feeding, bathing, and so on) require the physical assistance of another person. The new changees to the eligibility requirements should be less restrictive about the veteran’s abilities to perform these activities. The government previously introduced changes to the PIA effective 3 October 2011, to fix a situation where some severely injured veterans found themselves in the situation where they were ineligible for the PIA under the NVC, while also ineligible for the Exceptional Incapacity Allowance under the old Pension Act. The 2011 changes expanded eligibility criteria for the PIA and added a supplement of $1000 monthly for life, which was added to any other financial supports they were receiving.

2

The Blue

save for retirement was directly impacted by their service to our country. Income support would also be extended to families through continued payment of a monthly benefit to the Veteran’s survivor. The Government of Canada also recognizes the complexity of financial benefits available for moderately to severely disabled Veterans. As part of a continued commitment to Veteran-centric care, Minister O’Toole indicated that Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) is examining ways to combine these new and existing supports into a single monthly pension for severely injured Veterans. March 17, 2015 – Vancouver – Veterans Affairs Canada Press Release Government of Canada Announces New Benefits and Services for Veterans and Families: Improvements respond to recommendations from Standing Committee, Veterans and stakeholders. The Honourable Erin O’Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs, today unveiled two new initiatives to improve benefits and services for Canada’s Veterans and their families. He announced a plan to enhance support for seriously injured Veterans by ensuring more Veterans will be eligible for a key monthly financial benefit under the New Veterans Charter (NVC). As well, the Minister announced a proposed new support that recognizes the vital role played by informal caregivers of our most seriously injured Veterans, which often includes their families. Minister O’Toole was joined by Veterans’ groups and members of the Canadian Armed Forces. The first part of today’s announcement focused on enhancing the Permanent Impairment Allowance (PIA) by expanding its eligibility. It provides life-long monthly financial support to Veterans whose employment potential and career advancement opportunities have been limited by a permanent service-related injury or illness. The change will expand the number of Veterans eligible for the PIA, by being less restrictive about the requirements relating to their ability to independently carry out most daily activities. Minister O’Toole also announced a proposed new Family Caregiver Relief Benefit that would recognize the vital contribution of informal caregivers—who are most often family members—to the health and well-being of seriously injured Veterans. The proposed new Family Caregiver Relief Benefit

| Spring 2015 | Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association

The BLUE Beret Reports The key change to the PIA will be the broader definition of eligibility. The current rules specify that most of the veteran’s daily acitivities (mobility, feeding, bathing, and so on) must require another person to perform those duties. While we have not yet seen the rule changes, the government expects to expand the criteria so that some 300 additional veterans will be made eligible for this allowance, as well as making it easier for future veterans.

would provide eligible Veterans with an annual tax-free grant of $7,238, allowing their informal caregivers to take a welldeserved break while ensuring the Veterans continue to get the support they need.

CPVA will be watching for Slide graphic courtesy VAC. these changes and evaluating how they will affect veterans in practice. Family Caregivers Relief Benefit This new benefit would pay an annual tax-free grant of $7,238 to the veteran to recognize the enormous amount of work and support provided by informal caregivers, typically family members. Requiring minimal paperwork, this would provide the resouces needed for the caregiver to take a little time away for themselves, while covering the cost of someone else (either a professional or another family member) to take over those responsibilities during that time. Taken together, the PIA and FCRB should address a portion of recommendation #7 from the ACVA report, namely that financial support be provided to family members of seriously disabled veterans acting as primary caregivers. Enhanced Benefits for Reserve Force Veterans Eligible reservists who are injured or become ill due to their service in the CAF may currently receive the Earnings Loss Benefit, which involves a monthly payment totaling up to $24,300 annually. Beginning in April 2015, VAC has announced that this benefit would increase to a minimum of $42,426 annually. This amount is the same amount a Regular Force veteran would receive from the ELB, and is set at 75% of a basic corporal’s salary. Survivors of Reserve Force veterans will also be able to benefit from this change. Although information is still to come on the implementation of this benefit, this would appear to meet recommendation #5 from the ACVA report, that all service veterans be eligible for the same support and benefits, whether Regular Force or Reserve Force members.

At the announcement, Minister O’Toole reconfirmed the Government of Canada’s commitment to ensuring Veterans and their families have the support and services they need. This included initiatives over the past several months such as: • the introduction of a proposed Retirement Income Security Benefit that would ensure that an eligible Veteran’s total annual income is at least 70% of what he or she received in financial benefits from VAC before age 65; • proposed increases to the Earnings Loss Benefit for part-time Reserve Force Veterans; • investments in new and expanded mental health initiatives for Veterans, serving military members, and their families, including a Veteran-specific Mental Health First Aid training program; • a new Halifax operational stress injury clinic, with 9 satellite clinics across the country, including a permanent satellite in Hamilton; • a four-year pilot project to expand access to the military family resource centres for medically releasing Veterans and their families; • a new research project to examine the challenges and opportunities for families living with Veterans with operational stress injuries such as post-traumatic stress disorder; and • a new mental health action plan to further improve the continuum of mental health supports and services provided to Veterans and their families. The Government of Canada will continue to ensure that Canadian Veterans and their families have the support they need, and are treated with care, compassion and respect. PHOTO CREDITS Page 1 || 16 March 2015; Kuwait. Royal Canadian Air Force members of Air Task Force-Iraq and several members of the coalition participate in the SHAMAL SERIALS, a combat search and rescue exercise held for personnel of the Middle East Stabilization Force, currently conducting operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in a training area. Photo: Op Impact, DND.© All rights reserved. Photo Number GD2015-0100-11 reproduced with the permission of DND/CAF. (Link to photo.)

Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association | Spring 2015 | The Blue

3

The BLUE Beret Reports Critical Injury Benefit As this story was being written in late March, VAC announced yet another new benefit, the Critical Injury Benefit (CIB), targeted at serving military personnel who experience service-related severe injury or illness. (Portions of the press release are shown on the right.) The CIB is a $70,000 tax-free award to eligible members, which is intended to be granted quickly to help the member through the transition period between injury and other long-term support programs. This benefit will be applied retroactively to qualifying veterans who became eligible since 1 April 2006. The key point is that the benefit is meant to address the immediate needs of the recipient just after the injury or illness occurs. A clarification of the benefit on Canada AM on 31 March identified that the benefit would be available for both physical and psychological injuries. The CIB is meant to be an injury award, while the PIA is more of an impairment and/or disability award. It is possible to be severly injured, but heal without significant long-term impairment or disability, so the two awards are separate. The bill stresses two words, “severe” with respect to the wound or injury, and “immediate” with respect to the hospitalization required. The criteria appear to be very restrictive, and are expected to apply to only a small number of veterans. VAC will decide on eligibility and veterans who are denied the benefit will have to use the usual Veterans Review and Appeal Board (VRAB) process. While VAC has stated that meeting the definition of “immediate” will be the result of standards set by medical professionals, it will actually be VAC staff who judge whether or not that criteria is met. No reason was given for the arbitrary eligibility date of 1 April 2006, though it leaves out many of those who served in Afghanistan, in particular. It is important to note that the criteria for this award do not distinguish between those injured abroad on operations and personnel injured domestically or during training. BB

March 30, 2015 – Ottawa – Veterans Affairs Canada Press Release Harper Government announces new benefit for Canadian Armed Forces members and Veterans: Benefit to recognize and compensate for very serious injuries and diseases. The Honourable Erin O’Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs, unveiled today the proposed new Critical Injury Benefit (CIB), which will provide a $70,000 tax-free award to support the most severely injured and ill Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and Veterans. The proposed new CIB is intended to address the immediate impacts of the most severe and traumatic servicerelated injuries or diseases sustained by CAF members and Veterans, between the time the injury or disease occurs and the time when their condition becomes medically stable. The CIB is in recognition of the stress and hardship CAF members and Veterans go through in the weeks and months following a sudden event resulting in traumatic injury or disease. The CIB is intended to work alongside the existing benefits and supports delivered by Veterans Affairs Canada for which injured Veterans are eligible, and it is separate and apart from disability award payments. Quick Facts • The new Critical Injury Benefit will be one of many supports available to serving members and Veterans of the Canadian Armed Forces with service-related injuries or diseases. • The Critical Injury Benefit focuses on those who need it the most: Veterans who endure sudden and severe injury or disease while in the line of duty. • The Critical Injury Benefit will work in concert with existing services and benefits to establish a continuum of support from the onset of a severe and traumatic injury or disease. • The Critical Injury Benefit will be paid to eligible CAF members and Veterans who have suffered a sudden, severe and traumatic injury or developed an acute disease since April 1, 2006.

ANAVETS Reception Two members of our CPVA National Executive attended the annual ANAVETS luncheon and reception in Ottawa on 25 March. The event was attended by many members from other Veterans groups as well as the Minister, other members of Parliament and Senators. The occasion provided Donald MacPherson, National Secretary, and Tim Sparling, Vice President, an excellent opportunity to network with the other groups and to ask some direct questions to the staff from the Minister’s office. We were encouraged by their declared efforts to ensure that all of the latest announcements regarding improvements to the New Veterans Charter will be brought into law before the coming election. Tim Sparling, Vice President, CPVA

4

The Blue

| Spring 2015 | Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association

The BLUE Beret Reports Ray Kokkonen

National President, CPVA

CPVA President Reports on VAC Stakeholders Meeting (Nov 2014)

T

he Veterans Affairs Canada Stakeholders meeting took place in Quebec City on 19 November 2014. Dave Munro, former CPVA National President, and I attended on behalf of the CPVA. In addition to Minister Fantino and the new Deputy Minister (DM), General (Ret’d) Walter Natynczyk, and various VAC functionaries, thirteen organizations were represented, as follows: • The Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada (ANAVETS);Aboriginal Veterans Autochtones (AVA); • Canadian Aboriginal Veterans and Serving Members (CAV); • Conference of Defence Associations (CDA); • Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping (CAVUNP); • Canadian Institute for Military and Veterans Health Research (CIMVHR); • Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association (CPVA); • Korean Veterans Association of Canada (KVA); • National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada (NCVAC); • NATO Veterans Association of Canada (NATO Vets); • Royal Canadian Legion (RCL); • Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP); and • Veterans UN-NATO Canada (UN/NATO Vets). The DM chaired the meeting with the Minister sitting beside him. As well, the Veterans Ombudsman, Guy Parent, attended the meeting.

The agenda for the meeting is displayed on the next page. Please note that the listed tour of the Van Doos Regimental Museum was not done as there was too much material to cover in the meeting. The meeting took place at the Citadel in a board room with the Minister, DM, Ombudsman, VAC ADM Michel Doiron (Service Delivery), AADM Bernard Butler (Policy, Communications and Commemoration), and the senior representatives of the various organizations seated at the main table, and with the second representatives sitting behind the principals. The atmosphere of the meeting was amicable, open and cooperative with a lot of discussion which consisted to a large part of input and comments by the Veterans organizations. The Minister did not have much new to present and the DM expressed his opinion several times that perhaps the meeting should have been held later when there would have been something more concrete to report about the progress of implementing the fourteen recommendations of the House Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA) on the New Veterans Charter. A look at the agenda will show the topics which were discussed. I do want to note that many of the organizations, led by the Legion, very clearly stated that the delays in implementing the ACVA recommendations are not acceptable.

Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association | Spring 2015 | The Blue

5

The BLUE Beret Reports STAKEHOLDER MEETING WITH MINISTER OF VETERANS AFFAIRS November 19, 2014 La Citadelle, 1 Côte de la Citadelle, Quebec City

0830-0900

Coffee

All

0900-0915

Welcome/Opening Remarks

General (Ret.) Walter Natynczyk Deputy Minister

0915-0930

Keynote Address

Hon. Julian Fantino Minister of Veterans Affairs

0930-1045

Update on the Government Response to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs Report on the New Veterans Charter

Bernard Butler Associate Assistant Deputy Minister Policy, Communications and Commemoration Branch

1045-1100

Break

1100-1130

VAC Transformation and Service Improvements

Michel Doiron Assistant Deputy Minister Service Delivery

1130-1200

Stakeholder Engagement

Tom Eagles Royal Canadian Legion

1200-1230

Break for Lunch

1230-1300

Lunch Continues Disability Adjudication Process

Michel Doiron Assistant Deputy Minister Service Delivery

1300-1415

Stakeholder Roundtable

All

1415-1430

Closing Remarks

Hon. Julian Fantino Minister of Veterans Affairs

1430-1530

Tour of the Royal 22e Régiment Museum (Optional)

to several of the Veterans organizations before the meeting. Please read Wayne’s report as it provides excellent insight of the meeting — many thanks to Wayne. It’s not confirmed if VAC will provide minutes or a record of decisions of the meeting. If not, I have further notes and can add some more substance about the discussions. BB

In all, in my opinion, the meeting was the best I have seen since the days when there were only six Veterans organizations around the table. The new DM was definitely a huge positive factor. Watching his leadership in building a team of the attending organizations certainly explains why he was the CDS and the President of the Canadian Space Agency. He immediately identified that there have to be more meetings, with the last one having been in October 2013. From now on, the Stakeholder meetings will be held quarterly. As well, in order to address specific issues, there will be sub-committees of the Stakeholders formed as necessary. At the round table part, I expressed my opinion that the meeting had been excellent. As well, I introduced a new topic: Mefloquine. This antimalarial drug has been taken by the CF when serving in the Middle East or Africa since the 1980s, including in Afghanistan. There could be extremely serious potential difficulties ahead for many Veterans as the drug imitates the symptoms of PTSD and can cause suicidal feelings and urges for self harm. David Munro had an opportunity to speak at length about the Cockrell House project of housing for homeless Veterans in Victoria to which he devoted very much time and effort. As there was so much important discussion at the meeting, a full record would be too long. However, Wayne MacCulloch, the new National President of CAVUNP, did an outstanding report. His report also includes the mefloquine package which I sent

6

The Blue

PHOTO CREDITS Page 5 || 11 November 2014; Middleton, Nova Scotia. A Canadian Armed Forces member salutes a monument displaying the names of the members of 429 Squadron who lost their lives during the Second World War during a Remembrance Day service. Photo: Cpl Gerald Cormier, 14 Wing Imaging. © All rights reserved. Photo Number GD2014-0714-67 reproduced with the permission of DND/CAF. (Link to photo.) Page 6 || 9 August 2011; Victoria, British Columbia. The National President of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association, Mr. Ray Kokkonen places a poppy on the wreath that is set close to the cenotaph in recognition of the sacrifice of all those who lost their lives in their service of peace. Photo: Corporal Michael Bastien, MARPAC Imaging Services, Victoria, BC. © All rights reserved. Photo Number ET2011-0228-07 reproduced with the permission of DND/CAF. (Link to photo.)

| Spring 2015 | Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association

The BLUE Beret Reviews

Private Richard Rowland Thompson’s

Queen’s Scarf

Captain Ross Appleton

RCR Regimental Adjutant

PHOTO CREDITS Page 7 || Images supplied by the author.

Petawawa, Ontario | 17 February 2015 Fellow Royals, Tomorrow being Paardeberg Day and the 115th Anniversary of the decisive climax of the Battle of Paardeberg (18–27 February 1900) I thought to forward a well-researched and definitive account of Private Richard Rowland Thompson’s Queen Scarf. The account is written by Lieutenant-Colonel Brian A. Reid (Ret’d) and entitled, “Queen Victoria’s Scarves”. Thompson was awarded the Queen’s Scarf in July 1900 during the South African War “in recognition of conspicuous gallantry during this campaign”. His Queen’s Scarf has long since become enshrined in the history, legend and mythology of The Royal Canadian Regiment. I have sent out Lieutenant-Colonel Reid’s Queen’s Scarf article on the eve of other Paardeberg Days and thought it appropriate to do so again. As well as being a good friend of our Regiment, Brian Reid is a very distinguished Canadian military historian and author. He is also an acknowledged expert on the Canadian role in the South African War. Lieutenant-Colonel Reid’s book, “Our Little

Army in the Field: The Canadians in South Africa, 1899–1902” (Vanwell Publishing Limited, St. Catharines, Ontario, 1996) is a highly readable and informative description of both the conventional and, later, the counter-insurgency campaigns waged in South Africa by the thee different Canadian contingents to serve in the filed in South Africa. It is ironic that Richard Rowland Thompson, who is now a regimental icon, spent very little of his life in Canada, though he does lie buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Chelsea, Quebec. Thompson was born of Anglo-Irish stock in Cork, Ireland. He was a 22 year old medical student living in Buffalo, New York when the South African War broke out in October 1899. He managed to enlist at Toronto on 18 October 1899 and was soon bound for South Africa with “D” Company of the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry. Thompson was a relatively small man at 5 feet 6 and a half inches in height and 129 pounds in weight. Whatever his physical presence might have lacked, he was a most willing soldier

Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association | Spring 2015 | The Blue

7

The BLUE Beret Reviews and he proceeded to distinguish himself in two remarkable episodes that took place during the battle against the Boers at Paardeberg Drift in February 1900. The first took place on “Bloody Sunday,” 18 February, when the Canadian battalion had been futilely hurled against well concealed, entrenched Boer positions with disastrous results. The Canadians had lost 21 men killed and 60 wounded. Thompson was among those men who had gotten closest to the Boer trenches, but then had been pinned down during the long night of 18-19 February. Private Dick Thompson of D Company made it to within a hundred yards of the Boer lines. In an extraordinary act of bravery he was to save the life of Private James Bradshaw, also of D Company. Bradshaw was shot in the neck, the bullet nicking the jugular. As he lay wounded in the open, Thompson crawled to him, lay across his body and stanched the bleeding with direct pressure on the wound. Private Thompson was close enough to the enemy trenches that he could clearly make out the features of the Boer who shot the helmet off his head. Dick Thompson braved the Boer sniping for a further seven hours

ground, returned fire and eventually succeeded in entrenching in a position that allowed the Canadians to dominate the Boer trenches with their fire. By dawn it was clear to the enemy that they were in dire straits. By the light of approaching dawn the men of D Company, from their trench to the rear, could make out a fallen Canadian soldier, apparently writhing in pain just in front of the Boer trenches. A corporal from the Bearer Company asked for a volunteer to go forward and see if the man could be saved. Without fuss Private Thompson quickly agreed to go. For the second time Dick Thompson would now deliberately expose himself to enemy fire in order to rescue a wounded comrade. He took off his kit, lay down his rifle, climbed out of the trench and calmly strode towards the Boer trenches all the while puffing on his pipe. Through sheer ignorance of the rules of war, Boers commonly fired on stretcher-bearers and wounded men and showed little respect for the Red Cross. With every step he took young Thompson must have anticipated a Boer bullet. But for whatever reason, the Boers refrained from firing and he soon reached the side of the wounded Canadian only to find that he had died. Thompson removed the man’s personal effects, noted his service number and returned to his own trench. For his extraordinary bravery in rescuing wounded men under fire, Private Richard Rowland Thompson was subsequently awarded the Queen’s Scarf of Honour. Queen Victoria had knitted several scarves of Berlin wool. Four of these would go to a deserving soldier in each of the Colonial contingents Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, serving in Roberts’ Field Force. It was further stipulated that the soldier must be a private and that gallantry in the field should be a principal consideration. In early July 1900 LieutenantColonel Otter, in consultation with his company commanders, had decided that Thompson would be the Canadian recipient. Thompson had previously been felled by sunstroke and had subsequently contracted enteric (typhoid) fever. He had been evacuated to a rear area for treatment and convalescence. Although Private Thompson had survived this deadly disease, he was invalided back to Canada by way of England on 31 July 1900, apparently without knowing he had been awarded the Queen’s Scarf. He was eventually discharged from active service on 16 October 1900. Richard Rowland Thompson would soon accept a commission in the South African Constabulary and return to South Africa. He was later employed by the DeBeers Mining Company at Kimberley. Thompson left South Africa in 1904 and he lived at Buffalo, New York until he died on 06 April 1908. Married to a Canadian woman, he was buried in Quebec. Please find attached pictures of Richard Rowland Thompson and the Queen’s Scarf. Pro Patria. BB

Meanwhile the redoubtable Private Dick Thompson of D Company hadn’t heard the order to retire nor had he seen the general movement to the rear. Blazing away at the enemy with his rifle until he paused to reload, Thompson noticed for the first time there was no one left around him. (it was a clear, moonlit night) waiting for stretcher-bearers to come up. During this long wait Thompson, who had eaten nothing in over thirty hours, removed his emergency ration from his haversack. Tearing it open he quickly devoured the contents. Days later a subsequent kit inspection would reveal that Thompson was missing this sacred item. He was charged, tried, convicted, and sentenced to ten extra guard duties. On 27 February, during the early morning hours, Thompson was involved in the climactic Canadian assault on the enemy position. When the Canadians had come under fire from the Boers at close range in the dark, there was much confusion in the ranks. With the exception of “G” and “H” Companies, all of the assaulting companies, including “D” Company, retired to their original trenches. Meanwhile the redoubtable Private Dick Thompson of D Company hadn’t heard the order to retire nor had he seen the general movement to the rear. Blazing away at the enemy with his rifle until he paused to reload, Thompson noticed for the first time there was no one left around him. He beat a quick retreat eventually rejoining his mates at the original starting point. “G” and “H” Companies held their

8

The Blue

| Spring 2015 | Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association

The BLUE Beret Reports

FSNA Fighting for our Pensions Donald MacPherson

T

ucked inside little envelopes with our pension statements every year or so are brochures from the National Association of Federal Retirees, formerly the Federal Superannuates National Assocition. Recently, the FSNA has been making some headlines with their pushback against government efforts to make significant changes to our pensions and health care benefits. Changes to Pensions The federal government released a paper in April 2014 that proposed changing the pension scheme for federally-regulated employers and Crown corporations, permitting them to convert defined-benefit plans to target benefit plans which could impact the income security of retired pensioners. Federal pensioners currently belong to defined-benefits plans. Simply put, in a defined-benefits plan the employer promises the employee a specific amount upon retirement, in accordance with a known formula. Most defined-benefit plans also include some form of indexation to help the pension payments keep up with inflation. The employer invests all contributions and manages those investments, but assumes all risk in these plans, having to come up with enough cash to pay retirees even when the plan’s investments are performing poorly. Many companies have switched to defined-contribution plans instead. Here the employer promises to contribute a certain amount of money to the employee’s pension plan over the time of their employment. The employee typically assumes all risk for investing this money, and lives with the consequences of their own decisions as a result. Historically, most individuals are far less prepared to successfully manage their own investments than are the professionals that manage the defined-benefits plans. Target benefit plans are a hybrid between the two types of plans, where the employer contributes a fixed amount into the plan and manages those investments for the employees. If the investments perform poorly, however, the employer is not on the hook to make up the shortfall. Instead, pensions may be reduced and indexing may be limited if it occurs at all. Thus the overall risks are shifted to the retirees from the employer. It now appears that the federal government is looking to shift this risk to employees, including those who have worked for years, or even decades, expecting certain benefits to be guaranteed upon retirement. According to a FSNA fact sheet, the province of New Brunswick recently converted their public

National Secretary, CPVA

sector pensions to target benefit plans, with similar changes ahead for Quebec and Alberta. FSNA held sessions in the fall of 2014 with various retiree and veterans’ associations and unions to discuss the governments plans, especially with regard to holding the government to the promises it made to employees that have already retired. The CPVA has agreed to be a part of this process although we have not formally participated in this working group. We expect that FSNA will lead off with a public awareness campaign to coincide with the upcoming federal election to make people aware of the govenment’s intentions. Changes to Health Care The 2014 federal budget included the provision to arbitrarily double the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) premiums for veterans of the CF and RCMP and retired public servants, as well as increasing the eligibility period required for health insurance coverage in retirement from two years of service to six. While these conditions have been subject to ongoing negotiations within the National Joint Council (comprised of federal unions, the FSNA and the Treasury Board), the government has seen to bypass negotiation and proceed direcly with implementation of these changes (FSNA news release). The major change to employees involves changing the cost-sharing ratio for the plan to 50/50. Through a public awareness and letter-writing campaign, the FSNA managed to influence the government to phase this in over four years for existing retirees. Pressure on the government also brought in some enhancements to the plan, including the elimination of the annual deductible (from $60/single or $100/family coverage), inclusion of a benefit for laser eye surgery, coverage for aerotherapeutics devices, and doubling the annual benefit for psychological services. While the government has characterized these changes as the result of negotiation, the FSNA has launched legal action to declare the government’s actions regarding the PSHCP as unlawful. The law firm Gowling Henderson Lafleur LLP filed in the Federal Court of Canada on behalf of the FSNA and some of its members, claiming the government did not honour the spirit or principles of negotiation (FSNA news release). BB

Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association | Spring 2015 | The Blue

9

The BLUE Beret Reports

Ray Kokkonen

National President, CPVA

CPVA President Reports on Veterans Summit Meeting (Apr 2015)

T

he Veterans Summit, normally called the Stakeholders meeting, was hosted by Veterans Affairs Canada on 14 April 2015 at the War Museum in Ottawa. About 27 Veterans-related organizations, with two representatives each, and various governmental departments and agencies were represented, with approximately 75 total people. (Please see the Break-out Groups list which includes all of the participants on page 14.) Tim Sparling, CPVA Vice President, and I represented the CPVA at the Summit. The atmosphere of the meeting was completely orderly and amicable throughout. It was surprising to see some of the individuals who had disrupted previous meetings acting in a very disciplined way during the entire meeting. As well, there was a clear collective feeling that everyone would try to work together for the benefit of Veterans. In the end, it seemed that virtually every participant came away with a good feeling. Much of the credit for the good tone of the meeting is due to both Minister O’Toole and Deputy Minister, General (Ret’d) Walt Natynczyk (former CDS) for their very articulate and credible presentations and the positive outlook they projected. It was the favourable reaction to the two most senior leaders

10

The Blue

of VAC by the attendees that seems to be the reason for the press headlines about “thawing of relations between Veterans and VAC”. There were a number of such quotes from various Veterans organizations. One of the most important statements by the Minister was that Bill C-58, which contains all of the promises announced by him recently, would be passed during this session of Parliament. The format of the meeting is detailed in the agenda pictured here. In main, the meeting started with addresses by the DM and the Minister followed by philosophical and strategic presentations by the Minister, the DM and senior VAC staff. Following lunch, the entire gathering was split into two groups, the first consisting of various peripheral and website based organizations and the second with the traditional, membership based organizations. There was a technical briefing by Bernard Butler, A/Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Communications and Commemoration, VAC to both groups separately for 45 minutes with each group then having a 90 minute round-table in during which each organization had five minutes to present their views. The break-out was followed by a plenary session where both groups had the opportunity to present a summary

| Spring 2015 | Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association

The BLUE Beret Reports VETERANS AFFAIRS CANADA (VAC) STAKEHOLDER SUMMIT TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2015 (0930-1830) CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM, 1 VIMY PLACE, OTTAWA, ON AGENDA 0930 1000

Coffee Welcome and Introductions

1015

Keynote Address

1045

Veteran-Centric Communications

1115 1130

Break (no refreshments) Approach to Stakeholder Engagement

1200

Veterans 20/20: VAC Strategic Plan

1230 1345

Lunch Break-Out Sessions: Group 1– 1345-1430: Technical Briefing (45 minutes) 1430-1600: Break-out Session (90 minutes)

General (Ret.) Walter Natynczyk Deputy Minister, VAC Hon. Erin O’Toole Minister of Veterans Affairs John Walker, Director General, Service Delivery and Program Management Division, VAC Hon. Erin O’Toole Minister of Veterans Affairs General (Ret.) Walter Natynczyk Deputy Minister, VAC Technical Briefing: Bernard Butler, A/Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Policy, Communications and Commemoration, VAC

Group 2– 1345-1515: Break-out Session (90 minutes) 1515-1600: Technical Briefing (45 minutes) 1600 1630 1700

1730 1830

Break (refreshments) Reconvene Plenary for Summary of Breakout Sessions Closing Remarks

Reception Departure

One spokesperson from each of the two groups General (Ret.) Walter Natynczyk Deputy Minister, VAC

3. Social Covenant and the Veterans Bill of Rights proposed by Equitas. There was no reaction to this item as Bill C-58 includes the Social Covenant/Sacred Obligation statement at the beginning. However, I discussed the issue with Bernard Butler, the A/ADM Policy, Communications and Commemoration and gave him a copy. He said he would consider it in the context of Bill C-58. The CPVA recommendation about beginning the Covenant statement with the clear obligation was incorporated in Bill C-58 under the Purpose: Purpose 2.1 The purpose of this Act is to recognize and fulfil the obligation of the people and Government of Canada to show just and due appreciation to members and veterans for their service to Canada. This obligation includes providing services, assistance and compensation to members and veterans who have been injured or have died as a result of military service and extends to their spouses or common-law partners or survivors and orphans. This Act shall be liberally interpreted so that the recognized obligation may be fulfilled.

There were many other items but not enough time and as most of the main issues had been covered, I simply indicated support for them as well. The minutes of the meeting, when available, will include the topics tabled by the other organizations.

Hon. Erin O’Toole Minister of Veterans Affairs

of what had been discussed in their group. Closing statements by the DM and Minister ended the meeting. During the break-out sessions, the first two or three speakers naturally hit the majority of the most important issues so subsequent speakers basically had to say ditto to the foregoing and search for something new to say. The CPVA was fifth to speak and I tabled the three items about which I had informed you previously, as follows: 1. Mefloquine, the antimalarial drug whose symptoms replicate those of PTSD. This was the second time I presented this item and it led to a discussion and exchange of several emails with Dr. Alice Aiken, Director of CIMVHR, and is ongoing. 2. A proposal to use the word Vétéran instead of ancien combattant in French for Veteran, as proposed by Karl Morel, the CPVA Advocacy Director and Quebec Chapter President, received a lot of attention, including from the Minister who took notes on it. A number of the participants also strongly supported the proposal. I also spoke privately about the matter with the Minister’s Policy Advisor.

I want to thank Tim Sparling for his staunch support and 1 very professional contribution to the meeting. Tim had several lengthy conversations with the Minister, Deputy Minister, and other senior VAC staff. In conclusion, it was a productive meeting which indicated that there is a sea-change in VAC, primarily as a result of Veterans in many senior VAC positions, starting with the Minister. As well, there may be a change in the attitude by various components of the Veterans community which can lead to more united and effective advocacy work on behalf of Veterans. BB PHOTO CREDITS Page 10 || 9 April 2015; Ottawa, ON. Canadian veterans place their poppies on wreaths at the Veterans Affairs Canada 98th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge ceremony held at the National War Memorial on April 9, 2015 in Ottawa, Ontario. Photo: Sgt Dan Shouinard, Directorate of Army Public Affairs. © All rights reserved. Photo Number LF2015-0020-010 reproduced with the permission of DND/CAF. (Link to photo.)

Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association | Spring 2015 | The Blue

11

The BLUE Beret Reports Veterans Affairs Canada Stakeholder Summit – Break-Out Groups Canadian War Museum, Ottawa April 14, 2015

GROUP 1 • Moderator: Cybèle Wilson, Director, Stakeholder Outreach, Minister’s Office Departmental Official: Faith McIntyre, A/Director General, Policy Division, VAC

GROUP 2 • Moderator: Greg Koenderman, Director, Policy, Minister’s Office • Departmental Official: Sue Foster, ADM-Policy, Communications and Commemoration, VAC

• • • • • • • • • • •

• Tom Eagles, Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) • Brad White Royal Canadian Legion (RCL) • Brian Phoenix, Army, Navy, and Air Force Veterans in Canada (ANAVETS) • Deanna Fimrite, Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada (ANAVETS) • Brian Forbes, National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada (NCVA) • Derrill Henderson, National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada (NCVA) • Gordon Jenkins, NATO Veterans Organization of Canada • Tud Kaulbach, NATO Veterans Organization of Canada • Wayne MacCulloch, Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping (CAVUNP) • Ron Griffis, Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping (CAVUNP) • Ray Kokkonen, Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association (CPVA) • Tim Sparling, Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association (CPVA) • Mike Bessette, Veterans UN-NATO Canada • Michel Houle, Veterans UN-NATO Canada • David LeBlanc, RCMP Veterans Association (RCMPVA) • Richard Blackwolf, Canadian Aboriginal Veterans and Serving Members Association (CAV) • Joseph Burke, CAV • Meaghan Hobman, Conference of Defence Associations • Dr. Alice Aitken, Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) • Doug Finney, Korea Veterans of Canada Heritage Unit • Hong Kong Veterans Commemorative Association • Aboriginal Veterans Auctohtone • Dan DuBeau, A/Deputy Commissioner, RCMP • Sharon Squire, Deputy Veterans Ombudsman • Colonel Rob Walker, Canadian Armed Forces

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Don Leonardo, Veterans of Canada Dan Raposo, Veterans of Canada Ron Cundell, VeteranVoice.info Perry Gray, VeteranVoice.info Michael Blais, Canadian Veterans Advocacy Sylvain Chartrand, Canadian Veterans Advocacy Debbie Lowther, VETS Canada Julie Bibby, VETS Canada Earle Eastman, Canadian Army Veterans Tony Battista, Conference of Defence Associations Dr. Stephanie Belanger, Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR) Guy Vallieres, Royal Canadian Air Force Association of Canada Marie Andrée Malette, Caregivers Brigade Paula Ramsey, Caregivers Brigade Kim Davis, Caregivers Brigade Yvonne Burke, Canadian Spouses of Disabled Veterans Derek Munroe, Brigade Wellness Board Derryk Flemming, Brigade Wellness Board Brian McKenna, British Columbia Veteran Wellbeing Network Joe Jorgensen, Military Minds Inc. Bruce Moncur, Aghan Vets of Canada (AV-AC) John Walker, Director General, Service Delivery and Program Management Division, VAC Guy Parent, Veterans Affairs Ombudsman Brigadier General Mike Jorgensen, Canadian Armed Forces Lieutenant-Colonel Jamie Morse, Canadian Armed Forces Liaison Officer to VAC

VAC Hiring Case Managers Another press release from VAC on 13 April 2015 announced the hiring of 100 new case managers in an attempt to reduce the average caseload to about 30 veterans for each case manager. According to a VAC backgrounder, a veteran entering the system would see their wait time for assignment to a case manager reduced from several weeks to within five days.

12

The Blue

The announcement also trumpeted changes to Departmental processes, including giving more power to frontline employees making decisions that give the benefit of the doubt to veterans, and the ability to bypass the need for slow-moving applications for the Retired Income Security Benefit and the Critical Injury Benefit in some cases.

| Spring 2015 | Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association

The BLUE Beret Reports

Veterans Ombudsman Council Meeting 5 November 2014

T

Joseph E.L. Gollner Patron, CPVA

he autumn session of the Veterans Ombudsman [VO] began with a review of the year’s work in the Office of Veterans Ombudsman [OVO]. Council members’ began by addressing the reports from the VO for 2014 (see end of story for links). These reports were designed to and successfully exploited the five major reports done in 2013 in preparation for the 2013 Parliamentary Review of the earlier amendments to the New Veterans Charter [NVC]. The VO’s reports were largely responsible for expanding the scope of the Parliamentary Committee’s review to address the known shortcomings with NVC that were documented by the VO instead of reviewing only the 2010 amendment to the NVC. The NVC problems have been known for years but the VO’s reports, given their quality and recommendations, could not be ignored.

our VO is the Go to Guy, nice pun, for those that want to know what the real veterans’ issues are and what is needed to address these issues.

The onus is now on the Government of Canada to act on the Parliamentary Committee’s report and fourteen recommendations. Some modest positive activity on the recommendations has been started with more promised. It is important to understand that while the VAC Minister is responsible for veterans’ affairs the core issues of the NVC and other veterans’ issues go well beyond his capacity or mandate to resolve. To resolve the outstanding NVC issues mean that the Cabinet and other federal Ministries must be actively engaged in the process, for example, Finance, Treasury Board, Justice, National Defence, and Health Canada all have significant Hopefully our members are aware of the VO’s Ombudsman, Chief Warrant responsibilities related to Canada’s veterans. five informative, plain language, fact-based reports Officer Guy Parent (Retired) published in 2013. What some may not appreciate is Often veterans ask me why the VAC Minister simply that these reports nailed down and pounded home the details cannot make the necessary and in some cases obvious changes on the still outstanding most serious shortcomings of the NVC. to the NVC and other problems that continue to bedevil VAC The cold hard facts were laid out for all to see. The reports were and Canada’s veteran’s community. Our veteran’s legislation is well and widely received and used by the House of Commons based on two separate major pieces of legislation. From the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs and many veterans’ legislation, or the law if you will, come the regulations that organizations as a foundation for their own reviews and enable and bring the legislation into effect. Then from the work. Much of the detail and also the sense of urgency that is regulations flow the policies which the VAC employees use to required to address the long-standing shortcoming of the NVC provide veterans’ their service and support. that the VO addressed in his reports is reflected in the fourteen Our Parliament approved our veteran’s legislation. The recommendations that the Parliamentary Committee made in Cabinet through Orders in Council approved the regulations its unanimous report to Parliament. In Ottawa now Guy Parent, Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association | Spring 2015 | The Blue

13

The BLUE Beret Reports for the legislation thus enabling the legislation. Then the VAC Minister takes the regulations and develops the policies that VAC staff uses to implement the regulations on a day to day basis with us all. So yes the VAC Minister can change the VAC policies as and when necessary, and recommend to Cabinet changes to the regulations. However, to change the legislation requires the full Parliamentary process. A process that usually includes close scrutiny of new legislation being considered by the appropriate Parliamentary Committees, the public, and in the case of the veteran legislation us. All up things happen in Ottawa usually in accord with a well-established legal process that moves at its own deliberate pace not simply at the call of a Minister. Sadly this process was not followed in 2005 and the NVC gained swift but unreviewed passage into law. Perhaps had the usual Parliamentary process been followed then the problems with the NVC and much grief could have been avoided.

transition process are properly addressed. To address these problems requires concentrated, coordinated, and determined political action to change the extensive in place legislation in both National Defence and VAC. The Ombudsmen can and undoubtedly will make recommendations political leadership and involvement is required to make change.

I encourage members to review our VO’s website and blogs, because there is plenty of information available to us and it is fact-based information too. It is our responsibility as veterans to keep ourselves current on what is happening in VAC and become involved by either supporting or criticizing what is happening. To take either course of action means the real facts are needed and the facts are available. Few deny that problems exist with the support and service provided to our veterans but we also have to recognize that on occasion the media is given distorted or incomplete information by individuals or groups with vested interests or political objectives. Contrary to some claims this activity does not help to resolve the problems that face many in our veteran’s community.

The Council session concluded with the VO awarding two of his Commendations based on the selection and recommendations of the Council members from the many nominations received.

As we have all heard recently and repeatedly but as veterans have known for years problems exist when a serving Canadian Armed Forces member leaves the service especially if leaving with a medical condition. The supposed smooth transition trip from service to veteran status instead of being, as advertised, is more often than not complicated and cause for more grief than satisfaction. Our VO and the National Defence Ombudsman Gary Walbourne, until this spring Deputy VO, are working together on a project titled Joint Transition Project. This project has the full support of their respective Ministers, and its intention is to find ways to make the transition trip from service to veteran status not only effective but in the process really prepare members for successfully transiting from serving status to veterans status. The VO’s Council was briefed on the current befuddled system and unanimously concluded that it is a wonder anyone could make the trip without falling into any number of cracks. The result of falling into a crack or missing a step in the release process trip all too often results in the members leaving without a clear understanding of their entitlements under existing CAF and veterans’ legislation. My view of this essential project, which is definitely needed as a matter of priority, is that while the Ombudsmen working together can and undoubtedly will design a new and better trip chart to improve the current system. Their work, however, will be hobbled unless the hard core problems within the

14

The Blue

The Council, at one point in the agenda, was invited to review several draft documents for the VO, began word smithing the documents while encouraging the OVO staff to remember that the VO’s growing audience ranges from Parliament Hill, the public, the media, and most importantly to Canada’s veteran’s community. Thus clear concise writing of reports is essential so that the messages in the VO’s documents or reports are not lost, can be read, and understood by the broad spectrum of readers, including veterans.

Here are some details on this year’s outstanding recipients. • Dr. Heather MacKinnon, served as a medical officer for twelve years in the RCN, retiring as a Lieutenant Commander. Currently, Dr. MacKinnon operates a medical practice in Halifax serving military and RCMP veterans. She is a passionate advocate for Veterans, tirelessly pressing the federal and provincial governments for improvement in healthcare programmes to better serve the needs of veterans and their families. • Thomas Lewis (Tim) Hoban retired from the RCMP after twenty-four years as Senior NCO/Detachment Commander. Tim has been an active member of the community, a member of the Lions Club International for forty-five years as well as past President and Governor of the RCMP Veterans’ Association. Currently, Tim is helping troubled youths and aboriginal veterans and advocating for Homeless Veterans. Tim has been an active member of the VO Council for several years. PS: Check out these 2014 VO’s Publications. These reports might well contain information that is important to you and your family. • Veterans’ Long-term Care Needs [VIP] Feb 14 • Veterans’ Long term-Term Care Needs: Assisted Living May 14 • Supporting Severely Impaired Veterans Aug 14. BB PHOTO CREDITS Page 13 || 6 June 2014; Courseulles-sur-Mer, France. Ralph Hebb (left), Battle of Normandy Veteran, rises during the prayer at the 70th Anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy ceremony at Juno Beach. Photo: MCpl Marc-Andre Gaudreault, Canadian Forces Combat Camera. © All rights reserved. Photo Number IS2014-2006-044 reproduced with the permission of DND/CAF. (Link to photo.)

| Spring 2015 | Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association

The BLUE Beret Reports Guy Parent, the Veterans Ombudsman, maintains a blog on the VO website with a considerable amount of useful articles on various topics of the day. We would like to take the liberty here to include one such article to whet your appetite to explore. Visit the site at www.ombudsman-veterans.gc.c/eng/blog.

Guy Parent

Veterans Ombudsman

Why the New Veterans Charter Came Into Effect Ottawa, ON - January 19, 2015 “The New Veterans Charter was implemented without consultation and only for cost-cutting reasons.” Q: True or False? A: False

S

upport for Canada’s injured and ill Veterans has struck a chord with many Canadians. Hardly a day goes by without someone commenting in the media about problems with how Veterans are supported under the New Veterans Charter (NVC). Critics of the NVC criticize its deficiencies, while supporters point out the lack of understanding about the benefits and services available to injured and ill Veterans and their families. Sometimes the facts fall victim to emotion, misunderstanding and misinformation. Such is often the case in the discussion of why the NVC replaced the Pension Act in 2006 as the system for Veterans’ benefits and services.

Some have claimed that the NVC came into effect because the Government wanted to cut the cost of supporting Veterans. Those who agree believe that because the payment of a disability pension for life under the Pension Act was too expensive, bureaucrats devised a new way of compensating Veterans for an injury or illness related to service — the one-time lump sum disability award. While cost containment was a consideration, it was not the only reason the NVC came into effect. What is not always understood or acknowledged is that the Pension Act did not meet the needs of many injured and ill Veterans. For many Veterans eligible for a disability pension, the amount of the pension was not sufficient to provide the basic necessities of living. Veterans who were unable to work and were not eligible for other benefits such as the Canada Pension Plan disability pension, the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) pension

or the Canadian Forces SISIP Long-Term Disability plan income replacement benefit faced significant financial challenges. For Veterans who were able to work, the Pension Act could not help them with retraining or the transition to a civilian job. How the NVC Came to Be The March 2004 Veterans Affairs Canada  —  Canadian Forces Advisory Council discussion paper Honouring Canada’s Commitment: Opportunity with Security for Canadian Forces Veterans and Their Families in the 21st Century (link to PDF here) provides insight into why the NVC was implemented. The Advisory Council conducted extensive fact-finding research with regard to the support of injured and ill CAF members and Veterans. It also visited a number of CAF bases and heard from senior commanders, officers and non-commissioned members, Veterans and their families. The conclusion from this extensive research and outreach was that VAC did not have the tools to provide the type of assistance required by a growing number of injured and ill Veterans and families. A new approach was needed. The 1998 joint federal, provincial and territorial report, In Unison: A Canadian Approach to Disability Issues (link to document on website of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities), appears to have influenced some of the Advisory Council’s thinking on how to better support injured and ill Veterans. It advocated for better access to educational and training opportunities to improve the participation of persons with disabilities in the economic and social mainstream. As well, the report proposed new approaches for dealing with persons with disabilities, such as independence versus dependence, active measures to promote employment versus passive income support, among others. With these ideas in mind, it became clear to the Advisory Council that bringing the existing benefits under the Pension Act in line with these new approaches

Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association | Spring 2015 | The Blue

15

The BLUE Beret Reports would require a major reform of the Veterans’ benefit system. This was apparent to VAC also. In September 2003, it stood up a departmental Services and Program Modernization Task Force to develop a suite of programs and services to facilitate the successful transition of CAF members and families to civilian life. In March 2004, the Advisory Council published its “...Opportunity with Security...” paper, the culmination of almost four years of research and consultation on the support of CAF members, Veterans and their families. The paper proposed a comprehensive overhaul of Veterans benefits and services, including improved transition and retraining support, enhanced civilian employment opportunities for disabled members, and the thorough overhaul of the way CAF members and Veterans were compensated for injury. The NVC was the result. It came into effect in 2006 and adopted many of the principles and recommendations proposed by the Advisory Council. The NVC —  A Work in Progress

Veteran’s Ombudsman Blogs Guy Parent has been keeping busy writing blog entries on the Ombudsman’s website. As we go to press with this issue, he has published 41 articles in 2014 and 6 so far in 2015. His blogs go back to his first appearing in 2010. Some of the articles deal with “myth busting” common misconceptions with the New Veteras Charter and the Regular Force vs. Reserve Force benefits. He also uses this venue to keep pressure on the government and VAC to keep things moving for the sake of veterans and their families. Good reading for all. Take a look at his list of blog articles to learn more. • • • • •

Improved financial security after age 65 Better access to allowances for those with the greatest need Income support equity for Veterans who served as reservists Better support to families Improved income support during rehabilitation and transition

To state that implementing the NVC was only about cutting costs fails to recognize the significant amount of research and thought that went into its development. While some criticize the NVC, in many ways it offers better support to Veterans and their families than does the Pension Act. That said, better support does not necessarily mean sufficient support.

The bottom line is that neither the NVC nor the Pension Act is perfect. Our focus going forward must be on addressing the deficiencies within the Charter so that injured and ill Veterans and their families receive the help they need to successfully transition to a new life.

Many reports have been published since 2006 that make it clear that the NVC has major deficiencies that need to be addressed. I have written often about the changes required to the NVC — here are the top five priorities:

In its response to the 2014 Report by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, the Government indicated that it is well aware of these deficiencies. Action is needed now! (Link to this article online.) BB

CPVA on Parade in Ottawa 3 May 2015 A rare grouping of CPVA members occurred in Ottawa on a sunny Sunday afternoon as we gathered for the unveiling of the memorial statue of LCol John McCrae. On the occasion of the centennial of the Second Battle of Ypres and the Saint Julien gas attacks, the Artillery and Medical Corps came together to unveil this magnificent statue next to the National Artillery Monument. Pictured here (left to right) are Donald MacPherson, CD, CPVA Secretary/Editor of The Blue Beret; Karl Morel, CD, BA, CPVA Advocacy Director; Tim Sparling, CD, CPVA Vice President; and Kenneth R. Ouellet, CD, Québec Regional Director.

16

The Blue

| Spring 2015 | Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association

The BLUE Beret Briefings Obituary: Larry Gray CARLETON PLACE, ON, 8 November 2014

KINGSTON, ON, 15 November 2014

I have just learned that Larry Gray, the CPVA 2nd Vice President, has passed away on 8 November at home in Carleton Place, Ontario. Larry has had serious medical problems for some time and his family was called to his bedside once before some months ago. He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force for 25 years, retiring as a Flight Lieutenant in 1983. Larry has provided a yeoman service for several years as the primary CPVA rep in Ottawa. He attended various meetings and social functions as the senior CPVA functionary and represented the CPVA in an outstanding way. As a well known author of five books on military history, a former member of VRAB, and a number of senior positions with Royal Canadian Legion, the OPP and other organizations, Larry surely made his mark during his very productive life. Larry’s funeral will be held at St. James Anglican Church, Carleton Place, Saturday 15 November at 1400 hrs. I am working on having CPVA representation at the funeral. Our most sincere condolences go to Gloria, Larry’s wife of 56 years, and to his children and grandchildren. Ray Kokkonen, President, CPVA

Just back from Larry’s funeral, a wonderful service put on at the St James Anglican Church in Carleton Place. The pastor seems to have known Larry quite well, and to the large audience assembled there had many stories to tell. Larry’s medals and his blue UN beret, with CPVA crest attached, were placed prominently in front of the altar. In addition to CPVA, the Legion had a representative there, and several family members were in uniform to do Larry proud. Gloria was holding up very well, and seemed to appreciate hearing of our condolences. A bagpiper played as the assembled left the church for the reception, and the brass band to which Larry belonged played in the reception hall afterwards. Larry knew time was getting short and managed to travel one last time to PEI in September to visit the place he enjoyed so well. His son, Scott, talked of his father during the service, pointing out that Larry had cheated death six times during his lifetime, and finally went out on his own terms. I guess you can’t ask for more than a life lived large and in service to so many. Donald MacPherson, Secretary, CPVA

National Website I believe we all agree that communications is the key to a successful organization. On the CPVA National Website, the opportunity is there for you to construct your own Chapter web page. The vehicle is there for you to use, why not take advantage of it? We encourage chapters to make use of this service so that members across the country may be able to find and get reaquainted with long lost comrades.

Let people know what and where things such as parade or social functions are happening in your area. The National Executive is doing a great job in distributing information, but they have no idea of what is happening at the chapter level. It’s up to you to spread the word — who knows, a member may be visiting in your area and if they know what is taking place they may like to join in. Ed Oursien for the Communications Officer

New Quebec Chapter 22 March 2015 Very exciting news from Quebec. Last evening the founding meeting was held to strike a CPVA Chapter in Lacolle, QC. The name of the new organization is Québec Regional Chapter, or Filiale Régionale du Québec in French. With Karl Morel as the Interim President, the new Chapter now has eight members but is expected to grow rapidly.

Other members of the Interim Executive are: Vice-President Robert Tanguay, Secretary-Treasurer Kenneth Ouellet and Sergeant-at-Arms Robert Brosseau. Congratulations and a hearty welcome to the Québec Regional Chapter as a part of the CPVA and a big thank you to Karl and the other members of CPVA who made it happen. Ray Kokkonen, President, CPVA

SISIP Class Action Missing Some Members A class action taking the government to court to deal with improper calculation of the Cost of Living Allowance increases for those covered by the SISIP Long Term Disability Plan was settled and approved by the court in July 2014. While the lawyers representing the class have been able to distribute settlement packages to more than 8,000 class members, contact has been lost with some.

The settlement website has a list of those people they would like to reach to deliver settlement packages. Take a moment of your time to see if you or anyone you know are on this list. Donald MacPherson, Secretary, CPVA

Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association | Spring 2015 | The Blue

17

The BLUE Beret

About the

The Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association

CPVA

18

The Blue

T

he CPVA, founded in 1991, is a national, all Veteran, all volunteer, not-for-profit, apolitical organization with Chapters from Vancouver Island to St. John’s, Newfoundland. It has its Headquarters in Kingston, Ontario, and is not funded by the Government in any way. Our Mission Statement is: “To be a strong and leading advocate for all Veterans and to provide a forum of comradeship for Veterans”. The CPVA is a true, stable, national organization and its Constitution opens the doors to membership to any Veteran from World War II, Korea, NATO, UN missions and any other related military or police operations and includes all varieties of veterans from World War II to Afghanistan, even with some international members.

CPVA President, Ray Kokkonen, receives a medal from the former President of the Finnish Peacekeeping Veterans Association. Born in Finland but emigrating to Canada at 10 years of age, Ray’s association with Finland also has to do with his more than 40 years of involvement with the International Biathlon committee, the regulating authority for Biathlon competitions around the world. Ray has been involved with Biathlon Canada for many years and was Chief of Competition during the Calgary Games in 1988. He was the Technical Delegate in the 1992 Albertville Olympic Winter Games, and has worked at six additional Olympic Winter Games. Among many awards, he has been inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame and the CF Sports Hall of Fame as a builder. A well deserved In addition to its long-term work for Veterans, medal. which has produced substantial gains, CPVA has a number of notable organizational strengths such as • CPVA has consistently worked cooperatively, albeit an extremely effective governance, real democratic without always being in agreement, with the Minisrepresentation of all members and a nationwide ter of Veterans Affairs and senior VAC staff, providcommunications network which reaches virtually all ing them with innovative suggestions on a wide veterans and a large portion of the CF. As well, the variety of topics. Topics such as a comprehensive CPVA has a bona fide behavioural sciences capability method of validating VAC’s statistics, rational and and component. Below is a summary of some of the reasonable ideas on how to resolve the on-going Association’s achievements and capabilities: issue of cash versus disability pension, and other ways to improve the NVC and VAC support to vet• CPVA’s proposal in the late 1990’s led to the eserans. The Association has always provided strong tablishment of the VAC-Canadian Forces Advisory membership and leadership to numerous VAC comCouncil, the first forum established by VAC to allow mittees, working and advisory groups, NVC regulaCF (modern-day) Veterans organizations to particitory discussions, and so on. At present, the CPVA is a pate equally at the table with the traditional Vetermember of the VAC Stakeholders Committee. CPVA, ans organizations. alone amongst Veterans associations, has taken the • CPVA, in its over two decades of existence, has proinitiative to recognize the VAC staff for good supvided the Canadian Veterans community with foport and service to Veterans with its outstanding cused, knowledgeable, innovative and cooperative national and regional service awards program. leadership. This leadership has reached far beyond our own membership and has expressed itself in CPVA’s steady and active leadership to the Canadian many ways, ways that have benefited all Canadian Veterans community, while avoiding public confronVeterans. The Veterans Bill of Rights, the Canadian tation with VAC, has earned it a reputation for being Peacekeeping Service Medal, the 1-800 VAC assisa straight-shooting Veterans organization that has a tance line, the Veteran’s Ombudsman, and the 9th proven and recognized capacity to reach far beyond of August National Peacekeepers’ Day being just its own membership to influence events and activfive achievements of such benefits. The CPVA has ities affecting all Canadian Veterans. CPVA is a staunch also made several appearances at the hearings of member of the Veterans Consultation Assembly and the House Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs fully supports the collective initiatives of about twenty to provide input about various Veterans issues. Veterans groups. BB | Spring 2015 | Newsletter of the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association