Canada’s Veterans put their lives on the line so that we have a fair and free society. We are indebted to them and we owe them the benefits to which they are entitled.
The federal government has a responsibility to protect and fight for those who have served our country. The Conservative government under Stephen Harper made massive cuts to the Veterans Affairs department and the Liberals have not restored the cuts. As a result, there is a huge backlog of applications for benefits (including rehabilitation services) to which Veterans are entitled.
Canadians who have proudly served our country need to be properly supported, and the most important first step is a successful transition from military to civilian life. We must deliver good quality rehabilitation services for veterans.
The 2018 Parliament unanimously supported my motion to protect funding for Veterans that had been approved by Parliament but was lapsing because of staff shortages in the Department of Veterans Affairs. As an MP, I continue to raise this issue and to advocate to restore funding for Veterans Affairs so it can enhance services for Veterans and remind the government of the debt we owe our Veterans.