Legion raises concerns about Federal Budget impact on Veterans and their Families

The dominion president of The Royal Canadian Legion is concerned that the federal budget will have a negative impact on all veterans and their families. Veterans, including Canadian Forces (CF) members, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and their families, have served their country and the federal government has incurred a moral obligation to them.

PHOTO CREDIT - Legion.ca

Ottawa - March 21, 2012 - The dominion president of The Royal Canadian Legion is concerned that the federal budget will have a negative impact on all veterans and their families.

Patricia (Pat) Varga says that all veterans, including Canadian Forces (CF) members, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and their families, have served their country and the federal government has incurred a moral obligation to them.

“The payments made to veterans and their families are not social assistance payments,” she says. “There must be a guarantee that there will be staff available to support the programs in effect and offer quality service. We are seeing an increased number of signs that this service delivery will be affected,” she continues.

“We see an increase in the number of injured veterans coming forward. It could be because of multiple tours and a higher number of complex physical and mental injuries,” she adds. “But what we are afraid of is that there won’t be enough staff to respond to these increasing needs.

Recent statements by the Minister of Veterans Affairs Canada highlight staff cuts. These proposals are short-sighted,” she says.

“Replacing a person with technology is not the only answer to fixing red tape and the bureaucracy. These people deserve compassionate access to services and quality treatment,” she says of the possibility that staff will be cut and services will suffer when the budget is released on 29 March.

The United States and the United Kingdom have spared their veterans administrations from cuts. The Legion feels that the federal government should make the same commitment to all Canadian veterans and their families.

“We ask that the federal government reconsider any budget cuts to Veterans Affairs Canada,” she asks.

“Getting our financial house in order should not be done on the backs of our wounded and their families. The prime minister and the rest of this country should recognize their service to Canada. They all know that veterans deserve the best from the federal government which they served with honour and pride,” she concludes