Posted on 13 January 2011
At a recent Senate Subcommittee Meeting on Veterans Affairs, Charlottetown Senator Percy Downe confirmed that the Harper Government is refusing to heed the advice of department officials to increase funding for the funeral and burial expenses of veterans.
Currently, the Government of Canada allows serving members of the Canadian Forces to receive up to $12,700 for funeral and burial expenses, but only provides $3,600 for veterans, an amount unchanged since 2001.
In March 2010, in response to a Written Question tabled in the Senate by Downe, Minister of Veterans Affairs, Jean-Pierre Blackburn, advised that the program “is currently being reviewed.” Eight months later, at the November 17th sub-committee meeting, Downe questioned the lack of progress in resolving the issue, and Blackburn had this to say:
“You said that I had talked about that in March and that this matter has yet to be resolved. You are right. This brief was even drawn to my attention approximately a month ago, and I am the one who said that this was not the time to talk about this matter (...)”
At their National Convention held in June 2010, the Royal Canadian Legion passed this resolution:
“(T)hat the Minister of Veterans Affairs take necessary action immediately to increase the Veterans Funeral and Burial Program funeral services allowable maximum to an equivalent level established for the RCMP and Canadian Forces.”
The resolution, identical to one passed at their 2008 convention, reflects the Legion’s longstanding concern about the slow pace of reforming this Government’s policy. Indeed, in October 2010, Patricia Varga, Dominion President of the Royal Canadian Legion declared that her organization is “extremely concerned that this important issue is being swept under the rug.”
Unfortunately, Ms. Varga’s concerns are justified, as the Minister has decided he doesn’t want to address the problem. She went on to say that:
“(I)t is time that Veterans Affairs Canada made up its mind as to whether it will increase these payments substantially or not. Will we let our veterans die knowing that they could go to a pauper’s grave? One would hope not.”
“The Harper Government owes Canadians an explanation as to when they think would be the ‘time to talk about this matter’. Veterans and their families cannot afford to wait any longer,” concluded Downe.
Attached: Written Question tabled in the Senate, March 3, 2010; Opinion Piece by Patricia Varga, Dominion President, Royal Canadian Legion, October 20, 2010
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For further information:
Senator Percy Downe: 613-943-8107
Or toll free at 1-800-267-7362
www.sen.parl.gc.ca/pdowne