Report – 23 September 2009

Serve with Honour, Depart with Dignity – An Administrative Review of the Funeral and Burial Assistance Program for Veterans Affairs Canada

This report entitled Serve with Honour, Depart with Dignity – An Administrative Review of the Funeral and Burial Assistance Program for Veterans Affairs Canada is submitted by the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman to Veterans Affairs Canada for consideration and action. Its essence lies in the fact that Veterans who have served and sacrificed for their country deserve to depart with dignity.

In the fall of 2008 staff of the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman met with Veterans Affairs Canada executive team responsible for administering the Last Post Fund. As a result of this meeting a number of issues and concerns were identified as they related to the delivery and funding of the Funeral and Burial Assistance Program.

The report outlines the issues and concerns raised and makes findings and recommendations to improve the Funeral and Burial Assistance Program. I believe that such improvements are necessary and reasonable and I urge Veterans Affairs Canada to act quickly in their implementation. Such action will demonstrably reinforce the Department’s commitment to support our Veterans to the end.

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