August 21, 2024, Ottawa, ON – Today, the Office of the Veterans Ombud (OVO) released its publication Spotlight 2024: Progress Update on OVO Recommendations to VAC.
January 18, 2024
The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor
Minister of Veterans Affairs and
Associate Minister of National Defence
66 Slater St., 16th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0P4
Re: The Burden of Care: A Fairness Gap in the Veterans Independence Program Policy
Dear Minister Petitpas Taylor,
March 22, 2024, Ottawa, ON – Veterans Ombud Colonel (Ret’d) Nishika Jardine released a report today on the unfairness inherent in Veterans Affairs Canada’s (VAC) Pain and Suffering Compensation (PSC) benefit. The PSC benefit compensates Veterans for disabilities related to their service. How VAC pays the PSC benefit directly affects what happens to Veterans’ compensation when they die.
This guide explains the steps Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) takes after you apply for Disability Benefits.
1. Claim Preparation VAC ensures your application includes all information required to make a decision. They order your service health records and may contact you for further information. When VAC has the required information, your application is placed into a queue for decision-makers.
FEBRUARY 15, 2024, OTTAWA, ON – Veterans Ombud Colonel (Ret’d) Nishika Jardine will be in the Northwest Territories the week of February 19 to meet with its Veterans community. The visit includes a town hall in Yellowknife on February 20, as well as meetings with a broad range of stakeholders.
Update: Resolution of Disability Pension Reductions due to Merlo Davidson Settlement Compensation
When you disagree with a VAC decision you have the right to request a review.
1. You have the right to get a decision in writing.
If you did not get a decision letter, ask VAC for one.
2. Read your letter carefully, it will help guide your next steps. The decision letter will tell you
who can review the decision:
December 7, 2023, Ottawa, ON – Today, the Office of the Veterans Ombud (OVO) released its publication Spotlight 2023: Progress Update on OVO Recommendations to VAC. As of March 31, 2023, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) has fully or partially implemented 70 percent or 55 of the OVO’s 79 recommendations – a slight improvement over last year.
The recommendations made by the OVO address systemic gaps and barriers to fair access by Veterans and their families for VAC services and benefits.
NOVEMBER 28, 2023, OTTAWA, ON – The Veterans Ombud Commendation recognizes and honours the exceptional dedication, hard work and selfless motivation of an individual or group's contribution to Canada's Veterans and their families. This afternoon, Veterans Ombud Colonel (Ret’d) Nishika Jardine awarded eight Commendations for 2023:
