News Releases

Today, the Veterans Ombudsman released a report entitled Honouring and Connecting with Canada’s Veterans: a National Veterans Identification Card, in which he recommends to the Minister of Veterans Affairs the formal recognition of former RCMP members as Veterans for commemorative purposes and the issuance of an official identification card for Canada’s Veterans.

Today, Guy Parent, Canada’s Veterans Ombudsman, informed the Minister of Veterans Affairs of his intention to act as an observer to the team conducting the audit of Sunnybrook Hospital.

“Recent allegations regarding the treatment of Veterans at Sunnybrook Hospital are of great concern to me. I welcome the Minister’s call for an audit of the facility. That said, as Veterans Ombudsman, I want to ensure that the audit to be carried out by Veterans Affairs Canada is as thorough as necessary to fully identify and address issues of concern.”

We come together during Veterans’ Week to pay tribute to those who have lost their life in service to our country. We recognize the more than 750,000 Veterans in Canada who have served our country honourably – as part of the Canadian Forces and the RCMP – both here and abroad, in times of peace and times of conflict. And we acknowledge the men and women who continue to serve today.

Today, the Veterans Ombudsman released his report entitled Veterans’ Right to Fair Adjudication, an analysis of decisions of the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal pertaining to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board (the Board).

On 20 February, 2012, the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman released a report entitled Veterans' Right to Know Reasons for Decisions: A Matter of Procedural Fairness. This report examined the adequacy of information provided by Veterans Affairs Canada in their decision letters to Veterans who apply for disability pensions or disability awards.

Today, Canada's Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent renewed his call to Veterans Affairs Canada to grant Agent Orange ex gratia payment claims that are being denied to eligible claimants. Parent says that the claims in question are based on eligibility criteria that are clearly not compliant with the intent of the Order in Council (SI/2007-87 and SI/2010-96) that established the Agent Orange ex gratia payment.

Today, Guy Parent, Canada’s Veterans Ombudsman, renewed his call on Veterans Affairs Canada to implement changes to the Veterans’ Funeral and Burial Program.

As Canadians we enjoy many freedoms. Freedom of conscience, freedom of belief, freedom of association, freedom of mobility. These are the freedoms—and indeed, the rights—we enjoy in Canada.

Today, Canada’s Veterans Ombudsman, Guy Parent, issued the following statement in response to the announced amendments to the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Regulations:

"Earlier today, the Minister of Veterans Affairs announced that amendments to the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Regulations are now in effect. This is bittersweet news for the Veterans’ community.

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