Canadian Veterans Advocacy

Friday, December 28, 2012

New announcement: VAC Q&A VIP Housekeeping and Ground Maintenance Service Grant with Semi-Annual

VAC Q&A VIP Housekeeping and Ground Maintenance Service Grant with Semi-Annual Up-Front Payment Rev 1.1

http://www.scribd.com/doc/118225678/VAC-Q-A-VIP-Housekeeping-and-Ground-Maintenance-Service-Grant-with-Semi-Annual-Up-Front-Payment-Rev-1-1





For updates, please visit: http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=7659.0

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http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=7659.0

Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: VAC Q&A VIP Housekeeping and Ground Maintenance Service Grant with Semi-Annual

VAC Q&A VIP Housekeeping and Ground Maintenance Service Grant with Semi-Annual Up-Front Payment Rev 1.1

http://www.scribd.com/doc/118225678/VAC-Q-A-VIP-Housekeeping-and-Ground-Maintenance-Service-Grant-with-Semi-Annual-Up-Front-Payment-Rev-1-1

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You can view the full announcement by following this link:
http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=7659.0

Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

New announcement: Project Healing Waters Canada - Projet des Eaux curatives par la pêche à la mouc

Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing Canada is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled military personnel and veterans and other Canadians suffering physical or psychological injury as a result of their service to Canadians through fly fishing and fly tying education and outings.

http://projecthealingwaters.ca/media-content/03212010-PHWFFC-Brochure.pdf


Le Projet des Eaux curatives par la pêche à la mouche du Canada est dévoué à la réadaptation physique et émotionnelle des soldats canadiens,
vétérans et canadiens blessés. Il vise l'enseignement des principes de la pêche à la mouche et la fabrication de mouches.

http://projecthealingwaters.ca/media-content/LeProjectdesEauxCurativesduCanadaBrochure.pdf

Web Site: http://projecthealingwaters.ca/

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http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=7547.0

Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

Friday, December 14, 2012

New announcement: Update on VRAB Improvement - TACRA Mise a Jours des Améliorations

[La version française suit]

Dear Colleague:

As Chairman of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board, I would like to update you on recent progress to improve the appeal program for Veterans, members of the Canadian Forces and RCMP, and their families.

First, let me say that we have accepted the recommendations of the recent report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs on the Board's activities and are working to implement them. I believe that the Board provides value to applicants and their families – but that we can, and must, do more to serve them. The report's 13 recommendations touch on areas of key importance to applicants and to the Board, including independence, decision-making, training, outreach, transparency and service delivery. These are in need of immediate attention and improvement and we look forward to updating you further on our progress within the next year.

I also want to update you on recent improvements in the five key areas of our Action Plan response to the Veterans Ombudsman's May report.
First, the Board has set meaningful performance targets in its 2012-13 Report on Plans and Priorities (tabled in November 2012). We will report on the outcomes of judicial reviews in 2013 and are now piloting new criteria to measure fair hearings and quality decisions for reporting in 2014 and beyond.

Second, the Board has implemented a new decision writing checklist to ensure that all decisions have clear, concise and well-organized reasons. A plain language review of decisions was also carried out and the changes were well-received by Veterans in feedback sessions coordinated by the Royal Canadian Legion. Of particular note is a new plain language explanation of the "benefit of the doubt" clause for all decisions and a clear requirement that Board members explain how they have applied section 39 in every case.

Third, the Board is improving the transparency of its decision-making. In May 2012, we began publishing Noteworthy Decisions on our Web site; there are now more than 70 decisions posted. These are full-text, depersonalized decisions that demonstrate how the Board has applied the law in individual cases. More Noteworthy Decisions are in various stages of the publishing process. We have also added new resources to our Web site and reorganized it to make it more user-friendly.

Fourth, the Board is leading a Task Force with Veterans Affairs Canada to review Federal Court decisions. The Task Force has held two meetings to date; at its most recent, it began a discussion about the Federal Court's guidance on benefit of the doubt and how improvements may be made in both organizations to enhance service delivery to applicants.

Finally, the Board is giving priority treatment to cases returned by the Federal Court for a new hearing. Since June 2012, the Board has been piloting a proactive approach to scheduling these cases. A new Case Coordinator is also working closely with applicants, representatives, and Board members and staff to monitor these files at all steps in the process.

I also wanted to share with you the news of four new appointments to the Board. These new members bring with them a wealth of military and medical experience and are welcome additions to the Board. They are currently participating in our 12-week training program on the legislation, administrative law, the weighing of evidence, military issues, medical conditions, the conduct of hearings and decision writing. The Board has recently made improvements to this program by incorporating more mentoring for new members with experienced members as well as presentations from the CF and RCMP about their culture and operations.

In closing, please accept my assurances that the Board has made, and will continue to make, improvements to better serve Veterans, members of the CF and RCMP, and their families. It is my intent to meet with you in the New Year to share information and, as always, hear from you about what is important to your organization.

Best wishes to you and yours this holiday season.

Yours truly,

John D. Larlee
Chair, Veterans Review and Appeal Board
******************
Cher collègue :

En tant que président du Tribunal des anciens combattants (révision et appel), j'aimerais vous mettre à jour sur nos progrès récents pour améliorer le programme d'appel pour les anciens combattants, les membres des Forces canadiennes et de la GRC, et leur famille.

En premier, je voudrais dire que nous avons accepté toutes les recommandations du rapport récent du Comité permanant des anciens combattants au sujet des activités du Tribunal, et nous travaillons à les mettre en oeuvre. Je crois que le Tribunal apporte de la valeur aux demandeurs et à leur famille – mais que nous pouvons, et devons, en faire plus pour les servir. Le rapport présente 13 recommandations d'améliorations par rapport à des enjeux d'importance pour les demandeurs et le Tribunal, y compris l'indépendance, la prise de décision, la formation, la sensibilisation, la transparence et la prestation des services. Elles ont besoin d'une attention immédiate et des améliorations, et nous avons hâte de faire le point sur nos progrès pendant l'année prochaine.

J'aimerais aussi vous informer des améliorations récemment apportées relativement aux cinq principaux secteurs de notre Plan d'action en réponse au rapport de l'Ombudsman des vétérans publié en mai.

Tout d'abord, le Tribunal s'est fixé des indicateurs valables du rendement dans son Rapport sur les plans et les priorités 2012-2013 (déposé en novembre 2012). Nous rendrons compte des résultats des contrôles judiciaires en 2013. Nous mettons actuellement à l'essai de nouveaux critères pour mesurer l'équité des audiences et la qualité des décisions en vue de l'établissement de rapports pour 2014 et les années subséquentes.
Deuxièmement, le Tribunal a mis en oeuvre une nouvelle liste de vérification des décisions afin de s'assurer que toutes les décisions font état de motifs clairs, concis et présentés dans un ordre logique. Nous avons également procédé à une vérification des décisions pour s'assurer qu'elles utilisaient un langage clair et simple, et les changements apportés ont été bien reçus par les vétérans qui ont participé aux séances de rétroaction coordonnées par la Légion royale canadienne. Je tiens particulièrement à souligner la nouvelle explication, en langage simple, de la clause du « bénéfice du doute » pour toutes les décisions et une exigence clairement définie selon laquelle les membres du Tribunal doivent expliquer comment ils ont appliqué les dispositions de l'article 39, et ce, dans tous les cas.

Troisièmement, le Tribunal accroît la transparence de son processus décisionnel. En mai 2012, le Tribunal a commencé à publier des Décisions dignes de mention sur son site Web ; plus de 70 décisions y sont maintenant affichées. Il s'agit de décisions intégrales et dépersonnalisées qui montrent comment le Tribunal a appliqué la loi dans différentes causes. D'autres décisions en sont à différentes étapes du processus de publication. Nous avons aussi réorganisé notre site Web pour le rendre plus convivial et y publié d'autres nouvelles ressources.

Quatrièmement, Le Tribunal dirige un groupe de travail avec Ancien Combattants Canada afin d'examiner les décisions de la Cour fédérale. À date, le groupe de travail s'est réuni deux fois. Lors de sa plus récente réunion, il a entrepris de discuter des directives de la Cour fédérale traitant des dispositions relatives au bénéfice du doute et comment des améliorations peuvent être faites dans les deux organisations afin d'améliorer la prestation des services aux demandeurs.

Enfin, le Tribunal accorde un traitement prioritaire aux cas renvoyés par la Cour fédérale pour une nouvelle audience. Depuis juin 2012, le Tribunal tente une approche proactive pour la planification de ces audiences. Un nouveau coordonnateur de cas travaille également en étroite collaboration avec les demandeurs, leurs représentants et les membres et le personnel du Tribunal pour surveiller ces dossiers à toutes les étapes du processus.

Je voulais aussi partager avec vous les quatre nouvelles nominations au Tribunal. Ces nouveaux membres apportent avec eux une richesse d'expérience militaire et médicale, et sont bien accueillis au Tribunal. Ils suivent actuellement notre programme de formation de 12 semaines sur la législation, le droit administratif, l'appréciation de la preuve, les questions militaires, les conditions médicales, la tenue des audiences et la rédaction des décisions. Le Tribunal a récemment apporté des améliorations à ce programme de formation en incorporant plus de mentorat pour les nouveaux membres avec des membres expérimentés, ainsi que des présentations de la FC et de la GRC au sujet de leur culture et activités.
En conclusion, veuillez accepter mes assurances que le Tribunal a apporté, et continuera d'apporter, des améliorations pour mieux servir les anciens combattants, les membres des FC et de la GRC, et leurs familles. C'est mon intention de vous rencontrer au cours de la nouvelle année pour partager des informations et, comme toujours, d'être à l'écoute de vous et des sujets d'importance pour votre organisation.

Je vous souhaite mes meilleurs voeux à vous et à vos proches en cette période des Fêtes.

Veuillez agréer l'expression de mes sentiments distingués.

John D. Larlee
Président, Tribunal des anciens combattants (révision et appel)

http://www.scribd.com/doc/116900361/VRAB-Stakeholder-Update

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You can view the full announcement by following this link:
http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=7539.0

Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: Pension Contributions Increase: Will Canadian Forces Members Be Able To Opt Out Of The Pension Plan?

Pension Contributions Increase: Will Canadian Forces Members Be Able To Opt Out Of The Pension Plan?

By David Pugliese
Defence Watch
Defence Watch received a CANFORGEN on CF member pension contributions expected to go up. Here is the CANFORGEN I posted earlier today:
CANFORGEN 238/12 CMP 113/12 121812Z DEC 12
REG F PENSION CONTRIBUTION RATES

UNCLASSIFIED…
Source: Pension Contributions Increase: Will Canadian Forces Members Be Able To Opt Out Of The Pension Plan?

CANFORGEN 238/12 CMP 113/12 121812Z DEC 12

REG F PENSION CONTRIBUTION RATES
UNCLASSIFIED

THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA IS COMMITTED TO KEEPING TAXES LOW AND RETURNING TO A BALANCED FEDERAL BUDGET. BILL C-45 TITLED QUOTE JOBS AND GROWTH ACT, 2012 UNQUOTE WHICH INCLUDES PENSION REFORM INITIATIVES, IS CURRENTLY BEFORE PARLIAMENT. THE ACT CONTAINS PENSION REFORM INITIATIVES FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE, THE RCMP AND THE CF PENSION PLANS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CANFORGEN IS TO INFORM CF MEMBERS OF ANTICIPATED INCREASES TO PENSION CONTRIBUTION RATES

AS A RESULT OF THIS LEGISLATION, THE PUBLIC SERVICE PENSION CONTRIBUTION RATES WOULD INCREASE ANNUALLY UNTIL A 50:50 SHARING OF PENSION COSTS BETWEEN PUBLIC SERVANTS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS ACHIEVED. THERE WILL ALSO BE SIMILAR INCREASES IN THE SHARE OF PENSION COSTS PAID BY REG F MEMBERS AND RESERVISTS UNDER PART 1 OF THE CF PENSION PLAN (FULL TIME). RATE INCREASES, WHICH WILL BE THE SAME FOR ALL THREE PLANS, ARE INTENDED TO BEGIN FOR 2013

THE ACT ALSO INTRODUCES AN INCREASE IN RETIREMENT AGE FOR PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEES AND MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. THE RETIREMENT AGES FOR CF MEMBERS AND THE RCMP REMAINS THE SAME

A CANFORGEN WITH THE SPECIFIC CONTRIBUTION RATES WILL BE ISSUED ONCE THEY ARE APPROVED BY TREASURY BOARD MINISTERS

SIGNED BY RADM A. SMITH, CMP

But not everyone is happy about this development. I received a number of emails from Defence Watch readers in the Canadian Forces expressing their anger. This one came in from a military member who took issue with Defence Minister Peter MacKay and his continued claims of being concerned for the troops. Here is what that individual writes:

"He's so concerned about his troops but on the very same day, to ensure it won't get any attention, CMP issues the CANFORGEN announcing increases to pension contributions by members of the CF. Essentially a pay cut.Yeah, he's really concerned about our well-being."

And then there is this one:

"Hi David, CF members currently contribute 33 cents for every pension dollar, with the taxpayer contributing the other 66 cents. Public servants, by comparison, contribute 36 cents for every dollar. In either case, this is a fairly hefty payroll deduction. Members are now asking whether they can opt-out of the government's pension plan and invest their money on their own. That would leave individuals with the personal choice to invest their money with their own objectives and risk tolerance, without interference from the government."

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http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=7533.0

Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

Friday, December 7, 2012

New announcement: Deck Fall Presentation Veterans Ombudsman - St Jean

Veterans Ombudsman Presentation St Jean

English: http://www.scribd.com/doc/115990569

French http://www.scribd.com/doc/115990564

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Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: The Guide / Le Guide (Benefits, Programs, Services for Serving & Former CF Mem

The Guide / Le Guide (Benefits, Programs, Services for Serving & Former CF Members & Families) // Prestations, programmes, services pour militaires et retraités des FC et familles

English http://www.scribd.com/doc/115969089

Francais http://www.scribd.com/doc/115969084

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You can view the full announcement by following this link:
http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=7389.0

Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

New announcement: Message on behalf of Peter Stoffer, Official Opposition for Veterans Affairs

From: peter.stoffer.a1@parl.gc.ca
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 9:06 AM
Subject: message from Peter Stoffer MP on veterans concerns

This message is sent on behalf of Peter Stoffer, Official Opposition for Veterans Affairs

Dear friends,

The other day at a meeting of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, Eve Adams, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, offered to assist all veterans' having difficulty with any program or service with Veterans Affairs Canada.

Ms. Adams said, "Mr. Godin, you indicated that you've got all sorts of case files at your constituency office. I would implore you to send them to us."

As Ms. Adams is the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, we can only assume that she is more than willing to help you as she stated above. The Conservative government really believes that everything is fine with veterans and their families. But as you know, many veterans and their families have difficulty obtaining assistance or accessing veterans' programs and services.

I would encourage you to take Ms. Adams up on her offer and contact her office for assistance with any of your concerns. Please let her know about any difficulties or concerns you have with veterans programs or services. Be persistent as she has said that she wants to help. Please also pass this message along to your contacts.

Ms. Adams can be reached at the following contact information.

Eve Adams, MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6
Phone: 613-995-7784
Fax: 613-996-0917
Email: eve.adams@parl.gc.ca
OR: Constituency Office: 4870 Tomken Road, Unit 7
Mississauga, Ontario L4W 1J8
Phone: (905) 625-1201
Fax: (905) 625-1485

Sincerely,
Peter Stoffer, MP, Sackville-Eastern Shore
Office of Peter Stoffer, MP | Bureau du député Peter Stoffer
Official Opposition Critic for Veterans Affairs | Le Porte-Parole de l'Opposition Officielle pour Les Anciens Combattants.
New Democratic Party | Nouveau Parti démocratique
______________________________________________________

2900 Hwy #2 Fall River, NS B2T 1W4
Phone: (902) 861-2311 | Email: stoffp0@parl.gc.ca
CEP 232
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Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.