Canadian Veterans Advocacy

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Canadian Veterans Advocacy Situation Report - BUDGET 2013 - Last Post Burial Fund.

CVA supporters will recall the dedicated effort the CVA executive put forth while in Ottawa and Trenton during Remembrance Week 2012 and I am pleased to note that this years budget addresses this issue by increasing the dispensation to 7400 dollars. Naturally, the Advocacy was not alone and I would take this opportunity to convey CVA compliments to Gordon Moore, Dominion President, Royal Canadian Legion and his team for their pro-active posture on this issue. We also acknowledge the consistent efforts of Peter Stoffer, NDP Veterans critic, Sean Casey, Liberal veterans critic and to Minister of Veterans Affairs Steven Blaney for listening to our collective voices and seeking resolutions, at least on the financial level, through this years budget.
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy, however, continues to bear serious concerns about the Last Post Fund's restrictive criteria, particularly in the sense of exclusion of deceased veterans who did not serve in WW2 and Korea yet who's families require financial assistance for a dignified internment. We are gravely concerned about the current Means Test and the formula responsible for the denial of two thirds of applicants and will continue to address this situation until we have resolved these outstanding issues through dialogue and engagement.
One Veteran - One Standard.
CVA Refresher - Last Post Burial Fund Operations - Remembrance Week 2012. Bear in mind that many reports are published nation wide through syndication and that over this period, our message was delivered to the government and the Canadian public by newspaper, radio, television and the Internet medium, platforms that provided awareness to millions of Canadians. Here is but a small sample.

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/pm-says-veterans-programs-under-review-amid-controversy-over-funeral-fund-1.1033138
http://video.theloop.ca/watch/funeral-funds-for-veterans/1960817512001#.UUtlCFc40ZE
http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/pressure-mounts-over-funeral-fund-rejections-for-poor-veterans-1.1025199
http://www.citynews.ca/2012/11/06/burial-fund-for-poor-veterans-rejects-two-thirds-of-applications/
http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/canada/163030-blaney-defends-veterans-burial-fund

Pro Patria Semper Fidelis

Michael L Blais CD
Founder/President, Canadian Veterans Advocacy
6618 Harper Drive, Niagara Falls, Ont, Cda.
L2E 7K6 // 905-357-3306 // Cell 905-359-9247


Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php

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