New announcement: Military justice system needs reform, lawyer argues

Military justice system needs reform, lawyer argues

David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen More from David Pugliese, Ottawa Citizen
Published on: April 30, 2015
Last Updated: April 30, 2015 7:24 PM EDT

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/politics/military-justice-system-needs-reform-lawyer-argues

The Canadian Forces' efforts to deal with sexual assault and harassment in the ranks won't be effective until the military justice system is overhauled, says an Ottawa lawyer who specializes in such cases.

"You do not have an independent military justice system or police force," said Michel Drapeau, who has represented 65 military members in sexual assault and harassment cases over the last decade. "People do not trust that system."

But Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Tom Lawson said Thursday he has confidence in the military's current justice system. "Those who have come forward with (sexual misconduct) allegations have found that those allegations are well investigated," he stated.

Both were responding to a new report by Marie Deschamps, a former Supreme Court of Canada justice, who was asked by the military to examine sexual misconduct in the ranks. Deschamps' study was prompted by an investigation last year by l'Actualité and Maclean's that suggested there was rampant sexual assault in the military.

The Deschamps report determined that the military has an "underlying sexual culture" that is "hostile" to women and members of the gay community, and that leaves victims of sexual assaults and harassment to fend for themselves.

Drapeau doesn't expect much change in the situation even as the military vows to act. That's because the military's response does not include changes to the military justice and police system, he said.

Sexual assault victims in the military have complained that military police did not take their concerns seriously, or that their immediate supervisors were informed about their complaints, resulting in retribution.

Drapeau said that in 1998, a change in the National Defence Act gave the military justice system sole jurisdiction over sexual assault and other serious crimes. Even if a civilian is assaulted on military property, civilian police and prosecutors are not involved, he added. "Until that time they had to call in civilian police," Drapeau explained.

In cases of harassment and lesser forms of sexual misconduct, the decision on whether there will be any punishment is up to a commanding officer, Drapeau noted. The result is a cosy system that aims at protecting the Canadian Forces "brand" instead of dealing with justice, he argues.

Deschamps acknowledged Thursday that sexual assault and harassment victims don't trust their chain of command. As a result, many incidents of sexual misconduct are not reported, her report noted.

"First and foremost, interviewees stated that fear of negative repercussions for career progression, including being removed from the unit, is one of the most important reasons why members do not report such incidents," Deschamps' report found. "Victims expressed concerns about not being believed, being stigmatized as weak, labeled a trouble-maker, subjected to retaliation by peers and supervisors, or diagnosed as unfit for work."

Drapeau expects only "cosmetic changes" to result from the report.

But Lawson said the military's chain of command has been trained to look after victims of sexual misconduct and that people should trust the current system.

One of Drapeau's clients is Master-Cpl. Stéphanie Raymond, who was harassed and eventually booted from the military after she went to military police about being sexually assaulted by a fellow soldier. The first military police investigation was botched and Raymond had to fight to have it re-opened.

In December 2014, Lawson apologized to Raymond, and admitted she had been poorly treated by senior officers. Lawson also admitted the documents used to fire Raymond contained falsified information.

NDP defence critic Jack Harris said consideration should be given to reversing the 1998 decision that allows military justice system and military police jurisdiction over sexual assaults. "That's been an unmitigated disaster for women," said Harris. "I don't have a lot of confidence anything will change."

dpugliese@ottawacitizen.com

Twitter.com/davidpugliese

------------

Michel W. Drapeau
4 hrs · Edited ·

Le 30 avril 2015. Mme Stéphanie Raymond et Me Michel W. Drapeau sont interviewés par madame Anne - Marie Dussault au Programme 24 heures en 60 minutes concernant le rapport de Madame la juge à la retraite Marie Deschamps. Le système de justice militaire est sévèrement critiqué.
http://ici.radio-canada.ca/widgets/mediaconsole/medianet/7281094

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Assault victims sought legal protection from military college dismissal: lawyer
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/assault-victims-sought-legal-protection-from-military-college-dismissal-lawyer/article24203562/?fb_action_ids=10205725303146600&fb_action_types=og.shares

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Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: Canadian soldiers unprepared for the reality of killing, retired officer warns

Canadian soldiers unprepared for the reality of killing, retired officer warns

National Post, Tom Blackwell | April 30, 2015 | Last Updated: Apr 30 12:40 AM ET
More from Tom Blackwell | @tomblackwellNP

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-soldiers-unprepared-for-the-reality-of-killing-retired-officer-says

The aftermath of his troops' first firefight in Afghanistan was a rude awakening for Dave Quick.

Clearly, the soldiers were superbly equipped for the physical demands of their combat "christening," but when the Canadians approached the insurgents they had just killed, that level-headed confidence seemed to crumble.

Some giggled nervously, gagged or trembled at the sight.

"In those instances around the dead, they looked like insecure little kids," says Quick, who commanded a Royal Canadian Regiment company that would see numerous firefights over the next six months. "Their voices changed, their hands were — some of them — shaking."

It was a harbinger of the emotional fallout — including deep unease over experiencing actual sexual arousal during combat — that many of Quick's soldiers would feel around their core business: killing the enemy.

Intense training made them effective at taking Taliban lives, but never prepared them for the psychological aftereffects, the now-retired officer details in a surprising, unpublished master's thesis for the National Defence Department's staff college.

As hundreds of Afghanistan veterans grapple with mental-health troubles, and Canadian troops are again seeing action in a far-off land, Quick says training needs to ready infantry troops for what they may feel after they kill — as well teaching them how to do it efficiently.

"Armies succeed in tricking soldiers into killing with modern training methods," he wrote in his thesis. "[But] I realized that I had failed to prepare my soldiers properly when I watched them react to the realization that they had killed a man for the very first time."

Quick, 41, has since retired as an army lieutenant colonel and is starting a new career in the somewhat tamer world of investment banking. He and his troops had lots of experience with inflicting death, however.

During a six-month stint in 2007 — assigned to ferret Taliban out of Zhari District west of Kandahar city — they had 24 planned operations and many other impromptu ones with "lethal effect."

I briefly met Quick, then a major, when I joined India Company on one of its operations in the district's atypically muggy and jungle-like farmland. Padding around in sandals and T-shirt between missions, the engaging, boyish-looking native of Trenton, Ont., seemed almost as much surfer dude as crack combat leader.

Remarkably, all 400 of his soldiers went home alive, a feat that helped earn him the Star of Military Valour, second only to the Victoria Cross in Canadian military honours.

But he clearly remains disturbed that a quarter were injured both psychologically and physically.

Across the army, it is estimated that hundreds of Afghan veterans are suffering some kind of "operational stress injury," the blame often attributed to the trauma of being severely injured or seeing friends hurt.

The impact of having to kill others has received relatively little attention.

That impact was hard to avoid during the in-your-face combat Quick and his troops fought in Zhari. Their opponents set off bombs that killed and maimed indiscriminately, terrorized civilians and pushed an uncompromising, harsh brand of Islam. Yet the fighters themselves were often no more than 17, frequently jacked up on stimulants and, dead on the battlefield, seemed less than fearsome.

"They're not like our kids. They're not strong, well-nourished people … They're teeny," says Quick. "When you see them laying there, it's surreal. They're little, frail drug addicts."

After that first firefight, he made sure that the soldiers who did the kills would not have to "process" the same bodies — remove material that could offer up intelligence and place them in body bags.

Yet even when there was no direct link between killing and the resultant corpse, the act resonated.

Fighting was so close, one of Quick's captains dropped a grenade over a wall and virtually on top of a Talib. A Canadian sniper had to shoot an insurgent high on drugs repeatedly from close range to bring him down.

"The intimacy was always there," Quick says. "There was very much a connection, listening to them change magazines, listening to them talk while you're sneaking up on them. Listening to the prayers. It's not a target at that point, it's not a paper target."

VIDEO: http://cdnbakmi.kaltura.com/p/1698541/sp/169854100/thumbnail/entry_id/1_iaqycar1/version/100001/acv/231/width/620/height/348

One time, they discovered a slain Taliban commander had been recording his own voice as the Canadians converged on his position. "He was speaking as a commander and at the same time giving thanks to Allah and finding peace. Until there was no more talking."

Quick says some soldiers were "very freaked out" after experiencing a bizarre side effect of combat: sexual arousal during firefights that can include erections.

Others, including a devout Christian who seemed to be questioning his faith, just "really wrestled" with having to kill.

One of Quick's platoon commanders, Eddie Jun, now a major, agrees that the killing could be difficult, though he says negative thoughts tended to form after the fact.

"It was very chaotic, especially when there's bullets flying at you. You're almost numb," he says. "An act of killing while you're doing that, you don't really think about it until you come back and wind down."

Related
NDP defence critic calls for Ottawa to do more to help 'alarming' number of soldiers battling PTSD
Military's 'stiff upper lip' attitude over PTSD needs to stop, Governor-General David Johnston says
John Ivison: Canadian military quick to leave behind soldiers suffering from PTSD
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Still, he questions whether instruction about the possible emotional reverberations of killing — only one part of combat's sensory "overload" — would be valuable. To stave off operational-stress injuries, he favours inoculating soldiers to the "battlefield effect" by having more realistic live-fire training exercises.

It appears the military is addressing some of Quick's concerns in its mental-readiness training — to a point. The 30-minute "psychological preparation" module includes "understanding the complications of combat and killing," and "common reactions to killing and adverse situations" — as well as eight other topics.

The ramifications of taking adversaries' lives may still be something of a taboo among Canada's professional warriors, but Quick believes there is no downside to airing the issue.

"I don't think you can make someone soft," he says. "Who you are, you bring to the battlefield. Modern warfare is not about being a Neanderthal. Modern warfare is being smarter than the enemy."

National Post

• Email: tblackwell@nationalpost.com

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The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: Coming Back Home

The journey to healing from service-related trauma: support and resources delivered with compassion and a good dose of corny humour.

Coming Back Home is meant to be a resource of information about service-related trauma. It's written for veterans, serving members of the armed forces, and their families and supporters. When possible, I try to write broadly enough to make the blog useful to other groups too – like law enforcement and first responders, and even civilians coping with mental health concerns.

The topics I cover will continue to be pretty diverse, based on reader feedback and my own thoughts about what needs to be discussed. I have previously written about depression, fear, relationship issues, parenting, childhood issues, military culture, sexual dysfunction, and anger, to name a few.

I don't pretend to know everything about everything; I will stick to writing about what I know. Most of the patients I work with are male, heterosexual veterans. Most of the readers who write to me to share their stories so I can learn from them are also male heterosexual veterans. If and when I learn enough about other groups to write knowledgeably about them, I will do so; in the meantime, I will do my best to keep my posts broad whenever I can, so that more readers might find them helpful.

My other goal is to learn as I go – so, if you see me write something that you disagree with, please feel more than welcome to let me know. I'll do what I can to continue to improve it.

ABOUT ME: I'm a licensed, practicing clinical and rehabilitation psychologist based in St. Catharines, Ontario. I co-direct a psychology clinic, Niagara Psychological Wellness, with Dr. Jason Ramsay.

I work with veterans, law enforcement officers, first responders, as well as with survivors of child abuse, violent crime, and intimate partner violence. In terms of approaches to treatment – I respect the needs and preferences of each individual patient, and don't impose my own goals on anyone. I'm trained in EMDR, and in my experience, I find it tremendously helpful for a lot of people dealing with complex trauma.

~ Dr. Dee Rajska, C. Psych.

http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/comingbackhome/

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The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: Will making nice with veterans be a case of too little, too late?

SCHNEIDEREIT: Will making nice with veterans be a case of too little, too late?

PAUL SCHNEIDEREIT
Published April 21, 2015 - 8:00pm
Last Updated April 21, 2015 - 8:11pm

http://thechronicleherald.ca/opinion/1281868-schneidereit-will-making-nice-with-veterans-be-a-case-of-too-little-too-late

When someone who's treated you badly starts being nice to you, it's human nature to wonder what they want.

But the federal Conservative government's more conciliatory approach on veterans' issues in 2015 is probably, in the eyes of many Canadian military vets, not all that great a mystery.

There's a federal election later this year.

And the Tories, in power since 2006, have found themselves uncomfortably running neck and neck with the Liberals in the polls for quite some time.

Of course, it could be simply a coincidence that, with an October vote looming, Prime Minister Stephen Harper decided in January to replace toxic former minister of Veterans Affairs Julian Fantino with personable Erin O'Toole, a former navigator with Canada's long-serving military Sea King helicopter fleet.

Likewise, the fact the new Veterans Affairs minister has been busy announcing improvements to services and benefits in recent months could have nothing to do with an upcoming election.

Your senses would have to be AWOL to believe that.

Veterans' groups seem pleased the new minister appears more willing to listen to their concerns than Fantino ever did. But I'm guessing that won't soon erase memories of the pitched battles vets have fought for years with this government and its minions.

Let's look back over just the last three years.

In 2012, an advocate for homeless vets, saying Veterans Affairs had "an insurance company mentality," accused them of denying troubled vets followup assistance for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A Federal Court judge blasted Ottawa for trying to try to claw back disability payments from pensions paid to disabled Canadian Forces veterans. Meanwhile, veterans ombudsman Guy Parent released a scathing report on departmental decisions on veterans' benefits, finding most were being overturned on appeal, despite an appeal process rife with procedural unfairness.

In 2013, protests greeted Veterans Affairs' plan to close nine regional offices, including one in Sydney, the following year. Parent released another report, this one showing that hundreds of seriously injured vets faced being impoverished at age 65 due to a lack of financial support available under the 2006 Veterans Charter. And Ottawa fought efforts to launch a class-action suit on behalf of Canada's Afghanistan vets that claimed the veterans charter was contravening their Charter rights.

Last year, despite large protests, the government closed the regional offices in early February. That was days after Fantino callously stood up a group of veterans who had travelled to Ottawa to meet him and pleaded the closures be stopped. The minister appeared long enough only to argue with the group and chide one man for shaking his finger in anger. Military ombudsman Pierre Daigle told a Senate committee the military was encouraging members to seek treatment for PTSD and mental health concerns, then dismissing many as unfit for deployment. Not surprisingly, many who needed help avoided asking, worried they'd not qualify for a military pension.

Meanwhile, government lawyers fighting the class action over the veterans charter actually argued there was no social contract between government and those who served our nation. Fantino eventually walked that unbelievable assertion back.

In November came news the Harper government had failed to spend $1.13 billion of the Veterans Affairs budget since 2006, a third of that total apparently instead going toward the deficit. At the same time, the federal auditor general reported Veterans Affairs wasn't meeting its legislated responsibility to ensure vets have timely access to needed care.

Then, last week, came more damning news. The Globe and Mail reported that while the Tories had cut more than 900 jobs from Veterans Affairs since 2009 — 23 per cent of the workforce — every year senior departmental staff warned, in ever stronger language, the cuts endangered their ability to meet the needs of veterans.

Despite this, O'Toole, who last week said the department would hire at least 200 new staff to work on disability claims and support services, claimed the new hires in no way were an admission previous cuts had gone too far.

Well, no. That would be like admitting recent announcements of better services and benefits for vets are an acknowledgement the Tories are worried their adversarial relationship with vets over the years might come back to haunt them this October.

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Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: Peter Stoffer, Bill C-58 and the three proposed new benefits for vets & famillie

Peter Stoffer, MP regarding Bill C-58 and the three proposed new benefits for veterans and their families

Please see the following note from Peter Stoffer, MP regarding Bill C-58 and the three proposed new benefits for veterans and their families

Last month, the federal government introduced new legislation (Bill C-58) that will provide three new benefits for veterans and their families under the New Veterans Charter. This proposed legislation will only apply to Canadian Forces veterans. It will not apply to RCMP veterans and their families as they do not fall under the New Veterans Charter.

I have reviewed the bill and participated in a briefing session by VAC departmental officials. In brief, the proposed bill will help some veterans and their families but the federal government could do much, much, more. As the bill will be reviewed by the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, I encourage you to send me your thoughts on this proposed legislation. I have attached the bill to this email for your information.

Please see a short summary of the proposed new benefits:

Retirement Income Security Benefit
The proposed new Retirement Income Security Benefit would provide monthly income support payment beginning at age 65 for disabled Canadian Veterans who are receiving the Earnings Loss Benefit due to being totally and permanently incapacitated as a result of their service to Canada. The Retirement Income Security Benefit would ensure that an eligible Veteran's total annual income is at least 70% of what he or she received in Veterans Affairs Canada financial benefits before age 65. Monthly payments would be calculated on a case-by-case basis, taking into account how much the Veteran was receiving before age 65 and other sources of income he or she may have beyond age 65. Veterans survivors are also eligible for the benefit. Departmental calculations estimate that by 2020, approximately 5,800 Veterans and survivors would qualify for the Retirement Income Security Benefit upon turning 65.

Critical Injury Benefits
This benefit will provide a $70,000 tax free award to support the most severely injured and ill Canadian Forces members and veterans. Veterans are eligible for the payment from 2006 forward under the New Veterans Charter. The Veterans Affairs Minister has estimated that more than 100 veterans injured since 2006 will receive this payment. The initiative is expected to cost about $200,000 annually if the current deployment situation remains the same. This means that only about two or three people a year would qualify.

Family Caregiver Relief Benefit
The proposed new benefit will provide veterans with an annual tax-free grant of $7,238. This benefit would allow relief options for the caregiver at home such as covering the cost of having a professional caregiver come into the home or covering the cost for another family member or friend to travel to the veteran's home. The new benefit is expected to provide relief to approximately 350 spouses or caregivers of the most seriously ill and injured Veterans by 2020.
Peter's Comments:

I will be pushing for changes to this proposed bill. Here are some of my thoughts:
• Increase the amount of the Retirement Income Security benefit from 70% to 100% of what the veteran received in VAC Financial benefits before age 65 to ensure the veteran's financial stability.
• Increase the family caregiver relief benefit. The current proposed amount of $7,238 per year is not enough, especially for those caregivers who have left their careers to take care of their veteran spouse. The amount of the family caregiver relief benefit should be similar to the attendant allowance available to those receiving a disability pension under the Pension Act.
• Provide an increase in the rates for the lump-sum disability award for ALL veterans along with the critical injury benefit.

I look forward to your feedback. As always, please include your phone number so I can call you personally.

Sincerely,
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

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The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: PRIVATE BILL (ONTARIO) PRIORITY FOR LONG TERM CARE FACILITY MODERN for VETS

CINDY FORSTER MPP WELLAND - PRIVATE BILL (ONTARIO) PRIORITY FOR LONG TERM CARE FACILITY MODERN for VETS

It's a private members bill that would essentially extend priority to modern day veterans to long term care beds in all long term care facilities in Ontario. I can forward you the link to the bill as soon as the Legislative Assembly puts it up on its website. I know this is something that Veterans have wanted and very much needed for a very long time. The current "class system" is not right and isn't fair to modern day vets who need long term care.

N.S. veterans' plight echoed nationwide
http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1280986-n.s.-veterans%E2%80%99-plight-echoed-nationwide

NDP calling for changes to federal policy regarding vets long-term care
http://globalnews.ca/news/1942665/ndp-calling-for-changes-to-federal-policy-regarding-vets-long-term-care/

Peter Stoffer urges Ottawa to open veterans hospitals to all vets
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/peter-stoffer-urges-ottawa-to-open-veterans-hospitals-to-all-vets-1.3035491

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 16, 2015

VETERANS DENIED ACCESS TO CARE WHILE BEDS SIT EMPTY

HALIFAX – Today, New Democrats joined veterans and their families to repeat their call for the federal government to allow all veterans access to Department of Veterans Affairs run hospitals and long-term care facilities across the country.

"Today there are over 10 empty beds at Camp Hill here in Halifax, yet these beds cannot be filled by post-Korea veterans due to strict eligibility criteria," said Peter Stoffer (Sackville—Eastern Shore), Official Opposition critic for Veterans Affairs.

Federal regulations limit eligibility to veterans long-term care centres like Camp Hill and Sunnybrook to only World War II and Korean War veterans. Veterans who served in the Canadian Forces "post-Korea" are not eligible for care at these types of facilities.

"A veteran is a veteran is a veteran. With empty beds, it makes sense to allow a younger generation of veterans' access to these exceptional veteran care centres," added NDP MP Robert Chisholm (Dartmouth—Cole Harbour).

The federal government is effectively downloading the cost of long-term care for this younger generation of veterans to the provinces. Veterans not eligible for a placement at Camp Hill turn to provincial long-term care facilities.

"The federal government has a responsibility and moral obligation to provide the same federally funded level of long-term care to all veterans, regardless of where and when they served," said NDP MP Megan Leslie (Halifax).

-30-

For more information, please contact:
Heather Finn, Press Secretary, 613-355-9940 or heather.finn@parl.gc.ca
Office of Peter Stoffer, MP 902-861-2311


POUR DIFFUSION IMMÉDIATE
16 avril 2015

DES ANCIENS COMBATTANTS PRIVÉS DE SOINS ALORS QUE DE NOMBREUX LITS SONT VIDES


HALIFAX – Les néo-démocrates se joignent aux anciens combattants et à leurs familles afin de demander au gouvernement fédéral de permettre à tous les anciens combattants d'avoir accès aux hôpitaux et aux établissements de soins de longue durée gérés par le ministère des Anciens Combattants.

« Aujourd'hui, plus de 10 lits sont vides à Camp Hill à Halifax. Or ces lits ne peuvent pas être occupés par d'anciens combattants post-guerre de Corée en raison d'exigences d'admissibilité trop sévères », a affirmé le porte-parole du NPD en matière d'anciens combattants, Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Eastern Shore).

Les règlements fédéraux limitent l'accès aux centres de soins de longue durée tels que Camp Hill et Sunnybrook aux vétérans de la Seconde Guerre mondiale et de la guerre de Corée. Les anciens combattants qui ont servi dans les Forces canadiennes après la guerre de Corée n'ont pas accès à ces établissements.

« Un ancien combattant est un ancien combattant, point final. Si les lits sont vides, pourquoi ne pas permettre aux générations plus jeunes d'anciens combattants de profiter de ces centres de soins exceptionnels ? », a ajouté le député du NPD, Robert Chisholm (Dartmouth-Cole Harbour).

Le gouvernement fédéral refile aux provinces les coûts liés aux soins de longue durée de la plus jeune génération d'anciens combattants. Les anciens combattants qui ne sont pas admissibles à Camp Hill se tournent vers les établissements de soins de longue durée de la province.

« Le gouvernement a le devoir moral d'offrir le même niveau de soins de longue durée à tous les anciens combattants, peu importe le lieu ou l'année où ils ont servi notre pays », a conclu la députée du NPD, Megan Leslie (Halifax).

– 30 –

Pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez communiquer avec : Heather Finn, attachée de presse, (613) 355-9940 ou heather.finn@parl.gc.ca

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Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: Nice Imprevements: New Features in My VAC Account

New features in My VAC Account

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/e_services

New features have been added to My VAC Account:

1.More application forms – to help you apply online.

Application for Attendance, Clothing or Exceptional Incapacity Allowance (PEN6203)
This form can be submitted online

Exceptional Incapacity Allowance
If you are receiving a Disability Pension and are exceptionally incapacitated you may qualify for this tax-free monthly allowance. The amount of the allowance is based on the extent of the pain and loss of enjoyment or shortened life expectancy.

You may qualify for an Exceptional Incapacity Allowance if you are in receipt of:
a Disability Pension for condition(s) that total 98% or more; ORa Disability Pension and a Disability Award for conditions that total 98% or more; ORa Disability Pension and POW compensation that total 98% or more; ANDyou have an exceptional incapacity that is a result of, in whole or in part, the condition(s) for which you are receiving a disability benefit.
Note: you are not eligible to be awarded Exceptional Incapacity Allowance if you are eligible for the Permanent Impairment Allowance (PIA) (Opens a New Window).

Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is an additional tax-free monthly assistance to individuals who:have a Disability Pension of 1% or more or receive Prisoner of War compensation;are totally disabled; ANDneed help with activities of daily living; for example: bathing, eating, dressing etc.
Clothing Allowance
If you are receiving a disability benefit for a condition that causes wear and tear on your clothing or requires you to wear specially-made clothing, you may qualify for a monthly tax-free clothing allowance.

Questions
If you have any questions, please Contact us.Open Form
? Application for Career Transition Services (VAC606CAP)
This form can be submitted online.

What is Career Transition Services?

Veterans and survivors can get help finding civilian employment through the Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) Career Transition Services (CTS) Program. VAC will reimburse eligible Veterans and survivors for these services, up to a lifetime maximum of $1,000 (including taxes).

What services could I be reimbursed for?
Career assessmentsAptitude testingJob market analysisResume writingJob search skillsInterview techniquesIndividual career counsellingJob finding assistanceServices of a professional recruiter agentDo I Qualify?
? Application for Disability Benefits (PEN923AP)
This form can be submitted online

Disability benefits are financial payments provided to individuals who have a service-related disability.

To receive a disability benefit you must:
1. have a diagnosed medical condition or disability; and
2. be able to show that the condition or disability is related to your service.Open Form
? Application for Earnings Loss Benefit - Veteran (VAC610)
This form can be submitted online

The Earnings Loss Benefit is a taxable, monthly benefit that ensures your total income will be at least 75% of your gross pre-release military salary.

Do I Qualify?
? Application for Permanent Impairment Allowance/supplement (VAC608A)
This form can be submitted online

The Permanent Impairment Allowance (PIA) is a taxable, monthly benefit-payable for life. The allowance is provided when your career options have been limited because of a service-related illness or injury.

Do I Qualify? (Opens a New Window)Open Form
? Application for Supplementary Retirement Benefit - Veterans (VAC666)
This form can be submitted online

The Supplementary Retirement Benefit is a taxable, lump-sum benefit provided to individuals who were in receipt of Earnings Loss Benefits on a long term basis. It is provided in recognition of the lower pension plan contributions you may have made.

Do I Qualify?

Open Form
? Canadian Forces Income Support (CFIS) (VAC660)
This form is intended to enable Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) to determine what your rate of payment for the Canadian Forces Income Support (CFIS) should be, if any, for a specific month. You must complete this form and return it to us at the beginning of each month.

Single: You can complete and submit this form online.

Married or living common-law: You and your spouse or common-law partner must both sign this form. Please complete and print the form. You can then:
upload your signed form through My VAC Account, orsend it by mail, ordrop it off at one of our offices (see Contact section to find the office nearest you).Open Form
? Canadian Forces Income Support (CFIS) Benefit Initial Application - Veteran (VAC613)
Canadian Forces Income Support (CFIS) is a form of financial assistance administered by Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). Its purpose is to ensure that a qualified Veteran is provided with monthly income support to meet his/her basic needs while transitioning to civilian employment.

Do I Qualify?

Single or separated: You can complete and submit this form online.

Married or living common-law: You and your spouse or common-law partner must both sign this form. Please complete and print the form. You can then:
upload your signed form through My VAC Account, orsend it by mail, ordrop it off at one of our offices (see Contact section to find the office nearest you).Open Form
? Canadian Forces Income Support (CFIS) Benefit Subsequent Application - Veteran (VAC620)
A Veteran is entitled to make a subsequent application for the CFIS benefit as long as it is made within a pre-determined time period. This time period begins with the month immediately following the month the CFIS ceased to be payable, and ends 6 months later.

Single: You can complete and submit this form online.

Married or living common-law: You and your spouse or common-law partner must both sign this form. Please complete and print the form. You can then:
upload your signed form through My VAC Account, orsend it by mail, ordrop it off at one of our offices (see Contact section to find the office nearest you).Open Form
? Consent for Veterans Affairs Canada to Collect Personal Information from Third Parties (VAC928)

2.The Application for Career Transition Services is now presented as a guided web form. In the coming months, additional application forms will add similar guidance to further assist Veterans applying online.

3.Status tracking – you can now track applications for earnings loss benefits, and the Veterans Independence Program (VIP).

4.If you receive a disability pension, you can now update the status of your dependents through Your profile (note: this feature will be viewable for Veterans who receive a disability pension only).

5.Ability for you to organize your submitted forms and documents held on My VAC Account through the use of an archive button.

6.Additional benefits have been added to the summary of your services and benefits to allow for a full display of benefits you may be receiving from Veterans Affairs Canada.

7.Veterans Affairs is now beginning to send forms to Veterans electronically. Any forms sent to you in this manner will be found in Correspondence from VAC. Not all forms and letters sent from the Department are available electronically, but we will be adding more in the coming months. Ensure your communication preferences are set to receive an email alert when electronic correspondence becomes available.

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You can view the full announcement by following this link:
http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=15371.0

Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.