ACVA Committee Report

SUPPLEMENTARY OPINION OF THE OFFICIAL OPPOSITION

The Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs on
Depleted Uranium and Canadian Veterans, May 2013

New Democrats would like to thank the many witnesses who appeared before the committee for the study on Depleted Uranium and Canadian Veterans. New Democrats support the findings of this report but believe that the report’s recommendations must be strengthened.

Currently, Recommendation 3 states:

That Veterans Affairs Canada consider introducing a flexible mechanism that would make it possible to assess the connection between military service and certain medical conditions whose causes are complex, difficult to identify or poorly understood (p.53).

As it currently appears in the report, Recommendation 3 provides little comfort to veterans’ with complex, difficult, or poorly understood health problems battling Veterans Affairs Canada for access to benefits and services.  Offering a “flexible mechanism” is not enough to ensure that veterans’ with complex health difficulties will get assistance from Veterans Affairs Canada. Veterans including Steve Dornan, Pascal Lacoste, Louise Richard, and many others should not have to jump through hoops, fight for benefits, or be denied access to help due to poorly understood or complex illnesses likely attributable to military or RCMP service.

Therefore, New Democrats suggest these lines be added to Recommendation 3:

When a veteran with complex, difficult, or poorly understood medical conditions applies to Veterans Affairs Canada with a medical opinion that indicates their illness is likely attributable to military or RCMP service, VAC must apply generosity in offering appropriate services and benefits. 

Furthermore, New Democrats suggest that the report include a fourth recommendation:

Recommendation 4:  That the federal government continue with further study and research on depleted uranium exposure (DU) and Canadian veterans. 

In conclusion, New Democrats want the report’s recommendations strengthened in order to ensure that the men and women of the Canadian Forces and RCMP that suffer from complex, difficult, or poorly understood illnesses or conditions likely attributable to service are well taken care of and eligible for benefits and services from Veterans Affairs Canada. 

Respectfully submitted,

Peter Stoffer, MP, Sackville-Eastern Shore, Official Opposition Critic for Veterans Affairs

Sylvain Chicoine, MP, Chateauguay-Saint-Constant, Official Opposition Deputy Critic for Veterans Affairs

Irene Mathyssen, MP London-Fanshawe

Manon Perreault, MP, Montcalm