ACVA Committee Report

In the spring of 2008, the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA) began its comparative study of veterans’ services offered by member countries of the Commonwealth and the G8. Over the past year the Committee heard from an extensive list of foreign government witnesses as well as officials from Veterans Affairs Canada. The Committee also visited Veterans Affairs Canada Department Headquarters in Charlottetown, P.E.I. to receive briefings on the various programs, services and benefits offered to veterans by the department. Throughout the entire study, committee members - knowing that no services and benefits system is without flaw - were impressed with how Canada supports veterans as compared to many of its Commonwealth and G8 counterparts.

Veterans are the backbone of our great nation - they deserve the best care and support that a government can provide. With veterans in our country ranging from the Second World War to modern day, it is imperative that our programs, services and benefits are flexible yet encompassing. With that in mind, in the context of our meetings, committee members worked diligently on the study and this unanimous report is testimony to that fact.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the witnesses who appeared before the Committee - their testimony added a rich and diverse view of how veterans around the world are being supported. I would like to thank committee members, both in the 39^th Parliament and current one, for their hard work. Special thanks go to Michel Rossignol, ACVA researcher and report compiler as well as ACVA Clerks, Erica Pereira and Catherine Millar.

“At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.”