Veterans ombudsman calls for overhaul of transition process
The following are abridged remarks made to the Senate Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs on March 29: Wholesale change is needed to make the transition process from military to civilian life meet the needs of our veterans and their families. The time for tweaking is over; it’s time for re-engineering. Today, there are over 10,000 releases […]
Cycle of veteran crisis: allowing patients to manage system, what could go wrong?
OTTAWA—You arrive at the hospital. You have pain in your abdomen, you’re restless, and have an acute headache. You sit in the waiting room—waiting because there is no one at admissions. Eventually, another person on the other side of the waiting room gets up and approaches you. They give you a fist bump. You start talking. […]
Will budget 2017 help veterans?
OTTAWA—A year ago in The Hill Times, I challenged the status quo to “go beyond today’s ideas and shape tomorrow by clearly defining Veterans’ outcomes—the end results that we want to achieve—and figure out the steps needed to attain optimal results for Veterans and their families.” A year later, with the 2017 budget on the horizon, […]
After shootings, more questions than answers about care for veterans
As the daughter of a Second World War veteran, I listen to the horrifying reports of mass shootings perpetrated by current veterans and wonder why, when I was growing up, I didn’t hear of these kinds of events. Sure, there were those who turned to alcohol, but to murder? Luckily, my dad, who was nearly […]
Advocates demand feds step up help for veterans
Some veterans say they are angry with the government and say those who served need better support immediately to help deal with the trauma that so many struggle with. In the aftermath of an alleged murder-suicide in Nova Scotia last week, involving a man who was a veteran of the war in Afghanistan and his family, […]
Government has spent $4.3-million on apps since Liberals assumed office in November 2015
A watchdog group is urging the federal government to rethink its approach to mobile and web applications after finding that several internal digital products failed to attract large audiences, despite sizeable production costs. Aaron Wurdick, federal director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said Ottawa needs to develop comprehensive guidelines to structure the development of internal apps to […]
The angry veteran has been replaced by engaged stakeholder
OTTAWA—In November 2015, the federal Liberals were elected on a platform of change, and a campaign slogan of “real change for veterans.” On the veterans file, 2016 has seen dramatic change, with many new stakeholders being consulted, and newfound optimism emerging. Not all the problems have been fixed, but this is year one of a […]
Politics This Morning: All-party Special Committee on Electoral Reform to table its report
Today is Thursday, Dec. 1. Here’s what you should know before you start your day: The all-party Special Committee on Electoral Reform will be holding a press conference from 10:30-11:30 at the National Press Theatre to discuss the release of their report, which will be tabled at 10 a.m. The report will detail if, and […]
Don’t send peacekeepers into a mission they can’t complete
OTTAWA—Last summer, Chief of Defence Staff General Jonathan Vance announced that Canada would soon embark on a peacekeeping mission to Africa, and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan then confirmed it. They explained that this venture would involve approximately 600 troops, and cost an estimated $450-million. To date, despite multiple fact-finding trips to various hotspots on the […]
Maintain the momentum on public safety officer health research
This fall, the House Committee on Public Safety and National Security, tabled its first major report examining the mental health challenges that confront public safety employees in Canada. Led by a motion from Liberal MP Pam Damoff, the Committee studied the phenomenon of operational stress injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among public safety officers, […]
