On a day that is meant to allow people to thank veterans, Wellington Halton Hills MP Michael Chong said the federal government is working in a plan to fix the problems for injured veterans.
In 2005, parliament passed a bill that provided injured veterans with a lump sum payment of $276,000 instead of a pension. It received all party approval under the Liberal government of the day, and then was enacted into law by the Conservatives the following year.
Since then, it has become obvious the new system was not working. Veterans Ombudsman Pat Stogan has been fighting for changes. Wounded Veterans have also complained about long delays for compensation from Veterans Affairs and an uncaring bureaucracy that was unprepared for the influx of wounded veterans from the conflict in Afghanistan.
Parliament is now considering amending the Pension Benefits Act and the Pension Benefits Amendment Act, 2010.
A standing committee on finance and economic affairs will meet to consider the amendment.
The committee planned public hearings in Toronto on Nov. 17 and 24.
Interested people were asked to make an oral presentation or to send a written submission to the clerk of the committee.
An electronic version of the Bill is available at www.ontla.on.ca.
Chong said just prior to the Remembrance Day service in Salem on Nov. 11, “We’re working on it.”
He promised, “We’re going to fix it.”
