Announcements
Brian Forbes, Chair of the National Council of Veteran Associations and Chair of The War Amps Executive Committee has just published an informative article on the Pension for Life provisions on the Esprit de Corps website here http://espritdecorps.ca/perspectives-1/one-veteran-one-standard
The Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs (ACVA), after many months of study, has released its final report on the contentious Marriage after 60 provisions of the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act (“the gold digger’s clause”).
On balance, the report has a strong set of recommendations, particularly Recommendation 9 which calls for the Government of Canada to repeal the Marriage after 60 clause in the CFSA and the RCMP Superannuation Act. It goes on at some length to describe the nature of the calculation that should be applied to a newly amended form of pension legislation, effectively abolishing the Marriage after 60 prohibition.
Veteran’s Pensions Announcement
The pension indexation rate effective Jan. 1, 2023, will be increased to 6.3 per cent
Notice of the 2022 Annual General Meeting
The AFP/AAC Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday, December 12, 2022, at 11am EDT via Zoom.
NCVA Submission Calling for Budget Recognition of Disabled Veterans and Their Families
On behalf of the National Council of Veteran Associations in Canada, of which this Association is a member, this submission calling for budget recognition of disabled veterans and their families, has been sent to the Ministry of Finance.
One-time payment to persons with disabilities-update Aug 5, 2020
You do not have to apply for the one-time payment, it will automatically be issued to: holders of a valid disability Tax Credit certificate, and beneficiaries as at July 1, 2020 of Canada Pension Plan Disability Quebec Pension Plan Disability Pension, or one of the disability supports provided be Veterans Affairs Canada.
Details can be found here.
Financial support during COVID-19
This is to advise that the funding assistance to disabled persons in Canada, initially intended for those who qualify for the Disability Tax Credit, has been extended to veterans receiving disability benefits from Veterans Affairs Canada.
Details can be found in the news release from Employment and Social Development Canada
"Today, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, announced that the Government of Canada intends to propose legislation that would make the benefit available to more people and expand the one-time payment to include approximately 1.7 million Canadians with disabilities, who are recipients of any of the following programs or benefits:
- A Disability Tax Credit certificate provided by the Canada Revenue Agency;
- Canada Pension Plan disability benefit or Quebec Pension Plan disability benefit; and
- Disability supports provided by Veterans Affairs Canada.
The Government has shared draft legislative proposals that would facilitate these payments. If enacted, eligible Canadians would receive the payment automatically"
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) Veterans Affairs Emergency Fund
Veterans Affairs Emergency Fund. VAC are reaching out to all veterans to pass on the word that during this pandemic there are emergency funds available to veterans who find that they just
can't make ends meet! Call 1-866-522-2122 and inquire about their Veterans Affairs Emergency Fund. A grant of up to $10,000 can be made available within 48 hours of
application. VAC just advised that they are working on a new Business Process and direction to Veteran Service Agents and Case Managers on the VEF. The current exceptional circumstances is the rationale for providing the authority at the VSA/CM level to approve up to 10K based on the applicants financial need/financial gap during COVID 19 and up to July 2020. The criteria for VEF still applies and there mustbe a rationale for requesting the funds, it is not an automatic grant and the VSA/CM will review each application using needs based problem solving. If there are any other external government funds available that would provide the
solution, the applicant will be directed to the appropriate government department.
Veterans Affairs Emergency Fund
The VSA/CM can approve funding up to three months at a time, not to exceed 10K to fill a financial gap. The new BP has not been released yet but direction to VAC staff has been completed and they can accept applications with documentation via My VAC Account or contact VAC at 1-866-522-2122 for further direction.
Help us support the survivors of our comrades who married after 60 by taking part in this UBC rersearch project.
The purpose of this research is to characterize and begin to explain the social dimensions of the financial wellbeing of survivors of Veterans who entered marriage/common-law relationships with Veterans aged 60+. We anticipate that this study will form the basis for future work to evaluate existing family support strategies for survivors of Veterans, and to support the design of improved strategies. This study also aims to investigate the pattern of Veterans' second career paths following military service, and their financial well-being before and after retirement. We are anticipated to conduct around 30 in-depth semi-directed interviews which are designed to address specific questions while permitting the provision of additional unsolicited information and perspectives supplied by participants.
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) Launches and online consultation.
Posted on February 15, 2020
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) has launched an online consultation to learn how we can better communicate with and reach out to former Canadian Armed Forces members and their families. The Veteran Community Consultation is geared toward Veterans who do not currently receive benefits and services from VAC.
It is important that all former military members are aware of the benefits and services that VAC offers, and how to access those supports, even years after release. The findings of this consultation will help us improve the way we communicate with Veterans to better meet your needs. The online consultation will run until the end of March. In-person discussion groups will be organized in communities across Canada this spring.
Visit www.veteranconsultation.ca to participate in the consultation
75th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy
Posted on February 14, 2019
Veterans Affairs Canada has been in contact with NCVA,the Royal Canadian Legion and ANAVETS in regard to the upcoming 75th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy on June 6, 2019. Subsequently the NCVA have reached out to AFP/AAC.
VAC is organizing an overseas event as well as ceremonies in Canada, with the largest in-Canada events taking place in Halifax. They have asked all three major veterans’ organizations to assist in finding D-Day and Battle of Normandy veterans who would be willing (and medically able) to travel to these events. They have been asked to submit one list from all three organizations by the end of this month.
To that end, they would ask that any D-Day/Battle of Normandy veterans please contact their office as soon as possible. Even if you are not able to travel overseas, there will also be events in Canada (perhaps close to your home) in which you could participate.
Unfortunately, they do not have too much detail on the program of events so far. With regard to the overseas contingent, VAC plans to travel to France on June 3, with events running from June 4 to 8. The delegation will return to Canada on June 9. Participants will need to be approved for travel by their own doctors and by the VAC medical staff.
For the events in Halifax, VAC would like to have veterans arrive on June 4, with ceremonies to be held at the Citadel, Pier 21, and the sailors’ memorial at Point Pleasant Park on June 5 and 6, and return home on June 7. They are also setting up a partnership with VIA Rail to organize “departure ceremonies” at various train stations across the country in the months leading up to June 6. Boots will be placed on trains bound for Halifax, to represent the soldiers who travelled there before going overseas, and will be brought to the Citadel when they arrive in Halifax.
Should you wish to be involved, please contact Susan Trimble at the NCVA office at 1-800-465-2677, extension 2224. If she is not available, you can speak with Diane Presley at extension 2235. You can also reach them by email at ncva@waramps.ca. The deadline to submit interest is February 28, 2019
2019 Pension Rates
Posted on February 6, 2019
The Pension rate increase as of January 1, 2019, based on the Consumer Price Index, is 2.3% in accordance with Section 75 of the Pension Act.
Click here to learn more.
Help us support the survivors of our comrades who married after 60 by taking part in this UBC research project
The purpose of this research is to characterize and begin to explain the social dimensions of the
financial wellbeing of survivors of Veterans who entered marriage/common-law relationships with
Veterans aged 60+. We anticipate that this study will form the basis for future work to evaluate
existing family support strategies for survivors of Veterans, and to support the design of improved
strategies. This study also aims to investigate the pattern of Veterans' second career paths following
military service, and their financial well-being before and after retirement. We are anticipated to
conduct around 30 in-depth semi-directed interviews which are designed to address specific
questions while permitting the provision of additional unsolicited information and perspectives
supplied by participants. Read More
Pension Indexing Rate for 2019
Posted on December 6, 2018
At the end of each year, the Treasury Board provides the Association with information on the pension indexing increase that is effective on January 1st. The pension indexation rate effective January 1, 2019, is 2.2%. Information on the calculation of this index can be found on the Public Works and Government Services Canada website.
A message from the Surviving Spouses Pension Fairness Coalition
The NDP Private Member’s Bill needs your help!
Posted on June 13, 2018
As you may be aware, NDP MP Irene Mathyssen (London-Fanshawe) introduced a Private Member’s Bill (C-397) in February seeking change to the surviving spouse legislation. Since then both MP Mathyssen and the Coalition has been taking action to garner support for it.
The Coalition met with Conservative MP Dan Albas, a member of the important Standing Committee on Finance. They met for nearly two hours and provided MP Albas with material about the coalition’s goals as well as an in-depth financial analysis showing the real cost of the legislative change.
Other Conservative MPs are now aware of the unfair legislation having been contacted by their constituents during our mail campaign.
MP Irene Mathyssen has written to Scott Brison, President of the Treasury Board, reminding him that our country still has archaic and unfair legislation that denies pensions to surviving spouses. She also pointed out that the Liberals promised to take steps to undo the legislation but have done nothing.
How can you help?
The Coalition believes that the Liberal government must be reminded that the issue matters to all Canadians. Therefore they fully endorse the NDP petition urging government to support MP Irene Mathyssen’s Private Member’s Bill. They urge all parties to support the NDP Bill and hope you will help by collecting a few signatures from around your neighbourhood. Every name will help.
Here is a link to open the NDP petition.
If you wish to learn more, or to read the letter Irene Mathyssen sent to Scott Brison, please visit their website at: http://www.pensionfairness-sspfc.ca
Press Release/ OP-ED by Brian Forbes
Posted on February 21, 2018
Veterans Affairs Minister is entitled to his own opinion but not to his own facts/Government plan for lifelong pensions under New Veterans Charter fails to live up to Prime Minister’s commitment to Canada’s veterans.
Minister Seamus O’Regan is entitled to his own opinion but he is not entitled to his own facts. The Minister has suggested in his recent letter to the Hill Times and in public statements that no real financial disparity will exist between compensation paid to seriously disabled veterans under the Pension Act and the New Veterans Charter once his proposals, announced on December 20, 2017, take effect in April 2019. He has concluded in his analysis that only a $50.00 a month discrepancy will arise when comparing benefits under each statutory program.
With all due respect, the Minister is badly misinformed in this regard. A realistic comparison on an “apples to apples” basis reveals that a “significant disparity” will indeed continue to exist. It is essential in this context to recognize that the actual maximum amounts of compensation under each statutory regime will be as follows...
Click here to read more.
GOVERNMENT FAILS TO MEET VETERANS’ EXPECTATIONS REGARDING THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF “LIFELONG PENSIONS” UNDER NEW VETERANS CHARTER
January 2018
The National Council of Veteran Associations (NCVA) and The War Amps of Canada contend that Minister O’Regan’s announcement regarding the long-awaited “lifelong pension” has failed to live up to the Liberal government’s election commitment to address the inequities in the New Veterans Charter, and continues to ignore “the elephant in the room” which has overshadowed this discussion.
Minister O’Regan’s announcement suggested that the “pension for life” would include the following three “pillars”:
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The present lump sum Disability Award would be replaced by a new Pain and Suffering Compensation Benefit representing a monthly payment in the maximum amount of $1,150 per month for life or, alternatively, be provided in a lump sum payment as is currently the case. For those veterans currently in receipt of a Disability Award, retroactive assessment would potentially apply to produce a reduced monthly payment for life for such veterans.
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A new Additional Pain and Suffering Benefit would be created to essentially replace the Career Impact Allowance (Permanent Impairment Allowance) under the current Charter, with similar grade levels and monthly payments which would reflect a non-taxable non-economic benefit for veterans suffering a “…permanent and severe impairment which is creating a barrier to re-establishment in life after service.”.
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A new, consolidated Income Replacement Benefit (IRB), which is taxable, would combine four pre-existing benefits (Earnings Loss Benefit, Extended Earnings Loss Benefit, Supplementary Retirement Benefit, and Retirement Income Security Benefit) with a proviso that the IRB would be increased by one percent every year until the veteran reaches what would have been 20 years of service or age 60, and that any veteran who wishes to join the work force may also earn up to $20,000 from employment before any reduction will be made to their IRB payment.
Brian Forbes, Executive Chairman of The War Amps and Chairman of NCVA, stated that: “Although, as per usual, the devil remains in the details as to the applicability of these new provisions to individual veterans, it is relatively clear that certain seriously disabled veterans and their survivors will benefit from the Minister’s announcement in that they may qualify for enhanced levels of compensation pursuant to the new benefits proposed for the New Veterans Charter. However, the greater majority of disabled veterans will not be materially impacted by the Minister’s announcement in that the new benefits under the proposed legislative amendments will have limited applicability – thus the financial disparity between the Pension Act and the New Veterans Charter will continue for this significant cohort of disabled veterans in Canada.”
“Unfortunately, the Minister’s announcement perpetuates a result where the greater majority of veterans under the New Veterans Charter receive far less lifelong compensation than a veteran pursuant to the Pension Act with the same disability,” stated Forbes.
“It was fundamentally essential that the Minister recognize that much more is required to improve the New Veterans Charter so as to address the self-evident ’elephant in the room’ in that his announcement failed to satisfy the priority concerns of the veterans’ community in relation to:
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Resolving the significant disparity between the financial compensation available under the Pension Act and the New Veterans Charter;
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Ensuring that no veteran under the New Veterans Charter receives less compensation than a veteran under the Pension Act with the same disability or incapacity, in accordance with the “one veteran – one standard” principle.
“It is totally unacceptable that we continue to have veterans’ legislation in Canada which provides a significantly higher level of compensation to a veteran who was injured prior to 2006 (date of the enactment of the New Veterans Charter) when compared to a veteran who was injured post-2006. If applied to the Afghan conflict, we have veterans in the same war with totally different pension benefit results,” said Mr. Forbes.
The 2017 Federal Budget clearly stressed wellness and re-habilitation principles with the Government effectively “kicking the can down the road” in its promise of action on re-establishing a lifelong pension for veterans under the Charter by the end of the year. In this context NCVA/WAC recognizes the value and importance of wellness and rehabilitation policies, however, takes the position that financial security remains a fundamental necessity to the successful implementation of any wellness or rehabilitation program. It is readily apparent that this is not a choice between “wellness” and financial compensation as advanced by Veterans Affairs Canada but a combined requirement to any optimal reestablishment approach to medically released veterans.
During the course of discussions following Budget 2017 leading up to the Minister’s announcement, there was considerable concern in the veterans’ community that the government would simply establish an option wherein the lump sum payment (Disability Award) would be apportioned or reworked over the life of the veteran for the purposes of creating a “lifetime pension” as ostensibly required under the Mandate Letter. NCVA and other veteran stakeholders strongly criticized this proposition as being totally inadequate and not providing the lifetime financial security which was envisaged by the veterans’ community.
Forbes stated that “…it is fair to say that the reasonable expectation of veteran stakeholders was that some form of substantive benefit stream needed to be established which would address the financial disparity between the benefits received under the Pension Act and the NVC for all individually disabled veterans.”
“It has been our recommendation to the Minister and the department that VAC should pivot completely from this lump sum payment evaluation for delivering the so-called lifetime pension option and instead look to the major conclusions of the NCVA Legislative Program and the Ministerial Policy Advisory Group report – both of these reports proposed that the combination of the best provisions of the Pension Act and the best provisions of the NVC would produce this form of lifetime pension in a much more realistic manner in order to ensure the financial security for those veterans who need this form of monetary support through their lifetime.”
It is of significant relevance that the key recommendations of the Ministerial Policy Advisory Group (as endorsed by NCVA) would effectively produce a form of lifetime financial security – this report was submitted to Minister Hehr in the fall of 2016 and formally presented to the Veterans Summit in Ottawa in October 2016.
The Policy Advisory Group report concluded that “…the enhancement of the Earnings Loss Benefit/Career Impact Allowance as a single stream of income for life, the addition of Exceptional Incapacity Allowance, Attendance Allowance, and a new monthly family benefit for life will ensure all veterans receive the care and support they deserve when they need it and through their lifetime.”
“It is noteworthy that the Policy Advisory Group report emphasized that an enhanced Career Impact Allowance would be a key ingredient to New Veterans Charter reform in that a newly structured Career Impact Allowance should reflect the following standard of compensation: ‘…what would the veteran have earned in his or her military career had the veteran not been injured?’ This form of progressive income model, which would be unique to the New Veterans Charter, would have bolstered the potential lifetime compensation of a disabled veteran as to his or her projected lost career earnings as opposed to the nominal 1% increase proposed by the Minister.”
Forbes stated that “this overall proposal would effectively bridge the best parts of the Pension Act and the NVC and represents a good first step to addressing the selfevident disparity between the NVC and the PA insofar as compensation is concerned, and provides a form of ‘lifelong pension’ for those veterans who qualified for the benefit proposed in the model.”
Upon the election of the Liberal government in 2015, it was the fundamental expectation of the veterans’ community that this inequity would be rectified based on specific promises made by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the election campaign to reestablish a “lifelong pension” and in accordance with the formal commitment contained in the Mandate Letter from the Prime Minister to the former Minister of Veterans Affairs Kent Hehr in the Fall of 2015.
Following the Minister’s announcement today, Forbes stated “veterans have lost faith that the government will fulfill its commitment and eliminate the two distinct classes of benefits available to disabled Canadian Armed Forces members.”
“There is no reason that the federal government could not have implemented the recommendations made by veteran stakeholders and Ministerial advisory groups who have been advocating specific proposals for a number of years to address self-evident gaps and inequities in the New Veterans Charter,” Mr. Forbes added.
“If the ‘one veteran – one standard’ philosophy advocated by Veterans Affairs Canada has any meaning, this glaring disparity between the Pension Act and New Veterans Charter benefits for the greater majority of disabled veterans required that the Minister seize the moment and satisfy the financial needs of Canadian veterans and their dependants,” Mr. Forbes said. “The Minister has missed an opportunity to recognize that the longstanding social covenant between the Canadian people and the veterans’ community demands nothing less.”
Click here to view a PDF version of this announcement.
GOVERNMENT FAILS TO ADDRESS “ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM” REGARDING VETERANS’ BENEFITS
OTTAWA, November 9, 2017 -- The War Amps of Canada/ National Council of Veteran Associations (NCVA) contend that the Liberal Government has failed to live up to its commitment to fix the New Veterans Charter and has ignored the “elephant in the room” which has overshadowed this discussion.
Brian N. Forbes, Chairman of the Executive Committee of The War Amps and Chairman of NCVA, stated that it is fundamentally essential at this time that the Government recognize that much more is required to improve the New Veterans Charter, with particular emphasis on:
- Resolving the significant disparity between the financial compensation available under the Pension Act and the New Veterans Charter;
- Ensuring that no veteran under the New Veterans Charter receive less compensation than a veteran under the Pension Act with the same disability or incapacity, in accordance with the “one veteran – one standard” principle.
“It is totally unacceptable that we have veterans’ legislation in Canada which provides a significantly higher level of compensation to a veteran who was injured prior to 2006 [date of the enactment of the New Veterans Charter] when compared to a veteran who was injured post-2006. If applied to the Afghan conflict, we have veterans in the same war with totally different pension benefit results,” said Mr. Forbes.
Click here to view the full news release.
Notice of the 2017 Annual General Meeting
Posted on October 26, 2017
The AFP/AAC Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday December 6th, 2017 at 3:45 PM EDT by teleconference call. For those members wishing to participate, please contact us by calling 1-613-432-9491 or email us at admin@afpaac.ca to receive the call-in information. There will be no costs incurred for members to call-in.
A motion to approve the 2016 audit will be made at the AGM. The audit was conducted by Nephin Winter Bingley and subsequent draft financial statements were provided to the board. The auditor reported that, “In our opinion, these financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the balance sheet of Armed Forces pensioner’/Annuitants’ Association of Canada as at December 31, 2016 and its results of operations and its cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for not-for-profit organizations.” The financial statements are available to members upon request.
100th Anniversary Of the Battle of Vimy Ridge
As part of the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, there will be numerous commemorative events taking place at Vimy during the week of April 5 – 12, including the opening of the new Vimy Visitor Education Centre. Should you wish to attend this 100th anniversary ceremony, you must register prior to February 28, 2017 or you will not be permitted access to the site, due to heightened security restrictions. In addition to the tens of thousands of private citizens expected to attend, the Government of Canada, in conjunction with Veterans Affairs, will lead a delegation to France to participate in these solemn and important commemorative events.
Click here to register
Notice Of The 2016 Annual General Meeting
The AFP/AAC Annual General Meeting will be held on:
Thursday November 24th, 2016 at 1:00 PM EDT
by teleconference call.
For those members wishing to participate, please contact us by calling 1-613-432-9491 or send us an email at kaylafraser@afpaac.ca to receive the call-in information. There will be no costs incurred for members to call-in. A motion to approve the 2015 audit will be made at the AGM. The audit was conducted by Nephin Winter Bingley and subsequent draft financial statements were provided to the board. The financial statements are available to members upon request.
Annual Commemorative Ceremony
Canadian BattleField Tour (WWI & WWII)
Join the Legion’s Letter Writing Campaign
For more information about the Letter Writing Campain-New Veterans Charter check out this video
Letter Campain Video
ATTENTION ALL CURRENTLY SERVING AND FORMER MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN ARMED FORCES!
Posted on: September 24,2014
Westjet and Air Canada Enhanced Baggage Allowance
Memo: Submission to Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs
April 3, 2014
Submission by Brian N. Forbes on behalf of the National Council of Veteran Associations presented on April 1, 2014 to the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs in relation to the reform of the New Veterans Charter.
Click here to read the full announcement and click here to read the submission.
CAF Pensioners Health Care Plan
September 24, 2013
On retiring from the CAF we were offered an option for supplementary (or comprehensive for those retiring outside the country where provincial care would not be available) health care insurance under the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP). The plan provided that we pensioners who opted for the coverage would pay 25% of the plan’s premium while our employer would pay the balance. (For those of you who are curious enough, the actual figures are at http://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/directive/index.php?sid=87&hl=1&lang=eng).
As part of the Harper Government’s plan to ‘reduce its deficit’ (isn’t that a familiar phrase!) we are hearing reports that Treasury Board intends to raise our share of the health care premium to 50%. Most of us opted for basic hospital coverage which, for a family, costs $42.76/month. Should the suspected Treasury Board rumour prove correct, that premium will jump to $85.52.
It’s time to join other federal pensioners in the fight against this unilateral action by protesting to our individual members of parliament. We have a sample letter (click here) that you can use as a basis for your own to your member of parliament, and you should mail a copy to the President of Treasury Board as well. If you don’t know who your member is, a listing of all MPs is on our website or here
Letters addressed to Members of Parliament at the House of Commons do not require a postage stamp.
You are also invited to sign the petition that our fellow pensioners at FSNA have initiated; simply go to their website at
You don’t need to be a member of FSNA to sign their petition.
Plan de soins de santé des pensionnés/es des FAC
Lors de notre retraite des FAC, on nous offrait une option d’assurance santé supplémentaire au sein du Régime de soins de santé de la fonction publique (RSSFP). Pour les retraités qui résidaient à l’extérieur du pays une assurance compréhensive leur était offerte. Les pensionnés/es qui choisissaient ce plan en paient 25% et le gouvernement 75%. (Pour les curieux les chiffres se trouvent au site :
http://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/directive/index.php?hl=1&lang=fra&merge=2&sid=87)
Le gouvernement Harper veut réduire le déficit (un refrain souvent répété!) et nous avons appris que le Conseil du Trésor veut augmenter notre contribution aux primes de 50%. La plupart d’entre nous avons choisi la couverture d’hospitalisation de base dont le coût pour une famille est de $42.76 par mois. Si cette rumeur est vraie, la prime bondira à $85.52.
Nous devons nous joindre aux autres pensionnés/es du fédéral dans la bataille contre cette action unilatérale en faisant connaitre nos objections à nos députés fédéraux. Nous avons une lettre modèle sur notre site web que vous pouvez utiliser pour correspondre avec votre député. Faites en parvenir une copie au Président du Conseil du Trésor aussi. Vous trouverez la liste et les adresses des députés au site : www.parl.gc.ca
Toute lettre envoyé à un député n’a pas besoin de timbre poste.
Vous êtes invités à signer une pétition de nos amis de la ANRF au :
Il n’est pas nécessaire d’être membre de l’ANRF pour signer la pétition.
Veterans' Week - November 5 - 11, 2013
September 13, 2013
Click here to see poster from Veterans Affairs Canada.
Announcement regarding recognition of service available from the government of Canada
September 3, 2013
The VAC announced the following items in recognition of service, available from the government of Canada. Veterans or their families can apply to receive these items by filling out the application form by clicking on the corresponding link, or by calling 1-866-522-2122.
Bomber Command Bar- This bar is being issued to eligible Canadian Veterans (or their next of kin) who served in Bomber Command during the Second World War. The honour, in the form of a bar clasp, is to be worn on the ribbon of the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM).
Korean War Certificate- This certificate of recognition is being issued to all eligible Canadian Veterans of the Korean War.
Memorandum
August 23, 2013
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our Vice-Chairperson (Military Widow) Helen Rapp-Bowen. Helen was a strong advocate for the fight against Marriage over 60 and the well-being and support of her fellow veterans.
She will be greatly missed.
Visitation will be Monday, August 26, 2013 at Tubman Funeral Home. in Nepean Ontario from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM EDT, and Tuesday, August 27, 2013 from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM EDT, followed by a celebration of life at 11:00 AM.
Please click the link below to read her obituary
http://www.tubmanfuneralhomes.com/en/families-in-our-care/rapp
In Our Mailbox
Minister of Veterans Affairs Steven Blaney wrote to AFP/AAC regarding the pending closure of nine VAC district offices. Click here to read the letter.
AFP/AAC member and veteran Andre d’Entremont wrote to AFP/AAC regarding the VRAB. Click here to read the letter.
MP Joe Prestion wrote to AFP/AAC regarding the pending closure of nine VAC district offices. Click here to read the letter.