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I have been reflecting on the way the Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) ap-proaches many life-altering decisions through its boards. I have personally watched many appeal boards sit. I found it very disconcerting and frustrating as I watched veterans, sometimes desperate, trying to communicate with an appar-ently “open minded” board.

The words the veterans use are plain and usually very emotional. However, following VAC guidelines, the words that are heard by the board are those that are legalistic in nature. The board’s ap-proach is protective, trying to minimize the setting of precedent for further claims from others. This may seem a simplistic view but I’m sure that many of you have come against this communications road block as you are trying to get your point or problem across. If you or I knew these

VAC “code words” the board members are looking for, and what words we should not say, then we would at the least get the benefit of just consideration within the narrow VAC definitions. For the majority of veterans, the problem that cannot be overcome is the protectionist attitude foisted on the boards by the limits set by and for VAC. The government knows there is a prob-lem – that’s the “why” of The Veterans Bill of Rights – but its overriding intent seems to be cost mitigation. This frustrat-ing lack of communication will continue until the government overhauls VAC with guidance to treat veterans with the humane understanding of an employer who wants to look after their most loyal and self-sacrificing employees. VAC must be more open to the never-ending changes and varieties of ailments, in-

juries and life limitations brought on by both peace and war time activities. In short, it is my opinion that the govern-ment of Canada instead of using the “band-aid” approach of the past must make a complete change to their veterans policy that is more humane with less em-phasis on “cost mitigation” and must give appropriate new direction to VAC which, in its present mindset, has lost its way and lost sight of its duty to veterans and their families.

We all know that change is needed but it takes pressure from the voting pub-lic to make a change.An election is com-ing. Now is the time to ask your potential MP what they intend to do for veterans. It is a prime time for change! Please ask and vote your conscience.