By Michael Blais
Veterans will remember that at the height of the Conservative administration’s mandate, the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman (OVO) was created. Colonel (Ret’d) Patrick Stogran CD was chosen to be the first ombudsman, a choice PM Harper soon came to regret. Stogran, ultimately overcome with frustration, resorted to engaging the national media, with a truly extraordinary press conference which was broadcast live throughout the nation.
Prime Minister Harper was not amused.
Ombudsman Stogran’s tenure was not renewed.
Eager to regain control, the PM selected Stogran’s successor wisely. Guy Parent’s passionless, analytical style contrasted vividly against the searing presence of Stogran.
His propensity for accompanying the minister’s entourage on far too many VAC sponsored WW1, WW2, Korean Conflict commemorative trips led to the perception he was more interested in top-shelf travel, accommodations, “sucking up to the minister” rather than serving the wounded. Veterans who should have reached out to the OVO declined, as the level of distrust, whether warranted or not, eventually corrupted the very essence of the veteran-OVO relationship. The next VO soon discovered, this distrust legitimately threatened the OVO’s mandate.
Enter retired naval officer Craig Dalton, a veteran.
Cross country consultation has ensued, with a dedicated effort to reach out to the veterans’ community. Dalton “got an earful” when disenfranchised veterans levied salvos of complaints.
I have met the OVO several times now, with the first meeting being shortly after I dispatched a welcoming email which bluntly defined the state of toxicity which existed within the OVO-veteran relationship and the need for definitive leadership and effective reforms.
Give credit when credit is due! Dalton’s consultation process over time has proven effective and comprehensive, it provides motivation and the catalyst for reform.
Veteran’s voices have resonated.
We met the OVO again -post consultation- on 12 November, Canadian Veterans Advocacy (CVA) Director Sylvain Chartrand joined us. The dialogue was robust; medical cannabis, Reserve Force inequities, mental trauma, VIP provisions, Pension for Life, equality in recognition of national sacrifice to the Pension Act standards.
We spoke to the necessity of standing for One Veteran, One Standard fairness, harmonization of reformative programs to ensure full inclusion, not like the current
New Veterans Charter-Pension Act obstructions designed to exclude and or
deny Canada’s most disabled veterans.
Which are for example, why are SISIP veterans, who are by definition Canada’s most seriously disabled veterans, (as acknowledged by Manulife’s stringent Totally Permanently Impaired status), excluded from the 90% income loss replacement promises
Consequential to consultation, Dalton requested a review of the OVO mandate. Ideally, investigative authority reforms and the provision of reporting to parliament will be embraced to eradicate the levels of distrust, which is generated every time the OVO submits a report to the minister. Other than dispensing vague platitudes and lip service, these reports do nothing to resolve the issues.
Authority restrictions? Please note OVO’s inability to comprehensively investigate Veterans Affairs’ 160 million dollars “accounting” error which deprived 270,000 Pension Act veterans for several years? How many of the WWII and Korean War Pension Act veterans died before justice was served? Were their dependents FULLY compensated? Was anybody at VAC held to account for grotesque negligence of duty?
Dalton is eager to restore the broken trust. He understands where the breaches in trust exist; he is willing to change the dynamics to restore the balance.
We can assist, we can do our part to help him seize the objective. Dalton requested that we refer veterans’ seeking redress through the CVA in respect to VAC’s systematic problems/failures or on a personal level to contact his office directly.
Here is the number: 1-877-330-4343.
