Close X
Saturday, November 30, 2024
ADVT 
National

Union wants permanent hires for veterans backlog

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 29 Sep, 2020 06:54 PM
  • Union wants permanent hires for veterans backlog

The union representing employees at Veterans Affairs Canada says the department should hire more permanent staff to deal with the backlog of veterans waiting for services and benefits.

Union president Virginia Vaillancourt said temporary hires will not fix long-standing problems.

"Veterans are not temporary," she said. "We need permanent staff to be fully trained and in place consistently, not on temporary funding."

In June, Veterans Affairs said it would extend contracts for 160 employees it had hired temporarily to process applications, and would add another 300 to their number.

The parliamentary budget office said Monday that Veterans Affairs Canada can clear its backlog of disability benefit applications in a year if it hires nearly 400 more people beyond that.

The number of pending applications for benefits had reached almost 50,000 by the end of March, up from about 21,000 three years earlier.

The union claims that there are backlogs and delays in almost every section of the department including in the appeals unit, with case managers and with the service agents who work directly with veterans.

Vaillancourt said veterans are frustrated.

"They're tired of repeating their stories over and over again," she said. "If they need to be referred to another area of the department, a lot of times they're having to repeat their story there."

The department said it is increasing the number of people processing the applications and also simplifying the process to to avoid another backlog down the road.

Cameron McNeill, a spokesman for Veterans Affairs Minister Lawrence MacAulay, said Monday the department is aware that too many veterans are waiting too long for decisions on their applications.

"We can and must do better," McNeill said.

MORE National ARTICLES

WATCH: CERB ENDS in 2 WEEKS - OVER 3 MILLION CANADIANS TROUBLED | COVID CASE AT DELTA SECONDARY SCHOOL

WATCH: CERB ENDS in 2 WEEKS - OVER 3 MILLION CANADIANS TROUBLED | COVID CASE AT DELTA SECONDARY SCHOOL
WATCH: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CERB CUT OFF! Canada closes its Wallet to over 3 million unemployed Canadians as CERB is phased out this SEPTEMBER 27th. A Confirmed COVID19 case at Delta Secondary School.

WATCH: CERB ENDS in 2 WEEKS - OVER 3 MILLION CANADIANS TROUBLED | COVID CASE AT DELTA SECONDARY SCHOOL

Poll shows some see COVID-19 warnings as overblown

Poll shows some see COVID-19 warnings as overblown
Among those recommendations are things like wearing a mask in public, avoiding large gatherings and trying to maintain a two-metre distance between people.

Poll shows some see COVID-19 warnings as overblown

Fall election threat eases as COVID-19 cases rise

Fall election threat eases as COVID-19 cases rise
There was also speculation the Liberals wanted an election, and were planning to use the throne speech as an excuse for launching a campaign in the hopes of winning a majority government.

Fall election threat eases as COVID-19 cases rise

COVID-19 testing sites see surge in demand

COVID-19 testing sites see surge in demand
Ottawa health officials say they are experiencing record line-ups for testing and are extending testing site hours to try to accommodate the demand.

COVID-19 testing sites see surge in demand

Canada Post mulls resumption of service over smoke

Canada Post mulls resumption of service over smoke
Environment Canada is maintaining poor air quality advisories over all but a northern quarter of the province.

Canada Post mulls resumption of service over smoke

Cleanup underway after derailment in B.C.

Cleanup underway after derailment in B.C.
CN says potash, potassium-laden salts used in fertilizer, soap and some food products went into the creek but the spill has been contained and a vacuum truck is at the site.

Cleanup underway after derailment in B.C.