Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent released his personal perspective on his role as Veterans Ombudsman from 2010 to 2015. In “My Five Years as Veterans Ombudsman: Narrowing the Gap for Veterans and their Families”, Parent highlights the events that are redefining the relationship between veterans and their families and the federal government in the post-Afghanistan era. “Much … Read more
Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent issued a statement welcoming recent changes announced by Minister of Veterans Affairs Erin O’Toole (Durham, Ont.) to the Permanent Impairment Allowance (PIA) and a new Family Caregiver Relief Benefit (FCRB). “I was pleased that the Minister’s announcement addressed the majority of my concerns [regarding PIA]” said Parent. “The Minister of Veterans Affairs is showing leadership by pushing … Read more
Guy Parent, Canada’s veterans ombudsman, released the “Veterans Right to Fair Adjudication: The Follow-Up Report”. This follow-up is an evaluation of the implementation of the seven recommendations put forward to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board (VRAB), Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and the Minister of Veterans Affairs in the “Veterans Ombudsman’s 2012 Report: Veterans’ Right to … Read more
The 2013-2014 Annual Report of the Veterans Ombudsman tabled in the House of Commons reflects an action-packed year. Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent believes that it would be fair to say that it was the busiest year to date since the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman (OVO) began operations in 2007. The OVO’s frontline team in Charlottetown alone had 6,500 contacts … Read more
Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent is pleased that the Minister of Veterans Affairs’ agrees with “the spirit and intent” of the vast majority of the recommendations put forward by the Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs in its report on the New Veterans Charter, The New Veterans Charter: Moving Forward. “Whether one agrees or not with the … Read more
Guy Parent, Canada’s veterans ombudsman, honoured two individuals with the Veterans Ombudsman’s Commendation, awarded for exemplary contributions to the fair treatment of veterans and their families. This year’s recipients are: Dr. Heather MacKinnon had a distinguished military career. She served as a medical officer for 12 years and retired from the Canadian Armed Forces at … Read more
For the first time, the Canadian Forces and National Defence Ombudsman Gary Walbourne and Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent are working together to investigate needed action to improve the transition of Canadian Armed Forces members from military to civilian life. “We are joining together to identify issues and produce recommendations aimed at harmonizing the transition from … Read more
Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent released his report, Supporting Severely Impaired Veterans, which focuses on the New Veterans Charter’s Permanent Impairment Allowance and Permanent Impairment Allowance Supplement. The evidence-based report asks questions that need to be answered, such as: Why are so few Veterans receiving the benefit? – and – Why is the majority receiving it … Read more
Canada’s Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent released his analysis of the House of Commons Standing Committee Report and recommendations on the New Veterans Charter, The New Veterans Charter: Moving Forward. His analysis is contained in a letter to Committee Chair and MP Greg Kerr. “I am pleased that the Committee took up most of my recommendations and put … Read more
Canada’s Veterans Ombudsman, Guy Parent, welcomed the release of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs’ report on the New Veterans Charter. The New Veterans Charter: Moving Forward backs the call for action last fall by the veterans ombudsman’s in his report, Improving the New Veterans Charter and Actuarial Analysis. “The recommendations in … Read more
