StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-For Immediate Release
April 4, 2011
Vets not jets: Michael Ignatieff announces support for Canadian Forces veterans with new Veterans’ Learning Benefit
HALIFAX – A Liberal government will introduce a new Veterans' Learning Benefit that will pay the full costs of post-secondary education or technical training for Canadian Forces veterans, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff announced today.
"While Stephen Harper chooses to spend $30 billion on untendered stealth fighter jets, we're saying clearly our priority is vets, not jets," said Mr. Ignatieff.
“There can be no more fitting tribute to the service of our Canadian Forces than to guarantee that they have full support to go to college, university or technical training after they complete their service."
As part of our Canadian Learning Strategy, a Liberal government will invest $120 million over two years in a new Veterans’ Learning Benefit that will:
Provide full support for the costs – tuition, books, accommodations and living expenses – of up to four years of post-secondary education or technical training for Canadian Forces members after completion of their service;
Be available to any currently serving member or future serving member of the Canadian Forces who are honourably discharged from service, or to the spouse or partner of a Canadian Forces veteran who, as a result of service in the Forces, is unable to use the benefit.
“Our proud Canadian Forces members and their families make significant sacrifices in defence of democracy and freedom around the world,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “They deserve the recognition and support of their government, particularly when they return from service.”
A Liberal government will also work with veterans groups, advisory groups, Senate and House committees and individual injured veterans and their families to significantly improve the New Veterans Charter – including re-visiting whether the disability award should continue to be a lump-sum payment.
“Stephen Harper broke his promise to Canada’s veterans to fix the New Veterans Charter,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “A Liberal government will take a different approach. We will work with veterans to adapt the Charter to better support their needs.
“This election is about making better choices that will strengthen all Canadian families, and give our veterans the support they deserve,” concluded Mr. Ignatieff.
View the full Liberal platform - and the Liberal Family Pack - or visit http://www.liberal.ca/
BACKGROUND
Veterans Benefits
Members of the Canadian Forces know that their service in defence of our country carries risks and dangers unlike any found in the civilian world, which can alter their lives and those of their family members suddenly, drastically and permanently.
Canadians recognize the service and sacrifice made by the members of our Forces and their families by providing them with the best possible care and support during and after their time in the military.
Unfortunately, the government too often fails to meet the full needs of those who have served. We must do better for those who have done so much on our behalf.
Veterans’ Learning Benefit
Leaving military life for the civilian workforce is a major transition, as members of the Canadian Forces seek to add to the skills they acquired while in service in pursuit of their next career. The Conservatives have opted for a hands-off approach to this process of re-integration, offering little support to new veterans to assist them in updating their skills.
This was not always the case. Following the Second World War, both Canada and the United States offered veterans full support for their post-secondary education to aid with re-integration. Although the GI Bill continues in the United States today, no similar program remains in Canada. Renewing this program would serve both as a fitting tribute to the service of Canadian Forces members, while also helping to support their life ambitions after completion of that service.
That is why a Liberal government will implement a new Veterans’ Learning Benefit that will provide full support for the costs – including tuition, books, accommodations and living expenses – of up to four years of university, college, or technical training for Canadian Forces members after completion of their service.
The Veterans' Learning Benefit will be available to any currently serving member or future serving member of the Canadian Forces who are honourably discharged from service. This benefit is directed toward our new veterans, including those who have recently left the Forces. The Veterans’ Learning Benefit will also be made available to the spouse or partner of a Canadian Forces veteran who, as a result of service in the Forces, is unable to use the benefit.
A Liberal government will invest $120 million over the next two years in the Veterans’ Learning Benefit to help thousands of veterans to access post-secondary education and training.
Improving the Veterans Charter
The New Veterans Charter has provided our veterans with many valuable tools to reintegrate into civilian life, but it needs improvement.
Veterans groups, advisory groups, Senate and House committees and individual injured veterans and their families, from the regulars and the reserves, have identified ways to make the Charter more fair, responsive, family-focused, and veteran-friendly.
A Liberal government will work with these groups to implement significant improvements to the New Veterans Charter, including re-visiting whether the disability award should continue to be a lump-sum payment.
Questions & Answers
Q: What changes will you make to the New Veterans Charter?
A: The Harper Conservatives promised that the New Veterans Charter would be an organic document, continually updated to ensure it met the changing needs of Canada’s veterans. However the Conservatives have not kept their promise to fix it. Veterans have pointed out a number of gaps between their needs and the programs provided to meet them through the New Veterans Charter, yet few changes have been made. We will work with veterans groups to adapt the New Veterans Charter to better support their needs.
Q: Will you change the lump sum payment?
A: We are open to changing the Lump Sum Payment, in order to ensure that veterans have the financial support they need after they leave the service.
Q: Why is the Veterans’ Learning Benefit needed?
A: We owe an enormous debt to the men and women of our armed forces for the risks they take to keep us safe. Part of our obligation to them includes helping those leaving the Canadian Forces to make a smooth transition into the civilian workforce. Providing cost-free opportunities for these men and women to pursue education would give them a foundation not only for re-integration but lifelong advancement.
Q: Can anyone who served in the Canadian Forces receive the Veterans’ Learning Benefit?
A: The Veterans' Learning Benefit will be available to any currently serving member or future serving member of the Canadian Forces who are honourably discharged from service. This benefit will also be directed to new veterans who have recently left the Forces.
April 4, 2011
Vets not jets: Michael Ignatieff announces support for Canadian Forces veterans with new Veterans’ Learning Benefit
HALIFAX – A Liberal government will introduce a new Veterans' Learning Benefit that will pay the full costs of post-secondary education or technical training for Canadian Forces veterans, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff announced today.
"While Stephen Harper chooses to spend $30 billion on untendered stealth fighter jets, we're saying clearly our priority is vets, not jets," said Mr. Ignatieff.
“There can be no more fitting tribute to the service of our Canadian Forces than to guarantee that they have full support to go to college, university or technical training after they complete their service."
As part of our Canadian Learning Strategy, a Liberal government will invest $120 million over two years in a new Veterans’ Learning Benefit that will:
Provide full support for the costs – tuition, books, accommodations and living expenses – of up to four years of post-secondary education or technical training for Canadian Forces members after completion of their service;
Be available to any currently serving member or future serving member of the Canadian Forces who are honourably discharged from service, or to the spouse or partner of a Canadian Forces veteran who, as a result of service in the Forces, is unable to use the benefit.
“Our proud Canadian Forces members and their families make significant sacrifices in defence of democracy and freedom around the world,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “They deserve the recognition and support of their government, particularly when they return from service.”
A Liberal government will also work with veterans groups, advisory groups, Senate and House committees and individual injured veterans and their families to significantly improve the New Veterans Charter – including re-visiting whether the disability award should continue to be a lump-sum payment.
“Stephen Harper broke his promise to Canada’s veterans to fix the New Veterans Charter,” said Mr. Ignatieff. “A Liberal government will take a different approach. We will work with veterans to adapt the Charter to better support their needs.
“This election is about making better choices that will strengthen all Canadian families, and give our veterans the support they deserve,” concluded Mr. Ignatieff.
View the full Liberal platform - and the Liberal Family Pack - or visit http://www.liberal.ca/
BACKGROUND
Veterans Benefits
Members of the Canadian Forces know that their service in defence of our country carries risks and dangers unlike any found in the civilian world, which can alter their lives and those of their family members suddenly, drastically and permanently.
Canadians recognize the service and sacrifice made by the members of our Forces and their families by providing them with the best possible care and support during and after their time in the military.
Unfortunately, the government too often fails to meet the full needs of those who have served. We must do better for those who have done so much on our behalf.
Veterans’ Learning Benefit
Leaving military life for the civilian workforce is a major transition, as members of the Canadian Forces seek to add to the skills they acquired while in service in pursuit of their next career. The Conservatives have opted for a hands-off approach to this process of re-integration, offering little support to new veterans to assist them in updating their skills.
This was not always the case. Following the Second World War, both Canada and the United States offered veterans full support for their post-secondary education to aid with re-integration. Although the GI Bill continues in the United States today, no similar program remains in Canada. Renewing this program would serve both as a fitting tribute to the service of Canadian Forces members, while also helping to support their life ambitions after completion of that service.
That is why a Liberal government will implement a new Veterans’ Learning Benefit that will provide full support for the costs – including tuition, books, accommodations and living expenses – of up to four years of university, college, or technical training for Canadian Forces members after completion of their service.
The Veterans' Learning Benefit will be available to any currently serving member or future serving member of the Canadian Forces who are honourably discharged from service. This benefit is directed toward our new veterans, including those who have recently left the Forces. The Veterans’ Learning Benefit will also be made available to the spouse or partner of a Canadian Forces veteran who, as a result of service in the Forces, is unable to use the benefit.
A Liberal government will invest $120 million over the next two years in the Veterans’ Learning Benefit to help thousands of veterans to access post-secondary education and training.
Improving the Veterans Charter
The New Veterans Charter has provided our veterans with many valuable tools to reintegrate into civilian life, but it needs improvement.
Veterans groups, advisory groups, Senate and House committees and individual injured veterans and their families, from the regulars and the reserves, have identified ways to make the Charter more fair, responsive, family-focused, and veteran-friendly.
A Liberal government will work with these groups to implement significant improvements to the New Veterans Charter, including re-visiting whether the disability award should continue to be a lump-sum payment.
Questions & Answers
Q: What changes will you make to the New Veterans Charter?
A: The Harper Conservatives promised that the New Veterans Charter would be an organic document, continually updated to ensure it met the changing needs of Canada’s veterans. However the Conservatives have not kept their promise to fix it. Veterans have pointed out a number of gaps between their needs and the programs provided to meet them through the New Veterans Charter, yet few changes have been made. We will work with veterans groups to adapt the New Veterans Charter to better support their needs.
Q: Will you change the lump sum payment?
A: We are open to changing the Lump Sum Payment, in order to ensure that veterans have the financial support they need after they leave the service.
Q: Why is the Veterans’ Learning Benefit needed?
A: We owe an enormous debt to the men and women of our armed forces for the risks they take to keep us safe. Part of our obligation to them includes helping those leaving the Canadian Forces to make a smooth transition into the civilian workforce. Providing cost-free opportunities for these men and women to pursue education would give them a foundation not only for re-integration but lifelong advancement.
Q: Can anyone who served in the Canadian Forces receive the Veterans’ Learning Benefit?
A: The Veterans' Learning Benefit will be available to any currently serving member or future serving member of the Canadian Forces who are honourably discharged from service. This benefit will also be directed to new veterans who have recently left the Forces.
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