Veterans Benefits and the taxpayer obligation

[Kavvy]

I have some random questions/ random thoughts to the community, which I know I could Google, so I do apologize, but I would like to hear the thoughts from people on here.

Also, this post sort of turned into a random splattering of my thoughts, so beware before reading. Lastly, I assume I am over simplifying everything, but hopefully the general points do stand.

Basically, my understanding is from a government benefit perspective we do not treat our veterans all that well, in fact, we should be embarrassed how we treat them. I would like to know if my understanding is correct, prior to writing my MP Kent Hehr.

My general questions/comments are:

-In my view, if a vet needs psychology services due to results of their service, that benefit should be available to them for a lifetime on a x times per month basis. Yes there are issues where we need to declare what is a result of their service, but in general, if someone served in combat, psychology services services should just be given to them for life.

Do Vets have free access to something like this? I hear about vets with PTSD doing terrible things, including suicide (one a couple Christmas's ago just west of Calgary on the highway), and while this may not 100% solve these issues, if we aren't offering psychology services, we aren't even trying.

Is offering psychology services for life to all vets who see combat too much, and if so, why?

Of course the same would go for physical rehab.

-We have a veterans food bank. Why? If a Vet can't put food on the table, don't we owe it to them to give them a handout if they are making less then an $x /year post service? Abuse of the system will occur, but this is one group of people where I would rather error in giving a little too much then too little.

-If the Vet system is as bad as I assume it is (hopefully it isn't), I think Canadians would almost unanimously support a small tax increase if the money went to veteran affairs with a clear mandate on what to spend it on.

-.ie. If currently Veterans affairs has a budget of 25 grand per vet per year (made up number by me), the government commits to locking that plus inflation in future budgets, plus the lump sum monies from the small tax increase (to ensure the tax increase doesn't just go to general budget). I use a $/vet as just looking at a baseline budget plus inflation doesn't account for times where we may have many more or many less vets then normal.

-The government wouldn't be given money directly to vets, it would first spend the money on a study on how to better serve our vets with the money.



Basically, in my view, if you get shot at for my nation, and have mental issues, physical issues, food issues later in life, you shouldn't ever need to worry about having enough access to the services which will help you with these issues. Is this already fixed and a non-issue?

[Northendzone]

Can't say I disagree with this.

[hockeycop]

I agree with every single point.

It is an issue, and nothing is fixed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CaptainCrunch]

The only thing I disagree with is the last part, just giving the money to studies. I mean frankly why? By this point we know where the issues are, especially with Vets who are struggling, and especially the ones left with crippling mental issues. At this point, I kind of deem this situation to be a critical emergency because of successive governments going all the way back to Chrietien. Quit studying things and paying huge dollars to consultants and contractors who will draw things out in the name of making money.

We have veterans either killing themselves or hurting others because of PTSD, we have veterans feeling intense shame as they not only try to figure out their place in the world deal with issues that most of them have no idea how deep they go and then going to a food back.

And besides sending an email to Kent Hehr is worthless, his only job is to be Justin's cheerleader.

[Kavvy]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

The only thing I disagree with is the last part, just giving the money to studies. I mean frankly why? By this point we know where the issues are, especially with Vets who are struggling, and especially the ones left with crippling mental issues. At this point, I kind of deem this situation to be a critical emergency because of successive governments going all the way back to Chrietien. Quit studying things and paying huge dollars to consultants and contractors who will draw things out in the name of making money.

We have veterans either killing themselves or hurting others because of PTSD, we have veterans feeling intense shame as they not only try to figure out their place in the world deal with issues that most of them have no idea how deep they go and then going to a food back.

And besides sending an email to Kent Hehr is worthless, his only job is to be Justin's cheerleader.

I want a study as we may need to revamp our processes from the ground up (I have no idea). I hope our system isn't as bad as the states, but if it is, or getting there, fixing it now will cheaper (and morally correct in my eyes) then later.

If we overhaul the vet system, we should look at best practices around the world, i.e. a study. Done properly, the study will pay for the capital cost of itself fairly easier.

This doesn't mean I am not for immediate funding which can apply in high need areas, (i.e. psychology services if I am indeed correct) which then can increase or decrease post study.

I also don't really want to derail the point my thread to much with should we do a study or not however.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

The only thing I disagree with is the last part, just giving the money to studies. I mean frankly why? By this point we know where the issues are, especially with Vets who are struggling, and especially the ones left with crippling mental issues. At this point, I kind of deem this situation to be a critical emergency because of successive governments going all the way back to Chrietien. Quit studying things and paying huge dollars to consultants and contractors who will draw things out in the name of making money.

We have veterans either killing themselves or hurting others because of PTSD, we have veterans feeling intense shame as they not only try to figure out their place in the world deal with issues that most of them have no idea how deep they go and then going to a food back.

And besides sending an email to Kent Hehr is worthless, his only job is to be Justin's cheerleader.

Kent has been back and forth across the country re-opening Veterans service offices that were closed by prior regimes. He's been a tireless advocate for programming and services in general for veterans. I would say an email to his office would be a worthwhile step actually, and you probably have no evidence to the contrary. I don't know why this issue needs to be politicized or somehow turned into partisan dischord; it's a serious problem that all of the governments have failed on over the past couple of decades.

[Canehdianman]

Change 'veteran' to 'citizen' and I agree completely

[SeeGeeWhy]

Just get it done!