Frank Valeriote

02/04/2015

Rick Mercer gets it right. Veterans shouldn't have to fight the government for the benefits they deserve after the service they have given and the sacrifices they've made.

Rick’s Rant for February 3rd, 2015.

01/29/2015

In case you missed it yesterday: the Conservative government is making veterans fight in court for their benefits and have spent nearly $700,000 on legal fees

The Conservative government has spent almost $700,000 in legal bills fighting disabled Afghan veterans who believe the current benefits system is cheating them.

01/05/2015

“The substance of the message will not change,” Valeriote said.
“It doesn’t require a veteran to respond to the needs of veterans, it requires a thoughtful prime minister who understand the meaning of our social contract, our sacred obligation, and that is to look after our veterans and their families when they return. And that has not happened.”

Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino has been shuffled out of his portfolio.

12/26/2014

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Member of Parliament for Guelph

12/17/2014

We have a sacred obligation to our veterans and the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces - share if you agree.

Conservative cuts have hurt our men and women in uniform. Listen to our new radio ad, then sign up to stand with Justin.

12/12/2014

This is almost certainly a question we should be able to answer, but can't if the Minister won't meet us.

After two weeks of furious questions and indignation, it's still not clear what's going on at the department of Veterans Affairs.

12/10/2014

Another day, another controversy. Despite claims that all their cuts were back room, new information shows that Conservatives cut more from front line services and spent more on their backroom services, all the while increasing the number of political staff in the Minister's office. Veterans can't get the benefits they need from a spin doctor - they need the proper staff with the proper resources.

Last year the department spent 2-per-cent less on disability and death compensation, 2.1-per-cent more on health care and 6.8-per-cent more on internal services

12/08/2014

Veterans Affairs Canada is in crisis. Given recent responses to our questions in Question Period and the deprivation of opportunity to question the Minister or departmental staff at the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs and in light of the sitting of Parliament heading toward recess for the holiday season, a season in which those veterans who suffer from PTSD and left unattended to are at their greatest risk, I believe this to be a truly urgent situation, deserving of the attention of this House.

Liberal veterans affairs critic Frank Valeriote has called for an emergency debate on Veterans Affairs Canada. The demand comes after a painful few weeks for the government amid reports of unused funds, underwhelming spending promises, and official criticism of service wait times that stretch into y…

12/08/2014

Last week the Prime Minister said cuts to Veterans Affairs were backroom only, but the data shows these cuts are clearly front line. These are services Canadians that veterans need most and the Conservatives are unapologetic about making veterans wait.

Some of the biggest job cuts at Veterans Affairs in recent years have been in the disability awards branch — the division targeted in a recent auditor general's report for taking too long to decide on the benefit claims of ex-soldiers.

12/03/2014

Conservatives have money for more ads, but not for Veterans Affairs staff; reducing wait times for mental health; or, maintaining our war graves. They also have no answers when we ask why.

12/03/2014

Canada has many different groups of veterans, young and old who, in the words of the Minister, have “increasingly complex need and expectations”, but a Conservative government who cut 949 jobs, or nearly 25% of the VAC workforce, even after identifying they might not meet the needs of veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members and their families.

The AG pointed out that “VAC is largely unconcerned with how well veterans are being served and whether programs are making a difference in their lives”

Cutting 25% of the workforce; letting $1.13 billion in money for veterans programs lapse; cyncical announcement of funds spread over 50 years shows this government’s contempt for our veterans.

Internal numbers show Veterans Affair Canada employees declined from 4,137 in 2009 to 3,188 in March, despite warnings of increased mental-health risks from veterans returning from Afghanistan

11/25/2014