A commentary by Canada’s minister of veterans affairs.
With the holiday season upon us, we should all take a moment to reflect on the enormous sacrifices made by past and present members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
From the turn of the 20th century through to the present day, hundreds of thousands of Canadians have taken on the risks and responsibilities of serving our country in uniform. To each one of them we will always be grateful.
For Veterans Affairs Canada, veteran well-being is at the heart of everything we do. We always seek to make sure that every veteran can access the resources they need to lead a healthy and fulfilling life after they leave the military.
This includes making sure that all interactions with Veterans Affairs Canada employees are conducted in a professional and compassionate way.
We recently fell short of this, when the topic of medical assistance in dying was inappropriately raised with veterans by a Veterans Affairs Canada employee. While the incident was isolated, it is not without impact, and it is completely unacceptable.
To the veterans in question, their families, and anyone else who may have been shocked or offended by what was said, I am deeply sorry.
Providing advice on medical assistance in dying is not, and never has been, a Veterans Affairs Canada service. We have no mandate or role to raise or recommend it, and the conversations with these four veterans should have never occurred. I want Canadians, and veterans in particular, to know that we are doing everything we can to ensure this never happens again.
Some veterans who really need our services and support might now be reluctant to reach out. If you, or someone you know had a similar experience, we want you to come forward to ensure that you receive the support you need and deserve.
Veterans must know that this incident does not paint the picture of the kind, caring and committed team at Veterans Affairs Canada. The department is made up of some of the most compassionate people in the country, working hard every day to ensure they provide the best possible service and support to veterans.
At a time of year that can be difficult for a lot of folks, veterans in distress should not hesitate to contact our department by calling 1-800-268-7708 for help. Be assured that all interactions with our case managers and veteran service agents will be conducted with the utmost care, compassion and respect, as they always should.
