FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JULY 14, 2010
 
CUTS TO VETERANS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT NOT NECESSARY 
Department can be re-focused to better assist modern day veterans and their families,
says NDP
 
HALIFAX – Reports suggesting that Stephen Harper’s government may dispense with the 
Department of Veterans Affairs (VAC) or reduce the number of employees because of a 
shrinking veterans population are distressing to Canadian Forces (CF) and RCMP 
veterans and their families.
 
“These comments show just how out of touch this Conservative government is,” said 
New Democrat Veterans Affairs Critic Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Eastern Shore). 
 
The reality is there are hundreds of thousands of modern day Canadian Forces and RCMP 
veterans and their families who require assistance from this department.
 
“There is lots of work for Minister Blackburn to do. I hear from many CF and RCMP 
veterans and their families on a daily basis who cannot access programs from a 
Department that is supposed to assist them,” said Stoffer.
 
If it was more forward-thinking, Stoffer suggested that the VAC Department would 
not have to cut employees or reduce its size. He proposes VAC could keep its current 
staff levels by focusing on reducing wait times to process disability pension and 
health care applications. He added that the Minister should amend legislation to 
allow post-Korea CF and RCMP members access to veterans hospitals or departmental 
beds.  VAC employees should also be given more responsibility to decide on choosing 
disability pension eligibility instead of using appointed members of the public who 
sit on the Veterans Review and Appeal Board. 
 
Stoffer also urged the Minister to make the report on the future role and 
responsibilities of the VAC Department public so that everyone can have input into 
the discussion. 
 
“I urge Minister Blackburn to think about providing better service to all of our 
veterans, both young and old, instead of musing about shrinking the department due 
to a declining population of older veterans,” said Stoffer. “It’s shameful that our 
honoured veterans need to rely on food banks in Calgary and homeless shelters.
 
“Really, the sky is the limit in terms of what our government could provide for 
those who sacrifice so much in service to our country.”

For more information, please contact:
Holly Brown, Office of Peter Stoffer: 902-861-2311