Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is addressing issues related to military veterans during his federal election campaign. He plans to improve supports for veterans, including ensuring that disability applications are automatically approved if not processed within four months. This is in response to complaints from veterans about delays in getting their applications approved, leading to delays in payments when leaving active service. Veterans Affairs Canada has a target of processing claims within 16 weeks, but the department has struggled to meet this target consistently, achieving it only 69% of the time in 2023-24.
The Conservatives have announced additional measures to support veterans, such as giving them control over their medical records and allowing military doctors to assess injuries using a standardized system. They also plan to make service dogs available for those with post-traumatic stress disorder and provide educational and training benefits as soon as Armed Forces members are released. The Conservative candidate in Nepean, Barbara Bal, is a former Armed Forces member, while Poilievre is running for re-election in the neighboring riding of Carleton. While Poilievre campaigns in Nepean, there are no public events scheduled for Liberal Leader Mark Carney, who is also campaigning in the area.
Despite the focus on veteran supports, the issue of backlogged claims remains significant, with more than 5,000 veterans still waiting for their cases to be processed at the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The department has reported progress in reducing the backlog by 75% since 2020. However, there is still room for improvement in meeting the target of processing claims within 16 weeks, with a goal of reaching this standard 80% of the time. The upcoming election on April 28 has heightened the focus on issues affecting veterans and other key priorities for Canadians.
As the campaign continues, party leaders are preparing for televised debates scheduled for the following week in Montreal. A French-language debate is set for Wednesday, with an English-language debate to follow on Thursday. These debates will provide an opportunity for leaders to discuss their platforms, address key issues, and engage with voters ahead of the election. In the meantime, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will hold a campaign event in Timmins, Ont., as candidates nationwide ramp up their efforts to connect with voters and earn their support.
Overall, the Conservative Party’s announcement regarding supports for military veterans highlights the importance of addressing key issues affecting this community. By pledging to improve the processing of disability applications, provide additional services for veterans, and make educational benefits more accessible, the party aims to demonstrate its commitment to those who have served in the Armed Forces. As the election campaign progresses, leaders will continue to emphasize their policies and engage with voters through public events, debates, and other campaign activities in the lead-up to election day on April 28.
