Veterans affairs minister touts new and expanded benefits, hedges on pensions
OTTAWA — Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr has all but ruled out a return to the old way injured veterans received pensions, setting up a potentially vicious fight with some of those hurt in uniform.
In an interview Friday with The Canadian Press, Hehr touted the benefits and services available under the New Veterans Charter, which replaced the previous pensions-for-life system in 2006.
Those include a lump-sum payment, career training and targeted income-replacement programs, many of which the Liberals have topped up and expanded over the last two years.
Wednesday’s budget saw the government commit to paying up to $80,000 for long-serving veterans who want to go back to school, as well as additional help to find civilian jobs and new money for families.