Explore stories from Atlantic Canada.
CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Veterans Affairs Canada will retain hundreds of temporary staff, hired in 2018 to clear the backlog of disability benefits applications, until at least 2026.
“Disability benefits adjudicators and case managers are often a veteran’s most important experience with Veterans Affairs Canada. This funding will help to retain current employees so we can continue to improve the services that veterans and their families receive and so rightly deserve," Veterans Affairs Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor said in a media statement.
The department has a service standard that 80 per cent of disability benefit applications have a decision rendered within 16 weeks. Those above this standard are considered to be in a backlog. The Union of Veterans Affairs Employees has called on Veterans Affairs Canada to transition the 500 employees from temporary hires to permanent staff. A 2022 Auditor General's report noted that 43 temporary employees left their jobs between November 2020 and September 2021 due to a lack of long-term job security. The report noted that this loss of employees resulted in 5,000 fewer disability benefit applications being processed during this 10-month period.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kingsbury returns to Canadian women’s hockey team, continues with PWHL TorontoKingsbury will oversee women’s team for 2026 Olympic Games
Read more »
Rafah border crossing still closed, no information on when Canadians can leave: Global Affairs CanadaDespite its earlier suggestion that Canadian citizens might be able to start leaving Gaza on Sunday, Global Affairs has confirmed that the Rafah crossing into Egypt is still shuttered—and it's uncertain when that will change.
Read more »
Ukrainian war veterans with amputated limbs find freedom in the practice of jiu-jitsuMore than 20,000 people in Ukraine have lost limbs because of injuries since the start of Russia’s brutal war there, many of them soldiers. A handful of them have dealt with their psychological trauma by practicing a form of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Read more »
Poppy campaign for Veterans Food Bank underway at Crossroads MarketThe poppy campaign is underway at Crossroads Market and you can make a donation for the Veterans Food Bank of Alberta there too.
Read more »