A Victory for Veterans - Public Hearings Into VRAB-Sean Casey Liberal Veterans Affair Critic
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A Victory for Veterans - Public Hearings Into VRAB Media Release from Sean Casey Liberal Veterans Affair Critic
Contributed by D Leonardo, VoC
VVi 10 May 2012 db
This afternoon, the Standing Committee on Veteran Affairs passed my amended motion to conduct public hearings into the Veterans Review and Appeal Board (VRAB).
The motion reads:“That the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, at the conclusion of its current study, undertake a review of the processes and activities of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board (VRAB) and, that the Committee report to the House any recommendations to improve the current appeal process or, to recommend any other changes deemed necessary” I am very pleased that the Conservative members accepted my motion.
The story started this past Monday when the Federal Ombudsman for Veterans produced released a highly critical report on the conduct of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board (VRAB).
At issue was the revelation that some 60 percent of all cases adjudicated by VRAB that went against our veterans, and that were subsequently appealed to the Federal Court by veterans, were overturned or sent back by the Court.
They were sent back because the VRAB, comprised primarily of political appointees, made errors in fact and in law.
Later that Monday, I stood in the House and asked the Minister of Veterans Affairs a question, calling for a review of the VRAB. As a courtesy, I provided him advance warning that I would be asking him a question on this important matter, an issue that should not be divisive or partisan, with the exception of the NDP.We all want the VRAP to render fair and quality decisions for our veterans. The NDP believe VRAB should be scrapped, a position that I believe is over simplistic and short sighted.
Following my question in the House of Commons, I presented a Motion to the Veterans Affair Committee asking that the Committee hold public hearings in the VRAB followed by a report to the entire House.
It should be noted that I was very pleased that one key Conservative MP, Mr. Brian Storseth, who is also a member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, agreed to work with me to make my motion work, and to remove politics from this important issue to veterans.
Helping people, working with others and setting our political differences in order to get things done, is the reason I ran for office.
It is extremely challenging, with the present configuration of Parliament, to make real progress. This is a rare, but encouraging example of partisanship being put aside to do the right thing for veterans. Let’s hope it will bear meaningful results.
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