Special Needs Advisory Group (SNAG) Presentation Background: SNAG was formed by VAC as an arm-length advisory group on special needs veterans and how these requirements need to be implemented into the new Veteran Charter planned to take effect 01 Apr 2006. SNAG has conducted various interviews across Canada with totally disabled vets. What follows is an extract of the introduction by a veteran, Perry Grey, when he was interviewed by SNAG, 30 Nov 2006, Ottawa, Ont.
Before getting into discussions I want to clarify what Sean and I want to accomplish in this meeting. There are three general topics that we wish to discuss: The role and mandate of SNAG; Current VAC policy and procedures effecting disabled veterans; and The impact of C-45 Now the military likes to use lots of acronyms so that it is easier to remember things. In my opinion these three topics can each be covered by a unique acronym. We refer to your group as the Special Needs Advisory Group, which spells SNAG. According to the Oxford dictionary, a snag is “an unexpected or hidden obstacle or drawbacks”. In our experience, we have encountered many snags in our dealings with VAC. Current VAC operations can be described as SNAFU – situation normal all f’ked up. Implementation of C-45 could result in FUBAR – f’ked up beyond all recognition. These acronyms will be more apparent in the course of our discussions. Now it so happens that the majority of us are well educated with one or more university degrees. Unfortunately it is the minority that has military experience, which is fundamental to understanding why VAC exists. Sometimes this is not always obvious and Sean and I shall provide examples. We do not wish to appear superior because of our military experience, although we do want to make it very clear that education is not a substitute for experience. We just happen to live in a country in which most people have little or no knowledge of the military apart from Remembrance Day. To understand the problems encountered by disabled veterans, it is good that most of you are well educated because learning about VAC includes complex ideas, convoluted practices and illogical procedures. One concept that must be well understood is that Canada expects its military to serve with unlimited liability. In return, the military deserves to be recognised both for its unique role and its willingness to sacrifice rights and freedoms. Fundamental to this system has to be the recognition that soldiers are not merely citizens in uniform: they form a distinctive group within our society that needs a different set of moral values in order to succeed in circumstances which greatly differ from those prevailing in civilian life. For no other group is required either to kill other human beings, or expressly to sacrifice their lives, for the nation. Ironically, VAC does not provide services and benefits of unlimited liability. Thus there is no quid pro quo between Canada and its military. This is not only unfair, but also unethical and immoral. In a country that prides itself on equality this is shameful. One of the main tools that we wish to use in our presentation is the report that Sean and I wrote and of which you have copies. Sean will do most of the talking and cover the following subjects: (get Sean to list the subjects) My role is secondary and I shall cover: Pension application; VAC medical facilities and related operations; and The review and appeal process. (provide copies of the flow charts). Fighting the War Once More: The Pension Application and Decision Process for Veterans Suffering Operational Stress Injuries Conflict of Interest?: The Bureau of Pensions Advocates Accountable to No One?: The Veterans Review and Appeal Board Now we want to know if there are any issues that you want to discuss. If there are none, then I shall ask Sean to begin our presentation. Pension application The mission of VAC is: “To provide exemplary, client-centred services and benefits that respond to the needs of veterans, our other clients and their families, in recognition of their services to Canada; and to keep the memory of their achievements and sacrifices alive for all Canadians.” This is not always evident from the way in which VAC operates. To some it seems that VAC is primarily concerned with managing programmes rather than providing client services. Who are the people involved in pension adjudication? What unique qualifications must they have? Why are so many clients appealing these decisions? Use Chapter 21 as an example of the types of disabilities and requirements that must be satisfied before pension adjudication. The experience can be so bad that veterans’ conditions are made worse. In other words, VAC becomes part of the problem instead of offering the solution. VAC medical facilities and related operations “The mission of Ste. Anne's Hospital is to provide Veterans and its other clients with a wide range of programs and with a continuum of high quality care, while respecting their dignity and their autonomy. The Hospital's cutting-edge programs are intended to meet the needs of their clients and their family members. The Hospital provides Veterans with long-term or respite care in addition to offering support services, through its day centre, to clients who still reside in the community and to Veterans and other clients who require mental health services or short-term hospitalization, through the Ste. Anne's Centre. Our commitment is to provide high quality personalized services.” St Anne’s is primarily concerned with older veterans who require full-time medical services. There are few activities that concentrate on the needs of younger veterans. For example, in 2004, there were only four beds in the PTSD/OSI ward. Other facilities are lacking so VAC does not offer nation-wide medical services even though there are 8,000 veterans with mental disabilities plus others with physical disabilities. Many veterans are not aware of the alternatives including Dr Richardson’s facility. Can this be explained? Outsourcing to other institutions is not always the proper course of action. For example, Homewood in Guelph caters to all Canadians; however, it only has 28 spaces for each of its eight-week therapy programmes. That means that veterans are in competition with the civilian population of which 16% may have similar mental conditions. The review and appeal process Use flowcharts to describe the convoluted and confusing system of review and appeal following pension adjudication. Emphasise that this process can take years to resolve: Wentzel case (44 years) Perry (four years and counting) Definitions Veteran: who is a veteran? Is it limited to the CF and the RCMP? What about people sent to work for the military in special duty areas? How are the personnel sent to Afghanistan viewed? Totally disabled: there is a need for a new definition to reflect the requirement to participate in training and work placement. Currently, the definition is limited to physical disabilities, i.e. confined to a bed. What will be done to include mental disabilities?
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