OTTAWA — One of the biggest concerns at the Office of Veterans Ombudsman is the imminent surge of veterans suffering from PTSD, said Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent.
“People talk about the possibility of people with latent signs and symptoms of PTSD,” he said in an interview on The West Block with Tom Clark. “And my concern there, the concerns of my team there, is not what if it happens or not, but are we ready for it? Is the Department (of Veterans Affairs) ready for that?”
There are questions surrounding whether the federal government is doing enough for wounded soldiers who come back to Canada suffering either physical or psychological damage.
“I agree that more can be done, that’s for sure,” Parent said, adding that there are efforts being made. “But what a lot of people don’t understand … is that the New Veterans Charter was not very well communicated, and people don’t understand it.”
Parent released a report last month comparing the new charter, enacted in 2006, with its predecessor. The report drew attention to several serious shortcomings, specifically relating to financial support for veterans—especially the most severely injured and disabled.
The report highlighted that many of the most injured and disabled veterans will stop receiving allowances once they turn 65, potentially leaving them in financial ruins. And most—53 per cent— of veterans categorized as “totally and permanently incapacitated” are not receiving the benefits and allowances they should, he said.
“To me, it’s an allowance that is self-defined. If you’re going to be permanently incapacitated, you should get the allowance,” Parent said.
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