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The Transition to Civilian Life of Veterans

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The Transition to Civilian Life of Veterans Cover photo The last Canadians involved in the NATO training mission in Afghanistan (CCTM-A) board an American Chinook helicopter on March 12, 2014 as they leave the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan. Photo: Cplc Patrick Blanchard, Canadian Forces Combat Camera, IS2014-3013-09 Ce document est disponible en français This report and the subcommittee’s proceedings are available online at: www.senate-senat.ca/veac.asp Hard copies of this document are available by contacting the Senate Committees Directorate at (613) 990-0088 or by email at [email protected] TABLE OF CONTENTS MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS ..........................................................ii ORDER OF REFERENCE .................................................................................................................... iii LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................................... iv INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................... 1 IMPROVING THE TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE PROCESS ............................................................. 6 1. A Need for Research .................................................................................................................... 6 2. Strengthening DND Transition Programs and Services ............................................................. 10 3. Strengthening VAC Transition Programs and Services .............................................................. 13 4. Improving the Transition of Ill and Injured Military Personnel to Civilian Life .......................... 15 5. Private Sector and Other Non-Governmental Transition Initiatives ......................................... 18 6. Enhancing Private Sector Employment Opportunities for Veterans ......................................... 22 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................................. 35 ANNEX 1: LIST OF SOME KEY TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES ........... 39 ANNEX 2: OVERVIEW OF SOME KEY TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES 41 Department of National Defence Transition Programs ............................................................ 41 Veterans Affairs Canada Transition Programs .......................................................................... 51 Transition Services Provided By Non-Government Organizations ........................................... 61 Employment Opportunities in the Private Sector .................................................................... 80 WITNESSES ...................................................................................................................................... A i MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS The Honourable Roméo A. Dallaire, Chair The Honourable David M. Wells, Deputy Chair and The Honourable Senators: Joseph A. Day Daniel Lang Vernon White Other Senators who have participated from time to time in this study: The Honourable Senators Andreychuk, Brown, Dawson, Di Nino, Downe, Doyle, Frum, Maltais, Manning, Mitchell, Mockler, Nolin, Stewart Olsen, Peterson, Plett, Rivard, St. Germain, Stratton, and Wallin. Committee Staff: Martin Auger, Analyst, Library of Parliament Maritza Jean-Pierre, Administrative Assistant Francine Pressault, Communications Officer Josée Thérien, Clerk of the Subcommittee ii ORDER OF REFERENCE Extract from the Journals of the Senate, Tuesday, November 19, 2013: The Honourable Senator Lang moved, seconded by the Honourable Senator Neufeld: That the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence be authorized to study: (a) services and benefits provided to members of the Canadian Forces; to veterans who have served honourably in Her Majesty's Canadian Armed Forces in the past; to members and former members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and its antecedents; and all of their families; (b) commemorative activities undertaken by the Department of Veterans' Affairs Canada, to keep alive for all Canadians the memory of Canadian veterans' achievements and sacrifices; and (c) continuing implementation of the New Veterans' Charter; That the papers and evidence received and taken and the work accomplished by the Committee on this subject during the Fortieth Parliament and the First Session of the Forty-first Parliament be referred to the Committee; and That the Committee report to the Senate no later than December 19, 2014, and that the Committee retain all powers necessary to publicize its findings until 90 days after the tabling of the final report. After debate, The question being put on the motion, it was adopted. Gary W. O’Brien Clerk of the Senate ————— Delegation to the subcommittee Extract from the Minutes of Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on National Security and Defence of Monday, December 2, 2013: The Honourable Senator Day moved: That the order of reference regarding veterans affairs adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, November 19, 2013, be delegated to the Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs. The question being put on the motion, it was adopted. iii LIST OF RECOMMENDATIONS The Subcommittee recommends that: A Need for Research Recommendation 1: That the Life After Service Studies (LASS) joint programs of research led by DND and VAC continue its work on the transition to civilian life of military personnel, and that a LASS study on veterans’ employment post-release be initiated in the near future. Strengthening DND Transition Programs and Services Recommendation 2: That the CAF and DND, taking into consideration the results of ongoing research on transition issues, regularly review and upgrade their transition programs in order to continually enhance services provided to transitioning military personnel. Recommendation 3: That the CAF and DND make the VAC transition interview mandatory for all releasing military personnel. Recommendation 4: That DND and VAC reach out to federal departments and agencies and promote the hiring of transitioning CAF members and veterans into their public service workforces. Strengthening VAC Transition Programs and Services Recommendation 5: That Veterans Affairs Canada conducts a review to evaluate the performance of its Career Transition Service Program and its Vocational Rehabilitation Program at least every three years and report to both chambers of Parliament on its findings. Improving the Transition of Ill and Injured Military Personnel to Civilian Life Recommendation 6: That DND and VAC implement all fifteen recommendations made by the Auditor General of Canada in his October 2012 report on the transition of ill and injured military personnel to civilian life as soon as possible Recommendation 7: That DND and VAC develop partnerships with civilian employers with the goal of developing more direct employment placement and retention solutions to ensure meaningful job opportunities for ill and injured transitioning CAF members and veterans. iv Private Sector and Other Non-Governmental Transition Initiatives Recommendation 8: That DND and VAC coordinate public sector, private sector and non- governmental efforts to assist transitioning military personnel and veterans. As top priorities in this regard, the Subcommittee additionally recommends: (a) That DND support the expansion of the Veterans Transition Program nationally, and ensure that serving CAF members affected by PTSD have access to the program; (b) That Veterans Affairs Canada support the expansion of the Royal Canadian Legion and BCIT’s Legion Military Skills Conversion Program nationally; and (c) That DND and VAC assist Prospect Human Services in expanding the Forces@WORK program nationally and provide appropriate funding to achieve that end. Enhancing Private Sector Employment Opportunities for Veterans Recommendation 9: That the Canadian government recognizes renewing Commissionaires’ right of first refusal on federal government guard contracts and that it also considers ways of encouraging the employment of veterans on federal government contracts with other security companies. Recommendation 10: That the Government of Canada and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, while recognizing the many differences between the Canadian and American veteran support systems, explore the possibility of establishing a program similar to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes initiative in Canada to help connect transitioning CAF members and veterans with employers in communities across Canada. Recommendation 11: That DND and VAC increase their outreach efforts with the private sector and encourage civilian employers to hire transitioning military personnel and veterans. As top priorities in this regard, the Subcommittee additionally recommends: (a) That an official and centralized transition to civilian life website jointly operated by DND and VAC be created to coordinate public and private sector transition programs and services and help connect transitioning military personnel and veterans with civilian employers. (b) That DND take a lead role in providing civilian employers with a better understanding of military-civilian job equivalencies. (c) That DND and VAC transition programs enhance efforts to assist transitioning military personnel and veterans promote their military experiences, training, trades and skills to the civilian marketplace. v Recommendation 12:
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