August 30, 2010
More evidence that Ottawa’s new compensation system for military veterans may be shortchanging veterans with families and those who are the most severely disabled. A study commissioned by the Veteran’s Ombudsman, and obtained by the Canadian Press, found that senior officers benefitted the most from the new system and that the lower the rank, the worse off soldiers become. It also found war widows and orphans are better off under the news system. The study was given to Veterans Affairs Canada last year but it has yet to respond to the findings. The old policy handed out guaranteed lifetime pensions. Under the new system, there are lump sum payments and qualified benefits.