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On 5 March, Col (ret’d) Patrick Stogran gave a presentation to an audience representing the Canadian veterans community. He spoke about his organization, its mandate and operations. This was followed by dinner and informal discussions. The event was held at the Army Officers Mess in Ottawa.

The presentation started at 1500 hours and lasted for about 2.5 hours. The Ombudsman answered question throughout the presentation.

The audience consisted of representatives of The Royal Canadian Legion, The Army, Navy & Air Force Veterans in Canada Association, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and other veterans groups as well as individuals who are recognized for their work as advocates. The Ombudsman recognizes the important role played by advocates and wanted to introduce himself and speak about his operating philosophy. One of the aims of his presentation was to open a dialogue that ensures that the Ombudsman’s Office establishes and maintains relevancy within the veteran community.

Other attendees included members of the Ombudsman’s staff and Scott Taylor, publisher and editor of Esprit de Corps, and staff of the magazine.

One of the initiatives begun by the Ombudsman is the creation of an advisory committee consisting of veterans’ advocates and representing the veterans’ community. It will be chaired by Vice-Admiral (ret’d) Larry Murray, a former deputy minister of Veterans Affairs (1999-2003) and former Vice Chief of Defence Staff (VCDS). Its role will be:

The committee will include members nominated by veterans and veterans advocacy groups as well as members who meet the following criteria:

Admiral Murray was unable to attend due to inclement weather. He was planning to speak briefly about the committee and its operations.

One point that the Ombudsman stressed was the importance of developing trust and credibility with the veterans’ community. This was a major factor in the establishment of the advisory committee.

Communicated by Stephen F. Heinemann, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, San Diego, CA, January 15, 2008 (received for review December 5, 2006)

Increasing evidence suggests excess illness in Persian Gulf War veterans (GWV) can be explained in part by exposure of GWV to organophosphate and carbamate acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEis), including pyridostigmine bromide (PB), pesticides, and nerve agents. Evidence germane to the relation of AChEis to illness in GWV was assessed. Many epidemiological studies reported a link between AChEi exposure and chronic symptoms in GWV. The link is buttressed by a dose–response relation of PB pill number to chronic symptoms in GWV and by a relation between avidity of AChEi clearance and illness, based on genotypes, concentrations, and activity levels of enzymes that detoxify AChEis. Triangulating evidence derives from studies linking occupational exposure to AChEis to chronic health symptoms that mirror those of ill GWV. Illness is again linked to lower activity of AChEi detoxifying enzymes and genotypes conferring less-avid AChEi detoxification. AChEi exposure satisfies Hill’s presumptive criteria for causality, suggesting this exposure may be causally linked to excess health problems in GWV.

For more detailed information on GWI medical research click the link below to open the pdf file.

OTTAWA, Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Senator Downe: The second omission from your statement concerned something this committee will look at, which is complaints we have heard about the Service Income Security Insurance Plan. What is the position of your government on the deduction, the pain and suffering payments from the disabled veterans' long-term disability plan?

Mr. Thompson: This issue has been around almost as long as Parliament. This is an issue many members have brought up to various governments, Liberal and Conservative, in terms of changes to the plan. Basically, you are talking about that word no one likes to use in politics, a clawback.

There are a number of reasons that it is a difficult one to move on. First, the front end of how you pay into these particular plans would have to be adjusted. It would be a restructuring, not just in Veterans Affairs, but across every government agency in the country.

That is an established practice that has been around a long time. It is a difficult one to argue publicly, to be honest with you, because you are saying, why should that be taken away? I am disabled, so I should get that little extra benefit.

The other thing is philosophically - maybe practically- some in the insurance business will argue that if you make it lucrative for someone to have a disability, it has a downward effect on the program as a whole. You could argue that you would get a benefit over and above what you paid in for, knowing that at the end of your days that system actually exists. Therefore, that clawback position exists and it would have to be adjusted - actually, the cost across government departments would be in the billions of dollars to readjust that.

If I attempted to make anyone believe that we will be changing it, I would not be telling the truth. I doubt if this government could ever change that, knowing what we know and knowing what past governments have done and what future governments will do. It would take a complete overhaul of the entire system to allow that change to occur. It would be too expensive.

Military/RCMP Veterans Against Annuity Benefit Reduction at age 65

Why did the Government of Canada allow Veterans Benefits to deteriorate to an unfair level!

Why is it that the Government of Canada does not take action to terminate the Claw Back to Veterans Pensions at age 65 and give Veterans the financial dignity they so richly deserve?

Annuity Benefit Reduction at age 65 - Decline of Veterans Benefits

Military/RCMP Veterans Against Annuity Benefit Reduction at age 65