Liberals finally agree to keeping temporary workers to address veterans' backlog

NDP Critic for Veterans Affairs, Rachel Blaney, made the following statement:

“For years, Canadian veterans have been put through lengthy delays as they wait for the help they need to make ends meet. As the cost of living goes up, our veterans are struggling to support their families and more than ever, they need their benefits processed quickly. The caseworkers and staff who support our veterans have been telling the government for years that they are chronically understaffed and working to exhaustion.

The funding that the Minister announced, after telling our Parliamentary Committee to wait until the budget for an answer, is the very least the government can do.

The government has waited until the 11th hour to announce that the temporary staff will be kept on in order to help eliminate the unacceptable backlog of cases. Among many others, New Democrats have been calling for this necessary step for months. It's the very least the government can do to support the brave men and women who have served our country.

The NDP has been pushing for the workers hired temporarily to be made permanent ever since the Parliamentary Budget Officer's report came out in September 2020. This is a report that was requested by New Democrats and eventually led to a study at committee.

We'll continue supporting the calls of the Union of Veterans Affairs Employees to address the backlog issues. Veterans and the workers who help them can count on New Democrats to have their backs. We won't stop pushing the government to provide assurances that Veterans Affairs Canada will have the staff and resources necessary to take better care of our veterans.”