The policy advisory group, which has acted as Hehr’s sounding board, is getting signals that the Liberals mean to\u00a0simply take the lump sum award and divide it into monthly payments.<\/p>\n
In a May 12 letter, the panel warned that such a scheme “does not provide the lifetime financial security” that veterans were expecting\u00a0from the Liberal campaign promise.<\/p>\n
Waiting on the details<\/h2>\n
The spring federal budget reiterated the pension pledge, but attached no price tag to the assurance and simply told the public to stay tuned for more details and dollar figures when a revised program would be rolled out later this year.<\/p>\n
The Liberals are expected to consider a final version of their plan over the summer.<\/p>\n
![\"FedElxn](\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/1.3588245.1463604060!\/cpImage\/httpImage\/image.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/original_620\/fedelxn-liberals-20150824.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Justin Trudeau campaigned on restoring lifelong pensions for wounded veterans in the last election, but Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr has been non-committal on a timeline. (Paul Chiasson\/Canadian Press)<\/p>\n
At the time of the budget, a senior government official speaking on background\u00a0said the intention is to roll out the revised pension plan later this year and issue cheques to veterans by 2018 \u2014 a year ahead of the next election call.<\/p>\n
The new plan, however, “would not seek parity with the old pension act,” that pre-dates the Conservative changes, the official told CBC News last spring.<\/p>\n
At the same time, the letter to Hehr expressed frustration that the advisory panel’s recommendations were being ignored and “deliberately pushed down the line for further review and evaluation.”<\/p>\n
Specifically, the advisers pointed to their October 2016 report, delivered to Veterans Affairs, which\u00a0suggested rolling a suite of already existing benefits and entitlements,\u00a0including the Exceptional Incapacity Allowance and Attendance Allowance,\u00a0into “a single stream of income for life.”\u00a0<\/p>\n
Minister’s statement<\/h2>\n
A government official emphasized, on background, no decision has yet been made and noted that if the solution was as simple as dividing up the lump sum, it would have already happened.<\/p>\n
Hehr, in a written statement on Sunday, said he is balancing a lot of different advice and viewpoints.<\/p>\n
\n ‘I’ve never seen so much song and dance and\u00a0jiggery-pokery\u00a0to cover-up from doing the right thing’<\/span>
\n – Sean Bruyea, veterans\u00a0advocate<\/cite>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n“While I cannot comment on the specifics of a letter sent to me in confidence, I will say that I value the opinions and contributions of each of the six advisory groups who provide valued advice to myself and the department as we work to fulfill our commitment to improve the services and benefits offered to veterans and their families,” Hehr said, noting how much the government had already invested in new and improved services.<\/p>\n
“We have a lot still to accomplish\u00a0and, while we cannot do everything at once, we will continue to welcome input from our advisory groups, as well as the broader veterans community, and experts within our department and without to ensure we develop the most effective policy for present and future veterans.\u200e”<\/p>\n
The political stakes for the Liberal government are high and getting higher, particularly in light of how Trudeau and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan have recently framed the defence policy review in terms of caring for the troops.<\/p>\n
![\"Sean](\"https:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/1.3871989.1480383805!\/fileImage\/httpImage\/image.JPG_gen\/derivatives\/original_620\/sean-bruyea.JPG\")
<\/p>\n