By Canadian Press

Union demands permanent solution to backlog at Veterans Affairs Canada

Sep 29, 2020 | 10:04 AM

OTTAWA — The union representing employees at Veterans Affairs Canada says the department should bring in a permanent solution to the backlog of veterans waiting for services and benefits.

Union president Virginia Vaillancourt says temporary resources will not fix long-standing problems and that the department needs to hire more permanent employees.

The parliamentary budget office said Monday that Veterans Affairs Canada can clear its backlog of disability benefit applications in a year if it hires nearly 400 more people

The number of pending applications for benefits had reached almost 50,000 by the end of March, up from about 21,000 three years earlier.

The union claims that there are backlogs and delays in almost every section of the department.

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Veterans Affairs Canada says it is increasing the number of people processing the applications and also simplifying the process to to avoid another backlog down the road.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept, 29, 2020.

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This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship.

The Canadian Press