“Almost 10,000 disability benefit applications from veterans are overdue. At the same time, the government is cutting 20% of the staff who review them. When will this backlog be down to zero?”

“Madam Speaker, nearly 10,000 veterans disability benefit applications are overdue and have passed the government’s own service delivery standard. Yesterday, I asked the veterans minister about the 20% cut to the staff who review those applications. It was in her own departmental plan. She said that it is not cutting but sunsetting the positions. She can call it what she likes. Veterans just want their disability benefit applications reviewed, and they want access to the benefits they earned through their service to our country, so on what date will the backlog of 10,000 applications be reduced to zero?”

“Veterans need to know when they will get their benefits. Ten thousand applications are backed up. By what date will the minister clear this backlog?”

“Madam Speaker, I appreciate the response, but what veterans are looking for is an answer. They are looking for a date by which they will have a review and an answer on accessing the benefits they have earned. They have done their job. They have served Canada with unlimited liability. It is time for the government to step up, end the backlog of 10,000 applications and deliver for veterans. The question is very simple: By what date will the minister and her department deliver zero above that service delivery standard?”