Translate Politics Parliament in plain language.

Veterans Affairs

Question period focused on delays in veterans’ disability benefit applications. Michael Barrett of the Conservatives said nearly 10,000 applications have passed the government’s own service standard, that a departmental plan calls for cutting 20% of staff who review them, and asked when the backlog would be cleared and by what date veterans would get answers. Minister Jill McKnight of the Liberals said average processing times for first applications have fallen 57% since 2021 despite a 90% rise in applications over the past decade, and pointed to new budget spending to speed up benefits, saying more details would come soon. Barrett pressed again for a specific date for clearing the backlog.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

2 statements

Jill McKnight

Liberal
“We have cut wait times for first-time veterans' applications by more than half since 2021. We know there is still more work to do. That is why our budget puts hundreds of millions of dollars toward speeding up benefits and fixing our system.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, I start by acknowledging the service that our colleague across the way has provided on behalf of Canada, and I thank him for that. Since 2021, VAC has reduced the average processing time for first applications by 57%. We know there is more to do. That is why our budget in 2025 invested $184.9 million over four years and $40 million ongoing in benefit delivery stabilization and modernization. Along with a review of forms and processes, we are working to ensure veterans connect with team members so that we can get them the supports they are eligible for.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade C+ View analysis

Jill McKnight

Liberal
“We know waiting for benefits is hard for veterans. We have cut wait times by 57% since 2021, even though applications went up by 90% over the last ten years. We are spending money to fix the system, and I will share more details soon.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 45 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Madam Speaker, we know that for a veteran who is waiting for their benefits, any timeline can feel challenging, and we are here to support them. That is why we have reduced the average processing time by 57% since 2021. At the same time, we have also seen an increase of 90% in the number of applications for disability benefits over the past decade. We are making the investments to stabilize and modernize service delivery. The work is under way, and I will have more to share.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade B View analysis

Discussion

No comments yet

See the full discussion

Comment rules

More from sitting 149

All 40 items ·
  1. Government Orders First Nations Clean Water Act 32 statements
  2. Oral Questions Employment 12 statements
  3. Oral Questions The Environment 6 statements
  4. Oral Questions Employment 4 statements
  5. Oral Questions Finance 10 statements
  6. Oral Questions Intergovernmental Relations 4 statements
  7. Oral Questions The Economy 8 statements
  8. Oral Questions Taxation 2 statements
  9. Oral Questions Infrastructure 2 statements
  10. Oral Questions Veterans Affairs 4 statements
  11. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 8 statements
  12. Oral Questions Artificial Intelligence 2 statements
  13. Oral Questions The Economy 2 statements
  14. Oral Questions Public Safety 4 statements
  15. Oral Questions International Trade 2 statements
  16. Oral Questions Rail Transportation 2 statements
  17. Oral Questions Transportation 2 statements
  18. Oral Questions The Economy 6 statements
  19. Government Orders First Nations Clean Water Act 13 statements
  20. Government Orders First Nations Clean Water Act 20 statements
  21. Oral Questions Steel and Aluminum Industry 2 statements
  22. Private Members' Business National Strategy on Flood and Drought Forecasting Act 13 statements
  23. Government Orders Privilege 2 statements