Service & Pension

I would like to thank everyone for their support and assistance during my first year on this committee. The members who so willingly assumed the pallbearers duties, the pipers Sandy Beattie and Ron McFarlane, the Sgt.-at-Arms, color party and Branch padres Max Ryan and Maxwell Bulmer. I would especially like to thank Comrade Eric Murphy, who stepped in and took over the past three months when I was unavailable do to other commitments.

Lucille Robertson

Comrades:
This will probably be my last bulletin, so I would like to relate to the Veterans who have supported me during the last four years. As Service Officer, I needed a lot of Volunteers willing to sacrifice their time, to get the job done. Well, they certainly did that. The Honourary Pall-bearers, the Color Party, and our Piper, have fully supported me during my tenure and they deserve and have my undying gratitude.

Also, the many volunteers who have helped successfully, bring off our first two Veterans Days. There was an awful lot of work done by everyone involved to make the events run smoothly. Thank you to one and all for a job well done. At present I am taking computer training put on by the Veterans Affairs Dept. When this training is finished I will be able to help Veterans (via the computer). The computer at our club will be made available to each Veteran for his needs and I will be on hand to assist them in getting information.

Veterans and members, I would like to wish to you and yours a very Merry Xmas and a prosperous New Year. God Bless.

Eric Murphy Service & Pension Officer

Recently, Veterans Affairs Canada and the Royal Canadian Legion joined forces on a project known as housing issues explored by them. The following is the news release which is self-explanatory.
Ottawa- Safe, affordable and adaptive housing will be the focus of a 24 month study by the Royal Canadian Legion in partnership with Veterans Affairs Canada and in conjunction with the National Council of Veteran Associations and the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada. The Review and Determination of Housing Issues for Veterans and Seniors study will provide insights into the housing concerns facing Canada’s elderly in an effort to resolve these issues through policy recommendations. The study received $300,000 in funding from the Government of Canada as part of the Voluntary Sector Initiative (VAI).

The study will research and document housing concerns specific to the various regions in Canada. The project will allow VAC and RCL to develop a series of policies that will enable the organizations to work more closely together to meet the current and future housing needs of veterans. The information collected will also be shared with other government departments and organizations that provide housing programs and services to seniors.

"The study will provide information that will be extremely helpful as Canada embarks on the 21^st Century," said the Honourable Ron J. Duhamel, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State. "With increased understanding of our clients and their specific housing concerns, Veterans Affairs Canada and the RCL will be better able to provide for their needs and make provisions for the future."

In Canada, seniors are one of the fastest growing population groups. Statistics Canada projected that by 2021, there will be almost 7 million seniors who will represent almost 18% of the population, and that, by 2041, almost 10 million seniors will make up 23% of the population.

"I am delighted that the Royal Canadian Legion and Veterans Affairs Canada are working together to address these concerns," said Allan Parks, Dominion 1^st Vice President, RCL. "Both the RCL and VAC have long histories of commitment to ensuring the needs of our veterans and seniors are met. This study is another example of vast contributions both organizations have made to the study of elderly issues."

The VSI was developed to strengthen the capacity of the voluntary sector to meet the demands society places on it while enhancing the relationship between the sector and the federal government. As such, the VSI provides an opportunity for the RCL and VAC to collaborate on the issues facing their joint veteran clients while highlighting the vast contributions the RCL has made to Canadian Society. It will also enhance the ability of the RCL to meet the increasing demands placed on it by the aging population while strengthening the partnership between veterans’ organizations and the Department.

1st Vice President Eric Murphy

Services & Pensions Officer

If you have been following the news lately, you will know that the criminal elements in our area have reached an all time low. They have been breaking into homes of grieving families who are away attending funeral services for a family member.

All the criminal element need to do is read the obituary section of the newspaper to find out the date and time of the funeral- then they act. It is therefore recommended, as a deterrent, to have the premises protected at all times during funeral services and viewing. Please be aware of this situation and act accordingly.

Have a pleasant and safe summer.

2^nd Vice President Eric Murphy

Services & Pensions Officer

The Royal Canadian Legion has a national network of service officers who assist veterans, serving military and RCMP members, and ex-serving military and RCMP members with claims for disability pensions involving their service with those agencies or with financial problems following retirement. For full details, people with claims can contact a service officer at a local branch of the Legion, a Provincial Command or the Dominion Command offices (Legion membership not required) or Veterans Affairs Canada.

On Nov 7th, 2000 the British Government announced that it is to make a single ex-gratia payment of 10,000 pounds to the surviving members of the British Groups who were held prisoners by the Japanese during the Second World War. You must have served in the British Forces to be eligible. Surviving members and, or widows (widower) are entitled to this payment.

Contact the War Pensions Agency (WPA) on feeline 0-800-169-2277 for more information and to request a claim form.

A limited number of forms are available at the Branch Office

ATTENTION Veterans and Canadian Forces (C F) who have served in Bosnia, Kosovo, Gulf War, Persian Gulf- there have been incidents of Cancer, particularly Leukemia, among personal who have served in these areas. These symptoms are referred to as Balkan Syndrome.

The Department of National Defence (D N D) refers to this condition as "Depleted Uranium" (D U) and they are paying for D U testing, including any still- serving members of the forces. The Veterans Affairs of Canada (V A C) is concerned about the health and well being of all Veterans where D U was used and will continue to monitor the issues raised about D U testing. If you have any questions concerning D U please contact V A C. Released members of the forces who wish to be tested should contact their local Veteran’s Affairs District Offices.