Extension Of The Veterans Independence Program Will Help Survivors In Need To Stay Independent

March 05, 2008

Langley MP Mark Warawa says the significant investment to support survivors of war veterans in Budget 2008 “builds on our promise to stand up for our brave Veterans and their families.”

“The extension of the Veterans Independence Program (VIP) will ensure that survivors in need receive the help they require to remain independent in their own homes,” says the Langley MP.

“I am proud of our Government’s record during its first two years in office,” says Warawa. “We have been steadfast in our support of our Veterans. With this Budget, we will spend $282 million over the next three years to extend the VIP to more than 12,000 eligible survivors.”

“This funding will provide help to those survivors who, in some cases, have been waiting more than 25 years for a government to help them. With this funding, we will help those survivors who need our help and can least afford it.”

The Conservative Government is now allocating almost $800 million per year more than what the Liberals budgeted for in their last year in office. In three Budgets, we have allocated $1.6 billion more for our Veterans.

We’ve also delivered on our promises to:

• Implement the New Veterans Charter;
• Establish a Veterans Bill of Rights;
• Appoint a Veterans Ombudsman; and
• Resolve the long-standing Agent Orange question at CFB Gagetown.
  

“And we are not done. We know there is still more work to do - because no matter how much we do for our Veterans, it will never be enough to repay the great debt we owe them and their families,” concluded Warawa..

For more information on the program:

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/clients/sub.cfm?source=services/vip/expansion/fact_sheet