-----Original Message-----
From: dnd_mdn@forces.gc.ca [mailto:dnd_mdn@forces.gc.ca]
Sent: March-01-13 8:21 AM
To: veteran_advocate@canadianveteransadvocacy.com
Subject: RE: Letter to the MND on the Declaration of Injury to Workers Board Compensation for the Reserves
Dear Corporal xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx:
Thank you for your correspondence of 29 November 2012 in which you were following up on concerns in your capacity as one of the Directors of Canadian Veterans Advocacy. Please accept my apology for this delay in responding.
You had previously contacted me about Canadian Forces Reserve Force members' access to Government Employees Compensation Act (GECA) benefits and wanted to bring to my attention possible shortcomings in the recent campaign to publicize these benefits across the Canadian Armed Forces. By way of illustration, you raised the case of a specific member who was apparently denied assistance with his application for GECA benefits by his Medical Officer and stated that this was only one example of what appears to be a more pervasive issue.
Providing care to the ill and injured can be complex because it involves several different organizations and a broad array of programs and benefits tailored to the needs of individuals. While this benefits Canadian Armed Forces members, it can be a challenge to ensure that all care providers, including Medical Officers, remain up to date regarding the details of all programs.
To this end, Canadian Forces Health Services (CFHS) distributed both an internal message and a Canadian Forces General Message (CANFORGEN) regarding GECA benefits and related support to eligible Reserve Force members. This information was also presented to all Base and Wing Surgeons at a recent Clinic Leadership Symposium and is now part of the Medical Officer training curriculum at the Canadian Forces Health Services Training Centre. Finally, GECA information was further disseminated through two newsletters circulated throughout the Medical Officer community.
In addition to internal CFHS education, a proactive Chain of Command and an informed Canadian Armed Forces membership are also important to ensuring that ill and injured Reserve Force members receive the support benefits to which they are entitled. To that end, CFHS is working with Director of Reserves and Cadets on other means of communication to maximize awareness and complement measures already taken, such as changes to the DND 2358 form mentioned in my 11 January 2011 correspondence to you.
With regard to Warrant Officer xxxxxxx situation, the Surgeon General's staff inform me that they have no record of his ever seeing a health care provider named Captain xxxxxx. In addition, Warrant Officer xxxxx last documented encounter with CFHS services was in November 2011, which pre-dates both the CANFORGEN and the CFHS internal message about the GECA program referred to above. However, staff will be contacting him to try to get additional information so that any gaps in services may be rectified.
I would like to express my appreciation to you and to Canadian Veterans Advocacy for communicating information about the GECA and other benefits to Reserve Force members and for the assistance you provide to those who encounter difficulty accessing them. Thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention and for your service to Canada.
Sincerely,
Peter MacKay
Minister of National Defence
Mod edit to remove name of poster
Holey moley.... that there is a prime piece of Federal Guv-mint Correspondence.
Translation please? Did WO XXXX get what he/she needed?