Investing in Veterans' Vocational Training - June 12, 2013

Letter to the Minister of Veterans Affairs

June 12, 2013

The Honourable Steven Blaney, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Veterans Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Dear Minister:

I am pleased to provide you with the report of the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman entitled Investing in Veterans’ Vocational Training.

This report examines the delivery and adequacy of the Department’s vocational rehabilitation and assistance services. It offers also recommendations to ensure that Veterans Affairs Canada maintains its commitment to effectively re-establish injured Veterans into civilian life.

Through analysis and research, we identified three areas of concern which may lead to barriers for those interested in attaining university-level post-secondary education or professional designations. This, in turn, may limit the career choices available to a Veteran after sustaining an injury or illness in the Canadian Forces. Veterans should have the ability to self-actualize in the profession of their choice.

Successful rehabilitation and vocational training are integral to the success and self-actualization of Veterans and their families. This is why I hope that you will consider implementing the recommendations enclosed in this report promptly.

I would be pleased to discuss the content of this report and our recommendations at your earliest convenience.

Yours sincerely,

The paper copy
was signed by

Guy Parent
Veterans Ombudsman

Mandate of the Veterans Ombudsman

The Office of the Veterans Ombudsman, created by Order in Council ( P.C.  207-530, April 3, 2007), works to ensure that Veterans, serving members of the Canadian Forces and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and other clients of Veterans Affairs Canada are treated respectfully, in accordance with the Veterans Bill of Rights, and receive the services and benefits that they require in a fair, timely and efficient manner.

The Office addresses complaints, emerging and systemic issues related to programs and services provided or administered by Veterans Affairs Canada, as well as systemic issues related to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board.

The Veterans Ombudsman is an independent and impartial officer who is committed to ensuring that Veterans and other clients of Veterans Affairs Canada are treated fairly. The Ombudsman measures fairness in terms of adequacy (Are the right programs and services in place to meet the needs?), sufficiency (Are the right programs and services sufficiently resourced?), and accessibility (Are eligibility criteria creating unfair barriers, and can the benefits and services provided by Veterans Affairs Canada be accessed quickly and easily?).

In accordance with the Veterans Bill of Rights, Veterans and all other clients of Veterans Affairs have the right to:

• Be treated with respect, dignity, fairness and courtesy.
   
• Take part in discussions that involve them and their family.
   
• Have someone with them for support when they deal with Veterans Affairs.
   
• Receive clear, easy-to-understand information about programs and services, in English or French, as set out in the Official Languages Act.
   
• Have their privacy protected as set out in the Privacy Act.
   
• Receive benefits and services as set out in published service standards and to know their appeal rights.

They have the right to make a complaint and have the matter looked into if they feel that any of their rights have not been upheld.

Report Summary

The Government of Canada began offering vocational assistance services to released members of the Canadian Forces after the Second World War. Since then, successful rehabilitation and vocational training has had a positive effect on Veterans, their families and employers. This is because former Canadian Forces members are highly skilled and can offer, given appropriate post-release training, a great deal to the Canadian workforce and economy.

The coming into force of the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act, more commonly referred to as the New Veterans Charter, facilitated the creation of the second of two Government of Canada-supported programs designed specifically to help Veterans transition from military to civilian life, namely:

1. The Vocational Rehabilitation Program administered by the Service Income Security Insurance Plan's Long-Term Disability Plan, of which the Chief of Defence Staff is the policyholder; and,
    
2. Vocational rehabilitation and assistance services provided through Veterans Affairs Canada's Rehabilitation Program.

The relationship between the two programs is important; however, Investing in Veterans' Vocational Training contains the results of research and analysis stemming from complaints received by the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman specifically concerning the delivery of the Department's vocational rehabilitation and assistance services. The relationship between the two programs will be covered in the Veterans Ombudsman's upcoming New Veterans Charter Report.

Veterans Affairs Canada administers services through its Rehabilitation Program. These services are separated into two groups: vocational rehabilitation services and vocational assistance services. Vocational rehabilitation services are designed to restore the working capacity of the Veteran by improving his or her physical or mental health condition(s) in addition to identifying and helping achieve his or her occupational goals. Vocational assistance includes career counselling, training and job-search assistance to help Veterans pursue suitable and gainful civilian employment.

As these services are currently administered, many Veterans who leave the Canadian Forces and wish to build on their existing technical skill sets in a related trade are offered appropriate training by the Department to successfully enter that trade in civilian life. Additionally, federal support for all citizens interested in pursuing a career in a skilled trade has been further strengthened by the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan 2013, which has committed funding to various programs to fill a gap in skilled labour.

Access to programs for those interested in re-establishing into a career in the trades is comprehensive; however, Veterans interested in pursuing university-level education or attaining a professional designation do not share the same access to programs.

As a result of research and analysis pertaining to vocational assistance, the Ombudsman identified three areas of concern:

• Inadequate performance measurement to monitor the subject matter and level of training applicants are receiving, as well as the tracking of applicants placed in jobs following the completion of their Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan;
   
• Limitation to the accessibility of university-level post-secondary education and professional designations for applicants who wish to pursue these options due to emphasis on factors such as cost and duration of such training in the development of individual vocational rehabilitation plans; and,
   
• Limitation to training that builds on an applicant's existing skills, experience and training, and less of an emphasis on the motivation, interest and aptitudes of the applicant.

These concerns may lead to barriers for those interested in attaining university-level post-secondary education or professional designations. This, in turn, limits the career choices available to a Veteran after sustaining an injury or illness in the Canadian Forces. Veterans should have the ability to self-actualize in the profession of their choice.

Veterans Ombudsman's Recommendations

Recommendation 1: It is recommended that the Department of Veterans Affairs develop appropriate program measurements to effectively monitor Veterans' progression and success in completing their Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan, including subsequent employment.

Recommendation 2: It is recommended that the Minister of Veterans Affairs amend the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Regulations to ensure that all costs associated with post-secondary education are paid.

Recommendation 3: It is recommended that the Department of Veterans Affairs Canada amend its policies relating to vocational rehabilitation and assistance to ensure that the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Regulations are liberally interpreted with regard to the cost and duration of an Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan.

Recommendation 4: It is recommended that the Department of Veterans Affairs Canada amend its policies relating to vocational rehabilitation and assistance to ensure that the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Regulations are liberally interpreted to allow more flexibility for Veterans to acquire new skills and higher education while also taking into consideration the Veteran's aptitude and motivation in the development of an Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan.

The Issue

Veterans Affairs Canada administers a Rehabilitation Program to aid former members of the Canadian Forces who have been medically released or have service-related injuries hindering their ability to work and transition from military to civilian life.^{Footnote 1} The program provides three types of rehabilitation services: medical, psycho-social and vocational.

Since 2007, the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman has received in excess of 100 complaints about the Department's Rehabilitation Program including vocational rehabilitation and assistance services.^{Footnote 2} In the review of these complaints, and further research, the Office found several areas of concern, including:

• Inadequate performance measurement to monitor the subject matter and level of training applicants are receiving, as well as the tracking of applicants placed in jobs following the completion of their Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan;
   
• Limitation to the accessibility of university-level post-secondary education and professional designations for applicants who wish to pursue these options due to emphasis on factors such as cost and duration of such training in the development of individual vocational rehabilitation plans; and,
   
• Limitation to training that builds on an applicant's existing skills, experience and training, and less of an emphasis on the motivation, interest and aptitudes of the applicant.

While the above issues will be the primary focus of this report, other concerns relating to the relationship between and the administration of vocational rehabilitation and assistance services under the Department's Rehabilitation Program and the Service Income Security Insurance Plan's ( SISIP ) Vocational Rehabilitation Program will be covered in the Veterans Ombudsman's upcoming New Veterans Charter Report.

Purpose of the Report

The purpose of this report is to review aspects of the Department's vocational rehabilitation and assistance as offered under the Rehabilitation Program to ensure that these program elements are legislated and administered in a fair manner. The Veterans Ombudsman determines fairness as the adequacy, accessibility and sufficiency of program elements in meeting the needs of Canada's Veterans.^{Footnote 3} Subsequently, recommendations will be made to ensure that vocational rehabilitation and assistance as provided by Veterans Affairs Canada meets its purpose, which is to effectively re-establish injured Veterans into civilian life.

Background

Terms Defined

Veterans Affairs Canada administers services under its Rehabilitation Program. These services are separated into two groups: vocational rehabilitation services, which are designed to restore the working capacity of the Veteran by improving his or her physical or mental health condition(s) in addition to identifying and helping achieve his or her occupational goals; and vocational assistance, which includes career counselling, training and job-search assistance to help the Veteran pursue suitable and gainful civilian employment. This report focuses on the vocational training aspects of the Rehabilitation Program.

The report also reviews the accessibility of post-secondary education for eligible Veterans. Post-secondary education in this sense means all education requiring the completion of secondary education ( i.e.  high school or equivalency) and can include, but is not limited to, college, university or trades/apprenticeship training.

Additionally, when speaking of training-related aspects of vocational assistance, these terms are used:

• Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan: After determining a Veteran's vocational potential, recommendations as to his or her best occupational choice are made by the vocational rehabilitation and assistance provider. This is called an Initial Vocational Assessment. From this, an Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan is developed for consideration by a departmental Case Manager. In the plan, the means by which a Veteran will attain his or her vocational goals is described.
   
• Earnings Loss Benefit: A monthly taxable payment, offset by prescribed sources of income (such as the Canada Pension Plan/Quebec Pension Plan, superannuation annuity and other employment income), to ensure that post-release income does not fall below 75 percent of the Veteran's gross pre-release military salary (referred to as "imputed income"). The minimum salary to calculate the benefit for Regular Force and full-time Reserve Force Veterans is based on a Corporal's basic pay incentive, which was $4,622 per month as of November 2012. In the case of former part-time reservists, the Earnings Loss Benefit is calculated based on 75 percent of a deemed monthly salary of $2,700.^{Footnote 4}
   
• Canadian Forces Qualification Level 5 ( QL 5): Intermediate occupational training that is mandatory for career progression for Non-Commissioned Members.^{Footnote 5}
   
• Red Seal examinations: Interprovincial examinations "… used to determine whether apprentices and experienced tradespersons meet the national standard in a particular trade."^{Footnote 6}

Origins of Vocational Assistance for Veterans in Canada

"[The] basic truth… [is] that the great majority of veterans would much rather work than receive relief in any form from the state."^{Footnote 7} This quote, by Walter  S.  Woods, the Department of Veterans Affairs' first Deputy Minister, characterizes the prominent sentiment that greatly influenced the push for Veterans' re-establishment after the Second World War. After the challenges faced by Veterans transitioning back to civilian life following the Great War, the Government of Canada was eager to not repeat the mistakes of the past and to transition more effectively the almost 800,000 soldiers who would eventually be released after May 8, 1945, Victory in Europe Day.^{Footnote 8}

One of the major changes undertaken by the Government of Canada was the universal eligibility for rehabilitation services for those released from service guaranteed by the Post-Discharge Re-Establishment Order of 1941, rather than only those who had become disabled due to service, as was the case for First World War Veterans.

The Post-Discharge Re-Establishment Order included provisions for:

… more generous pensions and post-discharge cash payouts than had been offered in the last war… [the] guarantee of resuming one's previous employment or obtaining a comparable job with one's former employer following military service, vocational retraining for all veterans up to a period equal to the time they had spent in uniform, the provision of free university education, preferences to servicemen for a wide array of civil service posts as well as with the National Employment Service for job placement; the right to claim the newly established unemployment insurance benefits for up to one year; and subsidized loans to start a business.^{Footnote 9}

The enactment of the War Services Grants Act in 1944 enhanced the benefits scheme offered to Veterans after the Second World War. This Act provided a gratuity for those who were conscripted under the National Resources Mobilization Act based on their length and type of service ( i.e.  within Canada or abroad).^{Footnote 10} Veterans who became eligible for the gratuity would also be eligible for the re-establishment credit that would allow them to claim for certain domestic and work-related items to be reimbursed by the government. The purpose of this re-establishment credit was to "… promote employment and domesticity and therefore independence and reliability – which was what the government intended."^{Footnote 11}

Due to a better transition to civilian life than after the First World War, Veterans of the Second World War were able to more easily return to the workforce and contribute to Canada's growing economy. This comprehensive re-establishment effort allowed access to education to those who would otherwise have been unable to attain post-secondary education. Some argue that because of the government's re-establishment efforts, Canada's GDP per capita exceeded that of the United States due to a catch-up in labour productivity from the mid-1940s to the late 1970s.^{Footnote 12} This, in turn, fuelled the baby boom economy that provided the trained professionals who became postwar corporate and government leaders.

Some aspects of these benefits and services are reflected in those available to modern-day Veterans. Examples include the Public Service Commission's priority appointment of medically released Canadian Forces Members to positions within the Public Service of Canada, the  SISIP  Vocational Rehabilitation Program and Veterans Affairs Canada's vocational rehabilitation and assistance for those eligible under the Rehabilitation Program. While these services are undoubtedly helpful in returning Veterans to civilian life, they pale in comparison to the number of services offered to returning Second World War Veterans (Annex A), which offered a more comprehensive re-establishment to civilian life than exists for today's Veterans.

Review of Statutory Obligations

Today, Veterans Affairs Canada's authority to administer its Rehabilitation Program comes from the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act,^{Footnote 13} more commonly referred to as the New Veterans Charter, which came into force in 2006. While the Department also dispenses benefits and services to Veterans under the Pension Act,^{Footnote 14} this Act does not offer provisions for vocational rehabilitation and assistance.

In order for a Veteran (or additionally his or her spouse or survivor) to be eligible for Rehabilitation Program services under the New Veterans Charter, the Department must determine if the Veteran has or had a "… physical or mental health problem resulting primarily from service in the Canadian Forces that is creating a barrier to re-establishment to civilian life."^{Footnote 15} Furthermore, a Veteran who "… has been released on medical grounds in accordance with Chapter 15 of the Queen's Regulations and Orders for the Canadian Forces" ( i.e.  received a medical release) is also eligible to receive Rehabilitation Program services if an application is made to Veterans Affairs Canada within 120 days of release.^{Footnote 16}

Once eligibility is determined, the Department identifies vocational or rehabilitative needs and develops and implements an Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan in order to transition a Veteran to civilian life or to restore the earnings capacity of his or her spouse or survivor.^{Footnote 17}

In developing an Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan, the Department is to take into consideration the associated principles and factors (as outlined in the regulations below) as well as current research as it pertains to rehabilitation and vocational assistance.^{Footnote 18} In addition, specific allotment for reimbursement is outlined in detail in the associated regulations.

Review of Current Regulations

The Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Regulations offer specific guidance to the Department and program administrators as to the specific monetary allotment allowable for vocational training, as well as factors that administrators must take into consideration while developing or approving an Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan.

In the development of an Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan, the Department must consider the following principles:

• Provision of services is focused on addressing the needs of the applicant;
   
• Provision of services involves family members to the extent required to facilitate the rehabilitation;
   
• Services are provided as soon as practicable; and,
   
• Services provided focus on building the Veteran's education, skills, training and experience.^{Footnote 19}

In addition to the above, the Department must also take into account the following factors:

• The potential for improvement to a Veteran's physical, psychological and social functioning, employability and quality of life;
   
• The need for family members to be involved in the provision of services;
   
• The availability of local resources;
   
• The motivation, interest and aptitudes of the Veteran;
   
• The cost of the plan; and,
   
• The duration of the plan.^{Footnote 20}

As outlined above, some factors that administrators must take into consideration while developing or approving an Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan can leave room for varying interpretation. In order to offer more guidance to the Department with reference to the cost of the plan specifically, the Regulations also specify the maximum allotment for reimbursement for a variety of items (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Expenses covered under the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Regulations^{Footnote 21}

In addition to the various reimbursements, those eligible also receive the Earnings Loss Benefit during the time they are in receipt of vocational rehabilitation or vocational assistance. The purpose of the Earnings Loss Benefit is to partially replace the income that individuals would have been making prior to their release during the time that they are in a training or educational program. The Earnings Loss Benefit is equivalent to 75% of the member's pre-release salary, less offsets.^{Footnote 22}

Program Enrolment

Once a Veteran is determined to be eligible for the Rehabilitation Program, and requires vocational rehabilitation or vocational assistance, Veterans Affairs Canada will refer the client to CanVet (the sole national contract service provider), which is responsible for determining the skills, strengths and aspirations of the client and for developing an Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan that is to be presented and either approved or denied by a departmental Case Manager.^{Footnote 23} It is the Case Manager's responsibility, as a statutory decision maker, to ensure that the educational plan meets the requirements as stated under the New Veterans Charter as well as the relevant regulations.

When the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman began looking at Veterans Affairs Canada's vocational rehabilitation and assistance services, it requested the most current statistics available on vocational rehabilitation and assistance from the last fiscal year and years prior. The statistics, found in Annexes B to F, were provided by the Department's Statistics Directorate and the Case Management, Rehabilitation and Mental Health Services Directorate.

According to the Department's statistics, the average amount of claimed tuition per client in 2011–2012 was $4,265, which was a decrease of $54 over the year prior (Annex C).^{Footnote 24} This figure is an overall average across all of the different types of educational institutions ( i.e.  college, trade school, university,  etc. ).

Of the 1,327 clients receiving vocational rehabilitation and assistance in 2011–2012 (Annex B), 436 clients had completed their Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan, of which 32 had completed some form of university training lasting on average 28 months, or 2.25 years (Annex D). As it takes an average of four years of full-time studies for an individual to complete an undergraduate degree, these Veterans were likely taking courses to complete a certificate program, completing an already commenced undergraduate degree, or enrolled in a master's degree (which takes on average two years of full-time study).

It has been difficult for the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman to determine how many Veterans are receiving training at a specific level within an educational institution or what form of skills training they are receiving ( i.e.  plumbing, heating and cooling, woodworking,  etc. ) because CanVet does not capture these statistics. Additionally, the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman has found issues with employment statistics (Annex F) because CanVet normally allows for a three-month job search period after the completion of training, as specified in the client's Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan, whether the Veteran finds work or not.^{Footnote 25} At the end of the three-month period the file is closed, stating simply that the Veteran did or did not find work.

From a program evaluation perspective, these statistics are not comprehensive enough to adequately measure the success of Veterans finding work based on their previous type of training, especially in cases where more than three months may elapse before a Veteran finds employment. An example of this would be a Veteran who finishes teachers' college in the month of April, but is not hired until the month of August or September prior to the commencement of the next school term. He or she would be considered to be unsuccessful in finding employment because more than three months elapsed and the file was closed.

The Cost and Benefit of Post-Secondary Education

In the current Canadian workforce, post-secondary education is of growing importance in many industries, especially if an individual is to be considered competitive. In the absence of certain positions or work, due to the current economic climate, many aspiring professionals have returned to educational institutions to upgrade their skills and improve their resumés. Also, because both private and public sector employers are requiring a higher level of education, there is a growing necessity for many individuals, including Veterans, to attain formal post-secondary education.

There are many benefits to having post-secondary education that not only include competitiveness in the workforce for the individual, but also higher wages and, therefore, less reliance on publicly-funded programs. Allowing eligible Veterans to be in receipt of higher education can be beneficial to the Government of Canada in both the immediate and the long term.

Average Cost of Post-Secondary Education in Canada

Despite all of the benefits of attaining post-secondary education, it is nonetheless an investment that comes with a cost. The average cost of university education in the academic year 2012–2013 is $5,581, which, according to Statistics Canada, is a 5% increase from the year previous (Figure 2).

Figure 2. Average Cost of University Tuition^{Footnote 26}

There is a disparity between the cost of tuition between colleges and universities (Figure 3), which is only exacerbated by the fact that the average full-time college program is two years in length, while the average university undergraduate program is four years in length.

Figure 3. College and University Tuition and Fees, by Province, 2010-11^{Footnote 27}

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According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, average tuition and compulsory fees for undergraduates have risen by 6.2% annually since 1990, which is three times the rate of inflation.^{Footnote 28}

As currently outlined in the Regulations, the maximum allotment for tuition for those eligible for vocational rehabilitation and assistance is $20,000.^{Footnote 29} However, if the total tuition over four years of an undergraduate degree is calculated at 2012–2013 levels, the average is $22,324.^{Footnote 30} Therefore, the maximum tuition allotment for those eligible for vocational rehabilitation and assistance services, and who wish to pursue post-secondary studies, does not meet the average for university tuition in Canada. This is of particular concern because Veterans Affairs Canada will not enter into a partial funding agreement with a Veteran if they cannot cover the entire cost of the training. For example, if a Veteran wishes to attain an undergraduate degree that costs more than the $20,000 maximum, and is willing to pay the remaining cost of the program, the Department will not agree, as it will only approve programs that are under the maximum.

While there is a renewed emphasis on skills training, as was evident in the Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan 2013,^{Footnote 31} it is important not to overlook the disparity funding currently available among university-, college- and trade-level training. While there are many programs and assistance at the federal level for those interested in pursuing trades, such as Apprenticeship Grants, the recently announced Canada Job Grant, the Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit and Tax Deductions for Skilled Tradespersons and Apprenticeship Mechanics, there is no existing funding for those interested in pursuing university education other than what is available to all students wishing to pursue post-secondary studies.

This is further exacerbated by the fact that eligible Veterans who are interested in pursuing post-secondary education as a part of their Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan are not able to pursue this education given the current $20,000 tuition maximum, while their counterparts interested in receiving trade or college training are able to do so as the fees fall within the maximum allotment.^{Footnote 32}

For example, if a Veteran who was an electrical technician in the Canadian Forces prior to his or her medical release is interested in using this skill in the civilian world to become a licensed electrician, and if the Veteran does not have  QL 5 training at the rank of a Corporal, he or she would need to attend two years of trade school prior to being able to write the provincial Red Seal Certificate and Qualification exam. This would cost on average $2,600 per year^{Footnote 33} or $5,200 total. However, if the Veteran wanted to become an electrical engineer, this would require a four-year undergraduate degree costing on average $5,581 per year, or a total of $22,324.

Under the current Regulations, the cost of becoming an electrician would be covered, as it is below the $20,000 maximum. However, the same cannot be said for the aspiring electrical engineer, whose tuition is over the maximum. In the latter instance, because of the factors of cost ( i.e.  maximum tuition), as well as duration (as stipulated under the regulations), the Veteran would not be able to attain his or her desired training goal.

The $20,000 maximum tuition allotment has not changed since the implementation of the regulations in 2006. Furthermore, the increase in tuition above the rate of inflation will aggravate the growing gap between university tuition and the maximum reimbursement for tuition, as stated in the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Regulations. Thus, for Veterans of the Canadian Forces, the distance between their desired goal of obtaining an undergraduate degree and the realization of it will only continue to increase in the future.

Other Costs Associated with Education

While one of the major expenses incurred by students pursuing post-secondary education is tuition, there are many other expenses that are essential to their success. As outlined in Figure 1, the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Regulations cover a variety of costs associated with formal training. While reimbursement for these costs is essential for those enrolled in post-secondary education, some of the current maximum reimbursements are not sufficient to cover cost in relation to Internet fees and licensing/exam fees.

Internet Fees

The maximum allotment for Internet fees under the current regulations is $25 per month. According to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, the average Canadian high-speed Internet service in 2011 cost $50 per month.^{Footnote 34} This leaves a shortfall of $25 per month for the client.

Licensing/Exam Fees

The current maximum allotment for licensing and exam fees is $500. For some trade occupations, such as plumbing and heating technicians, electrical distribution technicians and construction technicians, the current exam allotment is sufficient ( e.g.  in the Province of Ontario the exam cost for these trades is between $100 and $160).^{Footnote 35}

However, for professional designations, such as Canadian Registered Safety Professional and Certified Management Accountant, the exam allotment is not sufficient. For example, for the Canadian Management Accountant designation, the cost to take the exam in Ontario is $1,836,^{Footnote 36} which would leave a shortfall of $1,336 for the client, and the Canadian Registered Safety Professional designation costs $600,^{Footnote 37} leaving a shortfall of $100.

Using the same example as above, if a Veteran completes his or her two-year electrical program and requires provincial licensing as an electrician, then, in the Province of Ontario, the cost to take the necessary exams and receive his or her license ranges between $100 and $160, as stated above. However, in the case of a Veteran who completes a Bachelor of Engineering and wishes to receive his or her designation as a Professional Engineer, the exam and licensing costs can surpass $1,350 in Ontario.^{Footnote 38} Considering these scenarios, it is evident that depending on the Veteran's desired occupation, the regulatory amount may not be sufficient to cover the necessary costs.

Employment, Income and Retirement after Graduation

While there is much demand for skilled labour in the Canadian economy, there is also a rapidly growing market for workers with university-level education.

Canadian Business magazine, in April 2012, released a chart of the top 50 occupations with the most growth between the years 2006–2011 (Figure 4). Of the top 10 occupations, at least half ( i.e.  health policy researchers, translators, natural science policy researchers, architects and chemical engineers) usually require candidates to a university undergraduate degree at minimum.

Figure 4. Occupations by Highest Growth^{Footnote 39}

Therefore, with some of the fastest-growing occupations requiring either a college diploma or an undergraduate degree, ensuring that Veterans have the opportunity to receive either level of education becomes essential to their success in the workforce.

Regarding employment levels, it is important to note that Statistics Canada concluded in a 2012 study that those with university or college education are employed at higher rates than those with a high school diploma or without a high school diploma (Figure 5).

Figure 5. Employment Rates (25 to 64-year-olds by highest level of education)^{Footnote 40}

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Of equal importance is the fact that the benefits of post-secondary education extend beyond earnings during one's working life and into retirement. Besides the theoretical savings of larger-than-average earnings, post-secondary graduates have more earnings after retirement from higher pensions.

Statistics Canada measured this in the 2006 Census. According to their data, male university graduates, who are now seniors, made a median income of $37,452 after taxes in 2006, and senior female university graduates made $26,879. Therefore, in 2006, male university graduates earned at least $8,728 more than their counterparts in any other levels of education, while women made $6,489 more than their counterparts (Figure 6).

Figure 6. Median After-Tax Income for Seniors^{Footnote 41}

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Also, due to the greater earnings of seniors with post-secondary education, their financial burden on public programs is significantly less than other educational groups.

Benefits of Post-Secondary Education for the Government

Many of the benefits to individuals who have graduated from a post-secondary institution can be shared by the Government of Canada. Due to the low levels of unemployment among university and college graduates, overall government payout of Employment Insurance regular benefits tends to be significantly lower among university and college graduates, as compared to other levels of education. Also, eligibility for government-funded programs such as the Guaranteed Income Supplement is less likely, due to the greater earnings of seniors who are university graduates, thus again lightening the financial burden on the Government of Canada (Figure 7).

Figure 7. Percentage of Income Among Seniors by Income Level, 65 and Over^{Footnote 42}

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By avoiding possible expenditure in Employment Insurance regular benefits due to a high level of employment among those with a university education, as well as avoiding Guaranteed Income Supplement benefits due to higher levels of employment, the Government would see savings in both the intermediate and long term by increasing the maximum tuition allotment for Veterans in receipt of vocational rehabilitation and assistance services.

Skills  vs.  Motivation

As has been demonstrated, there are many different regulatory principles that Veterans Affairs Canada must take into consideration when weighing the training options for Veterans eligible to receive vocational rehabilitation and assistance. An especially welcoming one is that the Department must consider "…the motivation, interest and aptitudes of the applicant."^{Footnote 43} This is to ensure that the Veteran: 1) has the ability to complete and be successful in his or her Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan, and 2) has the want and desire to successfully complete the Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan, leading him or her to a successful transition to civilian life. This is extremely important in order to enable Veterans to find a meaningful occupation that is of interest to them.

The importance of a Veteran's ability to fulfill his or her potential was stated in the Senate Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs' interim report, entitled A Study of the New Veterans Charter. The Subcommittee concluded that in order for a Veteran and his or her family to enjoy a normal quality of life after a career-ending injury, four aspects of quality of life must be addressed: "… the veteran's health, income, the opportunity to fulfill one's potential and the veteran's position in society."^{Footnote 44} If a Veteran is unable to achieve these aspects, there could be difficulties in the Veteran successfully transitioning from military to civilian life.

Additionally, Veterans Affairs Canada must also consider "that the services provided be focused on building the applicant's education, skills, training and experience."^{Footnote 45} This principle is important in determining whether a Veteran's desires are both realistic and attainable and allow for a successful transition from military to civilian life. However, there is concern that the Department focuses too much on Veterans' existing skills and not enough on the realistic attainment of new skills and higher education. Given the sometimes differing and special skill sets needed in the Canadian Forces as compared to the civilian world, it is important to understand that different skill sets may be necessary once Veterans leave the Canadian Forces if they wish to successfully transition to civilian employment. Therefore, it is important that Veterans Affairs Canada take this into consideration when reviewing a Veteran's proposed Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Canada's commitment to Veterans and their families by providing vocational rehabilitation and assistance to them stretches back to the re-establishment of Canada's Armed Forces after the Second World War. While the eligibility and the type of training offered are much different today, the purpose remains the same, that is, to ensure that those who offered their service to Canada have the opportunity to work and make a living in civilian life after their service ends despite the injuries or illnesses they may have incurred during their service.

This report reviewed aspects of the Department's vocational rehabilitation and assistance services as offered under the Rehabilitation Program to ensure that these program elements are regulated and administered in a fair manner.

First, there is inadequate performance measurement to monitor the subject matter and level of training applicants are receiving, as well as the tracking of applicants employed following the completion of their Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan.

Second, the low number of Veterans enrolled in and completing university-level post-secondary education may point to barriers to accessibility, such as emphasis on factors including cost and duration of such training in the development of individual vocational rehabilitation plans.

Third, there is a limitation to training that builds on an applicant's existing skills, experience and training rather than based on the motivation, interest and aptitudes of the applicant.

By allowing Veterans the ability to self-actualize in the profession of their choice, regardless of what level of post-secondary education it requires, there can be significant benefits to both the Government of Canada and to the Veterans and their families.

This is why the Veterans Ombudsman makes the following recommendations for consideration by the Minister of Veterans Affairs:

Recommendation 1: It is recommended that the Department of Veterans Affairs develop appropriate program measurements to effectively monitor Veterans' progression and success in completing their Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan, including subsequent employment.

Recommendation 2: It is recommended that the Minister of Veterans Affairs amend the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Regulations to ensure that all costs associated with post-secondary education are paid.

Recommendation 3: It is recommended that the Department of Veterans Affairs Canada amend its policies relating to vocational rehabilitation and assistance to ensure that the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Regulations are liberally interpreted with regard to the cost and duration of an Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan.

Recommendation 4: It is recommended that the Department of Veterans Affairs Canada amend its policies relating to vocational rehabilitation and assistance to ensure that the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Regulations are liberally interpreted to allow more flexibility for Veterans to acquire new skills and higher education while also taking into consideration the Veteran's aptitude and motivation in the development of an Individual Vocational Rehabilitation Plan.

Annex A – Non-Medical Services Offered to Second World War Veterans Re-establishing to Civilian Life

Annex B – Number of Clients Enrolled by Year

*As of April 30, 2009

Annex C – Average Cost by Category of Reimbursement

Annex D – Training: Type, Duration and Number of Clients (2010–2011)

Annex E – Training: Type, Duration and Number of Clients (2011–2012)

Annex F – Clients Employed after Completion of Vocational Training^{Footnote 48}