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Bryan Neville

Veterans Ombudsman

On 25 November 2008, I had the good fortune to meet with President Larry Power and the Board of Directors for the RCMP Veterans’ Association. I would like to thank Bill Maxwell and the Board for the invitation, it was long overdue. There are important aspects of the Veterans Ombudsman mandate vis-a-vis the Force that I had to clarify with my colleagues and I had some personal baggage I had to get off my chest. 

It is very important that our colleagues in the RCMP take note that by the letter of the law—the law being the Order in Council that constitutes my marching orders as Ombudsman—I am not a “Veterans’ Ombudsman” in the truest sense of the word, I am the Ombudsman for clients of Veterans Affairs Canada. The way that this impacts on my relationship with RCMP Veterans is that I am mandated to act on their behalf only for those services that Veterans Affairs Canada is contracted to provide them. Everybody should know by now that I infer the lack of specific direction to be a freedom rather than a limitation, and I have encouraged my staff not to back away from issues that may not fall within the jurisdiction or powers that are specified in my mandate. My vision for this Office is that it be the rallying point for all of our stakeholders for issues that impact on the Veteran Community. However, as willing as I am to exercise whatever moral suasion this Office might have in any way I can on behalf of our stakeholders, I am not willing to disobey a lawful command. The reason why I say that is that the Order in Council specifically prohibits the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman from becoming involved in matters that are the exclusive jurisdiction of the RCMP, apart from those that have been expressly assigned to be administered by the Department. 

So what, right? Since I have been in Office, I have been bombarded by complaints from well meaning but misinformed colleagues from the RCMP who wish to be entitled to the Veterans Independence Program. Sorry, that is a Force headquarters issue to take up with Government. If the RCMP does not feel it is important enough for them to lobby Government on your behalf, then that is an internal problem. Rest assured, however, that if I am presented with an issue where it appears that the RCMP has not been treated fairly by Government, I will go to the wall on your behalf. The other complaint I often hear is that an RCMP presence is not manifest in the wall hangings and communications of Veteran Affairs Canada and the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman. If that is the most pressing need for our RCMP brethren from the Department and my Office, then significant inroads to satisfying it have been made. There are pictures and posters hanging in the Veterans Ombudsman’s offices in Ottawa and Charlottetown, I often wear my RCMP cuff links that Lorne Hall and Bill Gidley so graciously provided me, and Veterans Affairs Canada has an RCMP flag in the Atrium in their head office in Charlottetown. Yes, folks, we could do better but – come on – I think we all can. 

For the benefit of our RCMP Veterans, I cannot overstress how important your Veterans Association is. Get involved! It is important that your Association keep abreast of your needs and those of your families and campaign on your behalf with the Force for whatever benefits or services you feel you deserve! When I met with the Association’s Board of Directors, I pledged the support of our good offices to get a grip on the issues affecting our RCMP stakeholders and to rally support for the RCMP amongst their constituency any way I can. I hasten to add, though, we at the Office receive very little feedback from our RCMP brethren. So I encourage you all, if you are a Veteran of RCMP service, a family member or someone who is aware of a problem confronting one of our stakeholders and you don’t know if it is a Veterans Affairs Canada issue or how to get in touch with the RCMP Veterans' Association, call us toll-free at 1-877-330-4343 or send an email to info@ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca.  It may not be within our ability to do anything about it, but rest assured we will direct you or your issue to the appropriate authority. 

Pat Stogran
Veterans Ombudsman