2019-20 business plan

Letter of transmittal

The Honourable Lisa MacLeod
Minister of Children, Community and Social Services

Dear Minister MacLeod:

Consistent with the requirements of the Treasury Board Secretariat, I am pleased to present this 2019-2020 Business Plan on behalf of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission.

Sincerely,

Colin R. Rowe
Chair

The Commission is committed to ensuring that it provides an appropriate mechanism for applications for financial assistance required by veterans in need who enlisted in the Canadian armed forces (or in an allied nation) and served overseas in a theatre of war or served with the armed forces in Canada during WWI, WWI and the Korean War. This assistance is also extended to any dependent relative of any veteran of these wars. Members of the Commission are dedicated to providing a relevant and useful service to aging veterans and their families in an effective and efficient way.

Executive summary

In 2017-2018, the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services provided the Soldiers’ Aid Commission with funding up to the amount of $253,200. The work of the Commission does not generate revenue.

In 2017-2018 the Commission received 83 applications for financial assistance from veterans or their dependent relatives. Assistance was provided to 75 applicants, which resulted in expenditures of $92,550.35.

Mandate

The Soldiers’ Aid Commission is an Operational Service Agency, established in 1915, “to take care of and to find employment for members of the Canadian Expeditionary Force..."

The Soldiers’ Aid Commission receives its legislative authority from the Soldiers’ Aid Commission Act, R.S.O. 1960, and the Soldiers’ Aid Commission Amendment Act, 1970.

The Commission operates at arm’s length from government. The members are appointed by Order-in-Council and do not have fixed terms of appointment. It is stipulated in the legislation that, “The Lieutenant Governor in Council may add such persons from time to time as members of the Commission as he/she deems advisable or may appoint a member in place of any member dying or retiring or becoming incapable of acting". The Commission selects candidates for Commissioners, recommends appointees to the Minister and elects its Chair. These members serve without remuneration but may claim out-of-pocket expenses for travel and meal expenses.

A new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Commission and the Ministry was signed by the Minister and the Chair in December 2016.

The mandate of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission is to administer applications for financial assistance made by veterans and their dependent relatives. An eligible veteran is a person in financial need who resides in Ontario, enlisted in any branch of the Canadian military and served overseas or in Canada during World War I, World War II or the Korean War. Assistance has also been extended to Allied veterans of World War II and those who served in the Merchant Navy.

An eligible dependent is the spouse of an eligible veteran with whom the veteran lived at the time of the veteran’s death, or as a spouse in a common-law union of reasonable duration.

The Commission accepts applications for financial assistance made by veterans in need or their dependents by way of the Royal Canadian Legion, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and the Royal Canadian Naval Benevolent Fund (RCNBF). The Royal Canadian Legion or Veterans Affairs Canada receives applications for assistance and completes an initial screening to confirm veteran status, obtain financial/income documentation and quotes for services being requested. Financial assistance is available to resolve a specific situation when all other resources have been exhausted. Funding is provided on an individual basis and is not provided for long-term, ongoing assistance.

The Soldiers’ Aid Commission provides funds for the following:

• Health-related items such as hearing aids, glasses, prescription and dental needs
• Home-related items such as rent, repairs, moving costs, furniture, replacement/repair of roof and furnace
• Specialized equipment such as assistive devices, wheelchairs and prosthetics, and
• Personal items such as clothing and other specialized support services

Organization

The Commission is comprised of eight members which includes an elected Chair and Vice-Chair, and six other Commissioners.

Environmental scan

Operating under its mandate, in 2016-2017 the Commission received 84 applications and approved 78 of these applications. Total financial assistance provided to veterans in need was $88,944.76.

The fiscal year 2017-2018 saw similar level of requests with 83 applications received and 75 being approved. The total amount of financial assistance provided was $92,550.35.

The Commission is fully aware that under its current mandate there will be a continuing decline in the number of WWI and Korean war veterans and spouses/dependents applying for assistance. It should be noted that in the fiscal year 2015-2016, the number of applicants totalled 138.

The Commission is also approving assistance to eligible Merchant Navy and Allied veterans, consistent with federal legislation.

In 2015, the Commission was subject to an Agency Mandate Review as part of a province-wide review of all government agencies and boards. This review also coincided with the Commission’s interest in expanding its mandate to include more recent veterans and their spouses/dependents. The Commission will continue to operate under its current mandate and is available to provide support to Ministry staff related to the future of the program.

The expected decline of applications in the coming years is further highlighted in the following statistics provided to the Soldiers’ Aid Commission by Veterans Affairs Canada:

Source: VAC Statistics Directorate Population Estimates

War Service Veteran Population (WWI and Korean War) estimates are based on the 1971 Statistics Canada Census and the 1988 Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey and are updated annually using survival rates from Statistics Canada life tables.

Strategic directions

The Commission will monitor the applications received to ensure that established rates of assistance adequately address any increase in the cost of living and the cost of devices that the aging veteran or spouse/dependent needs to improve their quality of life.

The Commission will continue to follow the Ministry’s procedures operating in accordance with all administrative policies as established by the Treasury Board Secretariat.

The Commission will work in conjunction with the Communications and Marketing Branch to establish a social media presence and develop promotional material to highlight its role in providing financial assistance to veterans.

The Royal Canadian Legion continues as the main source of applications for assistance through Veterans Affairs Canada and the Commission will take advantage of the Legion’s Service Officers network to distribute copies of its simplified guide to applying for assistance.

As part of its outreach to veterans’ organizations, the Commission will establish an annual event to host veterans from the Sunnybrook Veterans Centre.

Overview of commission’s current and forthcoming programs

As noted, the Commission’s core business is the provision of financial assistance to eligible veterans and their spouse/dependents in need.

The Commission provides financial assistance under two basic categories:

• Minor Disbursement Assistance and
• Major Disbursement Assistance.

Minor disbursement assistance

Minor assistance includes items up to $300.00 in value. Any Commission member or designated employee may approve a request under $300.00.

On behalf of the Commission, counsellors in Veterans Affairs Canada offices may grant up to $50.00 to eligible veterans without prior authorization, and between $50.00 and $300.00 to eligible applicants with telephone authorization from the Commission. Veterans Affairs Canada bills the Commission monthly for reimbursement of grants made on behalf of the Soldiers’ Aid Commission. These grants are then reviewed and approved at the Commission’s next meeting.

Major disbursement assistance

Major assistance includes items and services ranging from $300.00 to $1,500.00 in value but assistance may be increased to $2,000.00 at the discretion of the Commission to avoid unnecessary hardship. All applications for major assistance are reviewed at the Commission’s monthly meetings. Financial assistance can be granted over a twelve-month period up to $2,000.00.

The Commission is not considering any changes to its core business in 2019-2020.

Resources needed to meet goals and objectives

The Commission is not requesting any additional financial or capital resources to continue its core services or to meet the proposed expansion of its mandate.

Financials: proposed operating expenditures, projected revenues and funding requirements

In 2017-2018 assistance was provided to 75 applicants, which were all major and 0 minor disbursements. This resulted in expenditures of $92,550.35. The Commission did not use its entire allotment as a result of the number of applications received.

In 2019-2020 the Commission expects to continue to operate within its funding base of $253,200. However, without a change to its current mandate, it is anticipated that the Commission will issue financial assistance of approximately $100,000 to no more than 100 eligible veterans and/or spouses/dependents.

The Commission does not receive revenue from any source other than government.

Financials: proposed capital expenditures

In 2017-2018 the Commission did not have any capital expenditures and did not hold any capital assets. In the upcoming fiscal year, the Commission does not project any new capital initiatives.

Summary of staff numbers

Each Commissioner is appointed by an Order-in-Council. These members serve without remuneration but may claim out-of-pocket expenses related to travel and meal expenses.

Performance measures and targets

Risk assessment and management

For 2018-2019 there are no risks identified that will potentially inhibit the Commission from fulfilling its mandate within the prescribed funding allotment.