2021-22 business plan

Letter of transmittal

The Honourable Todd Smith
Minister of Children, Community and Social Services

Dear Minister Smith:

Consistent with the requirements of Treasury Board Secretariat, I am pleased to present this 2021/2022 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, WWII 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

Executive summary

In 2019-2020, 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 2019-2020 the Commission received 40 applications for financial assistance from Veterans or their dependent relatives. Assistance was provided to 38 applicants, which resulted in expenditures of $57,740.60.

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 as per the Travel, Meal and Hospitality Directive.

A 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 the First or Second World Wars 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.

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 comprises an elected Chair and Vice-Chair, and six other Commissioners for a total of eight members.

Environmental scan

Operating under its mandate, in 2018-2019 the Commission approved 53 of the 58 applications it received. Total financial assistance provided to Veterans and/or their dependents in need was $73,048.02.

In the fiscal year 2019-2020 there was an anticipated decline in the number of requests with 40 applications received and 38 being approved. This represents a 28% reduction from the previous fiscal year and the total amount of financial assistance provided was $57,740.60.

The Commission continues to note that under its current mandate, there will be a steady decline in the number of WWII and Korean War Veterans and spouses/dependents applying for assistance. To highlight this fact, we again note that in the fiscal year 2015-2016, the number of applicants totalled 138.

At the present rate of attrition in the Veterans population, it is highly unlikely that the Commission will be relevant if its mandate extends no further than Veterans of the Korean War. The Commission will continue to lobby the Ministry for an expansion of its mandate to address the needs of modern-day Veterans.

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 and specified in all Management Board and Treasury Board Directives and/or Guidelines.

The Commission will continue to work in conjunction with the Communications and Marketing Branch through the Ministry’s social media platform, to highlight the contributions of Veterans and raise awareness on occasions of historical significance.

The Royal Canadian Legion continues as the main source of applications for assistance through Veterans Affairs Canada and the Commission will continue to meet annually with representatives of the Royal Canadian Legion’s Ontario Command, to discuss and resolve any issues that pertain to the Service Officers and applications for assistance.

The Commission will continue to reach out to other Veterans support groups e.g. Military Family Resource Centres (MFRC), to better understand the needs of our Veterans.

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 12-month period up to $2000.

The Commission is not considering any changes to its core business in 2020-2021.

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 2019-2020 assistance was provided to 38 applicants, which were all major and 0 minor disbursements. This resulted in expenditures of $57,740.60. The Commission did not use its entire allotment because of the reduced number of applications received.

In 2021-2022 the Commission expects to continue to operate within its funding base of $253,200. However, without a change to its current mandate and the declining WWII and Korean Veteran population, it is anticipated that the Commission will issue financial assistance of approximately $50,000 to no more than 30 eligible Veterans and/or spouses/dependents.

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

Financials: proposed capital expenditures

In 2019-2020 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.

The Ministry supports the Commission with one FTE (Operations Clerk), who performs administrative duties. The employee is a member of the Ontario Public Services Employee Union.

Performance measures and targets

Risk assessment and management

For 2021-2022 there are no risks identified that will potentially inhibit the Commission from fulfilling its mandate within the prescribed funding allotment.