Legion says death benefit discriminates

Ottawa – All Canadian Forces members who have lost their lives in the service of Canada should be granted a death benefit says Patricia Varga, the Dominion President of The Royal Canadian Legion. 

Under the New Veterans Charter, the death benefit is granted to only the spouse, common law partner or children of Canadian Forces members.  Single members are not eligible.

The Royal Canadian Legion fully supported a change to this discriminatory practice at its Dominion Convention in 2010. It requested that Veterans Affairs Canada amend the New Veterans Charter to include single members. Veterans Affairs advised the Legion that single members “may choose to obtain life insurance coverage from The Department of National Defence that allows them to designate a beneficiary such as parent, sibling, or other family member.”  

“This is another example of the Government creating different classesof veterans,” says Varga. “The government has an obligation to recognize the sacrifice of all Canadian Forces members who have lost their lives in service to Canada” she continues. “The Legion will continue to advocate on behalf of all veterans including still serving Canadian Forces members and their families,” she concludes. 

For further information please contact Bruce Poulin at Dominion Command, The Royal Canadian Legion, at (613) 591-3335 ext. 241 or by cell at (613) 292-8760.

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