Canada’s veterans are facing unacceptable wait times—often exceeding five years—for their disability claims to be processed. Despite a 2022 Auditor General’s report exposing Veterans Affairs Canada's (VAC) failure to meet its 16-week service standard for seven consecutive years, the situation has only worsened. The backlog has grown exponentially, while staffing levels remain inadequate, leaving veterans in financial distress and uncertainty.

The Auditor General’s report painted a stark picture of a system failing those who served Canada. However, things have continued to deteriorate. Since then, wait times have increased exponentially and continue to do so today. The Auditor General found that VAC was processing 43,227 files, managed by a staff of 943 employees—many on term contracts. Since then, the number of files has ballooned to 80,256, while staffing levels have barely increased. This explains why wait times have spiraled out of control.

The root cause of these delays is not bureaucratic inefficiency but insufficient resources. VAC, the Bureau of Pensions Advocates (BPA), and the Veterans Review and Appeal Board (VRAB) lack the staffing and funding needed to process claims effectively. Additionally, the tracking system fails to measure the full duration of a veteran’s journey through the claims process, further obscuring the extent of the issue.

To address this crisis, we propose three actionable solutions:

1. Increase Permanent Staffing – Fast-track hiring to restore the 16-week service standard.

2. Clear the Backlog – Allocate funds for temporary staff to eliminate existing delays within one year.

3. Improve Process Management – Establish a dedicated oversight committee to monitor claims from start to finish.

The Government of Canada must act immediately to uphold its duty to veterans. These men and women risked everything in service to the country; now, it is Canada’s turn to serve them with the efficiency and respect they deserve.