An update on Rachel Blaney’s work as critic for Veterans Affairs
View our November 2024 Veterans update here
View our November 2024 Veterans Week message here
View our October 2024 Flyer in French here
View our October 2024 Flyer in English here
View our May 2024 newsletter here
View our January 2024 newsletter here
View our November 2023 Veterans Week update here
View our October 2023 Women's Veterans Update here
View our June 2023 Women's Veterans Update here
View our June 2023 NATO Luxembourg trip update here
View our May 2023 ACVA update here
View our May 2023 newsletter here
View our Nov 2022 Remembrance Day newsletter here
View our Nov 2022 newsletter here
As Veterans Affairs critic for the NDP, I have been working hard to press the Government to better Veterans Affairs Canada services and discuss how Canada can better serve the Veteran community.
To view my actions in The Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, please visit my ACVA playlist on my Youtube page.
On the Marriage After 60 Clause:
I am pleased to let you know that the committee report on the study of Survivor Pension Benefits (Marriage after 60 clause) was tabled in the House of Commons recently and contains 9 recommendations for the government to follow. At that link, you will also find my NDP Supplemental Report which recommends the clause be eliminated from all federal pension legislation. The government now has 120 days to respond to the recommendations from committee.
Almost 10,000 Canadians are being punished for finding love after 60 years of age. This sexist, archaic pension clause mostly affects senior women, pushing them into the brink of poverty by refusing to pay them survivor pension benefits. The Liberals have had 7 years to keep their promise to eliminate the clause, but have failed to do so.
Minister MacAulay was asked about the Golddiggers clause on CBC’s Power and Politics on Dec. 15. He gave a rather disappointing answer, but the fact that the issue is being covered by one of the most popular political tv shows in Canada is a win, and it means our voices are being heard! You can watch the exchange here: https://youtu.be/e8KNWpR1FL8 Please share the clip!
I will not back down on the issue of the Golddiggers clause until it is removed from legislation. My bill, C-221, would fix this problem, and I will continue to press the government until the clause is eliminated.
I encourage you to share the news about the committee report, and invite people to sign the petition to support my bill: https://rachelblaney.ndp.ca/marriage-after-60-clause
For your further information, read our latest press release.
NDP actions on the marriage after 60 clause
Petitions:
https://rachelblaney.ndp.ca/marriage-after-60-clause
https://rachelblaney.ndp.ca/sites/default/files/petition_veterans_marriage_after_60_paper.pdf
Link to my Private Member’s Bill C-221
Other NDP actions on Veterans Affairs issues
Letter to minister regarding Juno Beach
Responsefrom the Juno Beach Centre