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As detailed in the Order in Council, the Veterans Ombudsman may establish a Veterans Ombudsman Advisory Committee to provide advice on matters relating to the Ombudsman's mandate. The composition of the Committee shall be determined by the Ombudsman taking into consideration the need for representation from veterans' and stakeholders' groups.
Send your nomination via email to: communication@ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca before 16 April 2008.
For more information, visit: http://www.ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca or see below.
Mandate
The mandate of the Veterans Ombudsman Advisory Committee shall be:
To advise the Ombudsman on matters relating to the well-being and fair treatment of VAC clients;
To make observations and comments on systemic problems within the VAC portfolio and recommend to the Ombudsman ways to deal with these issues;
To serve as a sounding board for initiatives or recommendations being considered by the Ombudsman's Office;
To develop and administer the annual Ombudsman's Commendations and recommend potential recipients to the Ombudsman.
Membership
The members of the Committee are drawn from persons nominated to the Ombudsman's by stakeholder groups. Membership on the Committee may include, but is not limited to, representation from:
A veteran or a member of the immediate family member of a veteran of:
WWII
The Korean War
Canada's contribution to UN Operations
Canada's contribution to NATO operations
Service in conflict areas not included above in support of GOC policy
Service in conflict area not included above in support the policy of an allied nation
Aboriginal descent
RCMP service
Members serving with:
The CF
The RCMP
VAC
Professionals with knowledge of or experience in dealing with veterans' issues from the following disciplines:
Medicine
Law
* We are not seeking representation from any specific Veterans Advocacy Groups; however, that is not to say that nominees cannot be active members of a Veterans Advocacy Group.
Nominations should be submitted by 16 April 2008 and should include the following information:
Name of the nominees
including ranks, titles and decorations if any for official correspondence);
Service background (including operational deployments if any);
Connection/relationship with and understanding of the issues related to the veteran community;
Availability for scheduled meetings, unscheduled meetings and conference calls as determined by the Chair;
Possible conflicting interests, such as:
official relationships with VAC,
receipt of veteran benefits and services if any,
formal positions with Veteran Advocacy Groups, or others.
Disclosure of possible conflicting interests is not intended to affect the selection of members of the OVO Advisory Committee, it merely protects the transparency and independence of the Office.
Attendance and Tenure
Members are appointed for a term of two years. It is expected that members will attend all meetings in the absence of exceptional circumstances. At the end of the two-year term, members may be re-appointed at the discretion of the Ombudsman for a further term of two years. The Ombudsman will endeavour to ensure that appointments of members are scheduled to allow for continuity and systematic rotation of membership. A member may withdraw from service on the Committee at any time upon written notification to the Executive Secretary. The Ombudsman may terminate membership at any time and advise the Executive Secretary to provide written notification to the member.
Reporting Structure
A Chairperson will be appointed by the Ombudsman who will sit as an ex officio member of the Committee. All members have equal status during discussions and following each meeting the Committee will submit recommendations to the Ombudsman for consideration. The authority for final decisions subsequent to Advisory Committee meetings rests with the Ombudsman.
Operations
Secretariat functions are provided by the Office of the Ombudsman. The Committee meets three times a year at a location to be determined by the Ombudsman. A number of items will be included on the agenda for meetings but the following subjects will recur on an ongoing basis.
Spring
To discuss the annual report (Ottawa)
Fall
To review the nominations for the Ombudsman Commendations (Ottawa/ Regional meeting)
Winter
To present the Ombudsman Commendations (Ottawa/Regional meeting)
Additional meetings may be held in consultation with the members and subject to the Ombudsman's approval. At the recommendation of the Committee and with the approval of the Chair, interested parties may be invited to make representations to the Committee in writing or in person, or may be granted observer status for discussion of a particular agenda item or for an entire meeting.
Confidentiality
In order to protect the confidentiality of complainants, committee members will not have access to case files. Discussions and notes of meetings are confidential and will be circulated to committee members and attendees only.
Compensation
Committee members are not entitled to remuneration; however, they will be compensated in accordance with Treasury Board travel policies and guidelines for travel expenses incurred to attend scheduled meetings.
Send your nomination via email to: communication@ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca before 16 April 2008.
For more information, visit: http://www.ombudsman-veterans.gc.ca or see below.
Mandate
The mandate of the Veterans Ombudsman Advisory Committee shall be:
To advise the Ombudsman on matters relating to the well-being and fair treatment of VAC clients;
To make observations and comments on systemic problems within the VAC portfolio and recommend to the Ombudsman ways to deal with these issues;
To serve as a sounding board for initiatives or recommendations being considered by the Ombudsman's Office;
To develop and administer the annual Ombudsman's Commendations and recommend potential recipients to the Ombudsman.
Membership
The members of the Committee are drawn from persons nominated to the Ombudsman's by stakeholder groups. Membership on the Committee may include, but is not limited to, representation from:
A veteran or a member of the immediate family member of a veteran of:
WWII
The Korean War
Canada's contribution to UN Operations
Canada's contribution to NATO operations
Service in conflict areas not included above in support of GOC policy
Service in conflict area not included above in support the policy of an allied nation
Aboriginal descent
RCMP service
Members serving with:
The CF
The RCMP
VAC
Professionals with knowledge of or experience in dealing with veterans' issues from the following disciplines:
Medicine
Law
* We are not seeking representation from any specific Veterans Advocacy Groups; however, that is not to say that nominees cannot be active members of a Veterans Advocacy Group.
Nominations should be submitted by 16 April 2008 and should include the following information:
Name of the nominees
including ranks, titles and decorations if any for official correspondence);
Service background (including operational deployments if any);
Connection/relationship with and understanding of the issues related to the veteran community;
Availability for scheduled meetings, unscheduled meetings and conference calls as determined by the Chair;
Possible conflicting interests, such as:
official relationships with VAC,
receipt of veteran benefits and services if any,
formal positions with Veteran Advocacy Groups, or others.
Disclosure of possible conflicting interests is not intended to affect the selection of members of the OVO Advisory Committee, it merely protects the transparency and independence of the Office.
Attendance and Tenure
Members are appointed for a term of two years. It is expected that members will attend all meetings in the absence of exceptional circumstances. At the end of the two-year term, members may be re-appointed at the discretion of the Ombudsman for a further term of two years. The Ombudsman will endeavour to ensure that appointments of members are scheduled to allow for continuity and systematic rotation of membership. A member may withdraw from service on the Committee at any time upon written notification to the Executive Secretary. The Ombudsman may terminate membership at any time and advise the Executive Secretary to provide written notification to the member.
Reporting Structure
A Chairperson will be appointed by the Ombudsman who will sit as an ex officio member of the Committee. All members have equal status during discussions and following each meeting the Committee will submit recommendations to the Ombudsman for consideration. The authority for final decisions subsequent to Advisory Committee meetings rests with the Ombudsman.
Operations
Secretariat functions are provided by the Office of the Ombudsman. The Committee meets three times a year at a location to be determined by the Ombudsman. A number of items will be included on the agenda for meetings but the following subjects will recur on an ongoing basis.
Spring
To discuss the annual report (Ottawa)
Fall
To review the nominations for the Ombudsman Commendations (Ottawa/ Regional meeting)
Winter
To present the Ombudsman Commendations (Ottawa/Regional meeting)
Additional meetings may be held in consultation with the members and subject to the Ombudsman's approval. At the recommendation of the Committee and with the approval of the Chair, interested parties may be invited to make representations to the Committee in writing or in person, or may be granted observer status for discussion of a particular agenda item or for an entire meeting.
Confidentiality
In order to protect the confidentiality of complainants, committee members will not have access to case files. Discussions and notes of meetings are confidential and will be circulated to committee members and attendees only.
Compensation
Committee members are not entitled to remuneration; however, they will be compensated in accordance with Treasury Board travel policies and guidelines for travel expenses incurred to attend scheduled meetings.
