Bill C-568

2nd Session, 41st Parliament,

62 Elizabeth II, 2013-2014

house of commons of canada

BILL C-568

An Act respecting former Canadian Forces members

Whereas Canadians are proud of those who have served Canada as members of the Canadian Forces;

Whereas it is part of the Canadian culture and heritage to acknowledge the services rendered by veterans and to be responsive to their health care needs;

And whereas some classes of former members of the Canadian Forces do not have access to health care benefits;

Now, therefore, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

SHORT TITLE

1. This Act may be cited as the Former Canadian Forces Members Act.

INTERPRETATION

2. In this Act, “Canadian Forces member” means an officer or non-commissioned member of the Canadian Forces as those terms are defined in subsection 2(1) of the National Defence Act.

REGULATIONS

3. Within 120 days after this Act comes into force, the Governor in Council must make regulations under the Department of Veterans Affairs Act

(a) specifying that all former Canadian Forces members who meet the Department of National Defence’s Military Occupational Classification requirements and have been released from the Forces with an honourable discharge are entitled to the care, treatment and other benefits authorized by regulations made under that Act; and

(b) respecting the circumstances in which the former members mentioned in paragraph (a) may receive any such care, treatment or other benefits.

COMING INTO FORCE

4. This Act comes into force 30 days after the day on which it receives royal assent.