NDP veterans affairs critic Rachel Blaney hosted an event on Parliament Hill to mark her study into women veterans' experiences – an issue the government has never investigated, which has hurt veteran services in Canada, a media release stated.
The event was hosted on October 16.
“Women that served our country risked their lives to protect Canadians – and yet we don’t know what life is like for them while they’re serving and after they retire,” stated Blaney, North Island-Powell River MP. “Successive Liberal and Conservative governments haven’t recognized the experience of women veterans, and now, we have almost no information on how serving impacts their physical and mental health. This must change to ensure women veterans get the services and support they need and deserve."
Blaney brought forward her study into the lived experiences of women veterans in the spring, and the investigation is now underway, the release stated. Blaney’s study looks into the treatment of injuries, physical and mental health issues, professional and economic life challenges for veteran women, the retirement and long-term care process, and the initiatives developed in allied countries to support women veterans, according to the release.
Blaney stated that her study will help improve veterans’ services and future recruitment practices, as women make up 16 per cent of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
“Women in service often feel invisible – and this needs to change,” stated Blaney. “If it doesn’t, we won’t see any changes to the CAF that are desperately needed. My study aims to give these women more visibility, so we can determine what needs to be fixed and how we can truly support women who make sacrifices to serve Canada.
“After decades of the Liberals and Conservatives refusing to listen and create space for women in service, I’m glad that New Democrats pushed to create more space for women who serve to improve veterans’ services.”
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