Minister of Veterans Affairs statement on the release of report into allegations of inappropriate conversations with Veterans about medical assistance in dying

Ottawa, ON – The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, today issued the following statement on the release of a Veterans Affairs Canada report into inappropriate conversations with Veterans about medical assistance in dying:

“The release of today’s report on inappropriate conversations with Veterans about medical assistance in dying offers important insight into the unacceptable situation that occurred last year.

“At no time has Veterans Affairs Canada ever had a mandate to provide advice on MAiD, and I deeply regret the distress this situation has caused for Veterans, families and stakeholders. Once again, on behalf of everyone at VAC I extend my most profound apologies to all who have been affected by the inappropriate actions of a single employee.

“The report found there to be no widespread, systemic issue in the Department. On four separate occasions, it was a single employee who inappropriately raised the issue of medical assistance in dying. This person is no longer employed at Veterans Affairs Canada.

“In no way do their actions reflect the work of the hundreds of other employees who engage with Veterans with care, compassion and respect every single day.

“My department is taking action to ensure this does not happen again. The report has identified areas for improvement, such as quality assurance, reporting, and staff training and guidance. We are moving forward on all of these. As an additional measure, an internal Audit and Evaluation will take place in 2023 to ensure we have the best possible processes and procedures in place. I want Veterans, their families, and all Canadians to know that we are taking the necessary steps to maintain their trust.”