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“It’s no secret the Conservatives fumbled this file 47 ways to Sunday,” he said. “And we campaigned on doing better. We courted the veteran vote. We courted Canadians’ vote on that commitment, and I have an aggressive mandate letter from Prime Minister (Justine) Trudeau outlining those responsibilities.”

These include reintroducing lifetime pensions, which were abolished when the Conservatives implemented the New Veterans Charter, a system of benefits for those who had served and were injured after the Korean War.

Focused on getting veterans into the workforce, the charter replaced pensions with a lump-sum payment for injuries and career training. But modern-day veterans, including many who served in Afghanistan, blasted it as unfair. They said the lump sums offered them less support than the previous system.

During the election, the Liberals promised to reintroduce lifelong pensions as an option for those injured while in uniform. But they also promised to increase training opportunities and top up the salaries of those who pursue a civilian career. Hehr said the department is working on both aspects.

“We’re going to be implementing those options for men and women who served in the military to go back to school to complete a four-year degree or go to a trade school if they’d like to build their lives, should that be an option they wish to pursue,” he said.

“So we want to put together a package that works for veterans that understand financial-making decisions and how to get veterans a clear choice as to what’s going to be best for them and their families going forward.”