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OTTAWA — The long delays many veterans face when applying to the government for assistance for service-related injuries has reached a new milestone.

Former service members have long been promised that the vast majority will know within 16 weeks whether they are eligible for financial compensation or medical treatment.

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But Veterans Affairs Canada says the average wait time for initial applications is now twice as long — 32 weeks — as requests for assistance outpace the department’s ability to process them.

The government is hoping to start reining in the ever-growing wait times, which advocates say add stress and frustration on veterans, by hiring and training hundreds of temporary staff.

It is also implementing a number of measures to cut red tape and speed up decision-making so veterans get the services and benefits they deserve faster.

But the union representing Veterans Affairs’ employees says what is really needed is more full-time staff as the department’s operational budget has not kept up with demand for services.