Question:
Are Veterans and taxpayers getting good value from the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund?
Answer:
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) cannot confirm if the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund (WBF), launched in 2018 to support innovative, short-term Veterans’ well-being projects, delivers on its promises. Seven years and $70 million later, Veterans and taxpayers deserve clear, evidence-based proof that the WBF delivers meaningful results for those who served and for the public that funds the program. Without accountability, doubts persist about the fund’s effectiveness.
What VAC’s Reviews Revealed
Veterans and advocates have long questioned the WBF’s project selection and success metrics. VAC’s 2021 audit and 2023 evaluation, both publicly available, confirm concerns:
Projects often set vague goals, collected inconsistent data, and lacked proper outcome tracking, making it hard to evaluate their impact on Veterans’ lives.
Only one-third of 102 funded projects had sufficient data for review, raising doubts about transparency and accountability.
· 23 of 68 organizations received nearly two-thirds of total funds, partly due to repeat funding, despite the WBF’s stated focus on supporting new projects.
Some projects reported anecdotes or basic outputs—like the number of workshops held or guidebooks produced—rather than mandated well-being impact indicators.
VAC’s key measure—the number of Veterans reporting “very good or excellent” health—dropped from 46% in 2018 to 21% in 2021. No data was provided for 2022-23, leaving critical gaps in accountability.
VAC admits it struggles to clearly define and measure what constitutes WBF success.
Since the reports were conducted internally by VAC staff or contractors, they offer insights but lack the impartiality and rigor of an independent audit, which is essential for public trust.
Unanswered Questions
The reports can spark legitimate questions about the WBF’s transparency, fairness and effectiveness. For example, in Prince Edward Island, with fewer than 6,000 Veterans, Minister MacAulay approved over $1 million in 2021-23 for three local projects (Serene View Ranch, Lest We Forget Community Veterans Committee, and Trilogy Wellness Centre). This large financial allocation prompts concerns about possible regional bias in funding decisions.
VAC’s “women-focused” programming also raises some eyebrows. For instance, a mixed-gender meditation group was labeled as women-specific funding, without them providing any gender-specific impact data to substantiate the claim. Furthermore, VAC’s 2023 evaluation combines the funding data for Women Veterans and LGBTQ2+ Veterans into a single category, obscuring their unique needs and weakening targeted support claims for women.
Some women-specific programs have earned political praise. The Pepper Pod Inc., led by Sandra Perron, former infantry officer and Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel of the Régiment de Hull since 2017, runs the WBF’s flagship women-specific programming. Since 2018, her weekend-long Lifeshops™ have received numerous WBF grants, totaling almost $1.3 million, helping over 400 women Veterans access career transition tools and build community networks.
Yet, for even the most recognized of programs, critical questions remain. Without clear evidence beyond anecdotes, how can we confirm programs deliver lasting well-being benefits? Do the program benefits justify the levels of WBF investment made? Should all WBF-funded organizations, like charities, be required to publicly share audited financial statements to ensure transparency and accountability? Or should WBF funding be limited to registered charities to guarantee greater transparency for Veterans and taxpayers?
Recommendations for Improvement
To ensure the WBF serves Veterans and respects taxpayer dollars, VAC should:
1. Request an Auditor General’s audit for unbiased assessment.
2. Engage Veteran advisory groups to set funding priorities for diverse Veteran communities.
3. Measure success by well-being outcomes—not just dollars spent, workshops given, or photos posed for.
4. Fund groups willing to provide transparent impact and financial reports.
After seven years and $70 million ($57 million from 2018-2024 and $14.4 million for 2024-2025), Veterans and taxpayers deserve both answers and accountability. While passion drives many Veteran-supporting groups, only evidence-based data—not passion—can prove a program’s true value. Demand an independent audit from your MP or VAC’s Minister to ensure the WBF fulfils its mandate.
