Bill C-33 · 40th Parliament · Stephen Harper
An Act to amend the War Veterans Allowance Act
Government bill. Became law.
- IntroducedJune 1, 2009
- Debated in principleJune 3, 2009
- Studied by a committeeDone
- Passed its first chamberJune 3, 2009
- Passed the second chamberJune 17, 2009
- Became lawJune 18, 2009
Leading supporters
Ranked by the part each played: who is responsible for the bill, who carried it, and who spoke for it most.
- Stephen HarperPrime Minister
- Michael A. MeighenSenate · Sponsor in the Senate
- Tommy BanksSenate · SenatorThe bill is important and necessary to provide benefits to those who served in World War II and the Korean conflict.
Who carries this bill
Arrows run from the person responsible to those who answer to them on this bill. The critic leads the Senate’s scrutiny and answers to no one on it.
What it set out to do
The following executive summary is available: On 1 June 2009, the Minister of Veterans Affairs introduced Bill C-33, An Act to amend the War Veterans Allowance Act, in the House of Commons and it was given first reading. Bill C-33 amends the War Veterans Allowance Act to allow low-income Allied Veterans who moved to Canada after 1995 and resided in Canada for a total period of at least 10 years to apply for benefits. It also proposes that eligibility be expanded to include Allied Veterans of the Korean War. Family members may also receive benefits.
Summary by the Library of Parliament.
Where members stand
Votes and debate for this bill have not been read yet.
How it changed on the way
54% of the text as introduced was changed or removed by the time it became law (1,284 words introduced, 1,156 passed).
moderate changeintent kept
The bill passed with moderate revisions focused on transitional deadlines and regulatory references. Core eligibility expansions for Allied Veterans of World War II and the Korean War, plus survivor benefits, remained unchanged.
- Deadline for applications was retained but surrounding regulatory text was cleaned up.
Before: “Any applica- Veterans Health Care Regulations and Veterans Burial Regulations, 2005 35 40 tion for the benefits must be made to the Minister of Veterans Affairs no later than December 31, 2010.”
After: “Any applica- Veterans Health Care Regulations and Veterans Burial Regulations, 2005 tion for the benefits must be made to the Minister of Veterans Affairs no later than December 31, 2010.”
How precisely it is written
mostly preciseChallenging the law: HardDisputing a charge: Hard
The bill uses exact calendar dates, fixed residency periods and enumerated service conditions to define eligibility for allied veterans and survivors. A few phrases still require factual judgment about what counts as service in a theatre of operations or actual war.
Open to argument
“served in a theatre of operations during the Korean War”
The phrase leaves room for argument over which locations and duties qualify as a theatre of operations.“served in a theatre of actual war during that war”
The term requires case-by-case assessment of what constitutes actual war service.
Clear-cut
“from June 25, 1950 to July 27, 1953, inclusive”
Exact start and end dates remove any dispute about the covered period.“resided in Canada for a total period of at least 10 years beginning on or after July 27, 1953”
A measurable time threshold and fixed start date make eligibility verifiable from records.“died after October 13, 2008”
A bright-line date fixes the survivor eligibility cutoff.
Discretion. The Minister of Veterans Affairs receives applications and decides eligibility, but the statutory criteria and deadlines leave little policy discretion.
Challenging the law itself. Detailed numeric and date-based tests make a vagueness or overbreadth challenge under section 7 of the Charter unlikely to succeed.
Disputing a charge under it. Eligibility turns on verifiable facts such as dates of service, residency totals and discharge status rather than subjective standards.
Read by a language model from the royal assent text; every quoted phrase appears in the bill. A reading of the drafting, not legal advice.
Did it work?
effective
The 2019 Veterans Affairs Canada departmental evaluation of the War Veterans Allowance Program found it relevant, effective, and efficient in providing income support and enabling access to other benefits for eligible low-income war service veterans, civilians, and survivors, with timely decisions and alignment to government priorities. No statutory/parliamentary reviews, PBO/Auditor General reports, court rulings, or peer-reviewed studies specifically evaluating Bill C-33's 2009 expansions (post-1995 Allied Veterans residency or Korean War eligibility) were identified, though VAC policies confirm the amendments remain in effect.
- Evaluation of the War Veterans Allowance Program (June 2019)evaluationThe program continues to address a demonstrable need, achieves outcomes including financial security for veterans and families, operates efficiently (83% of decisions within service standards), and requires no recommendations, with 1,895 recipients as of March 2018.
- War Veterans Allowance policies (e.g., Allied Veterans - World War II, Residence Requirement)reviewVAC policies explicitly incorporate the Bill C-33 expansions, including 10-year post-service Canadian residency for Allied Veterans (post-1995 movers) and Korean War eligibility, confirming statutory implementation.
Who lobbied on it
No lobbying registration naming this bill is loaded.
Stages and dates from LEGISinfo.