Assistance Fund (W.V.A. and C.W.A.) Regulations

C.R.C., c. 1578DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ACT
Regulations Respecting Assistance Fund (War Veterans Allowances and Civilian War Allowances)Short Title

1 These Regulations may be cited as the Assistance Fund (W.V.A. and C.W.A.) Regulations.

Interpretation

2 In these Regulations,

Act
Act means the War Veterans Allowance Act; (Loi)
Assistance Fund
Assistance Fund means the moneys appropriated by Parliament for the provision of assistance in accordance with these Regulations; (fonds de secours)
Committee
Committee means the Assistance Fund Committee. (Comité)

Assistance Fund Committee

3 (1) There shall be at the head office of the Department of Veterans Affairs an Assistance Fund Committee composed of

(a) the Director, Program Operations, Veterans Services, Department of Veterans Affairs, who shall be chairman, or in his absence the Acting Director;
(b) the Assistant Director, Program Operations, Benefit Administration, or in his absence the Acting Assistant Director; and
(c) the Assistant Director, Program Operations, Client Services, or in his absence the Acting Assistant Director.

(2) The Chief, Economic Support Benefits, Veterans Services Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall be the Secretary of the Committee.

SOR/80-567, s. 1.

4 The District Authority appointed under the provisions of the Act in each district of the Department of Veterans Affairs shall be responsible to the Committee for the administration of the Assistance Fund.

5 The Committee shall

(a) coordinate the work of District Authorities with respect to the administration of the Assistance Fund;
(b) allocate moneys from the Assistance Fund to District Authorities as required;
(c) issue instructions governing the administration of the Assistance Fund for the guidance of District Authorities;
(d) report to the Minister of Veterans Affairs on the operation of District Authorities with respect to the administration of the Assistance Fund; and
(e) recommend to the Minister desirable changes in, or additions to, these Regulations.

District Authority

6 The Secretary of a District Authority shall keep such record of its meetings with respect to the administration of the Assistance Fund as the Committee shall direct.

7 (1) Subject to subsection (2), the Minister of Veterans Affairs may grant financial assistance from the Assistance Fund to a recipient under the Act or under Part XI of the Civilian Warrelated Benefits Act if that person

(a) is a resident of Canada; and
(b) makes an application to the Minister demonstrating that the assistance is required to meet an emergency or an unexpected financial contingency or to relieve financial distress.

(2) The assistance shall not exceed the sum of one thousand dollars during any calendar year.

SOR/80-567, s. 2;
.SOR/2005-282, s. 1.

8 Where in any case the District Authority is of the opinion that the recipient would be likely to apply the amount of any assistance otherwise than to the best advantage, it may direct that the payments be made to, and administered by, such person or persons as it selects.

9 The District Authority shall refer applicants for assistance from the Assistance Fund to the Welfare Services Branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs for counselling on assistance that may be available from any source.