44th Parliament207Open for signatureMarch 8, 2024e-4850e-4850 (National defence and military operations)RachelDunleavyHeatherMcPhersonEdmonton StrathconaNDPABMarch 8, 2024, at 2:54 p.m. (EDT)July 6, 2024, at 2:54 p.m. (EDT)Petition to the <Addressee type="4" affiliationId="263831" mp-riding-display="1">Minister of Finance</Addressee>Whereas:The Canadian military family is the "strength behind the uniform";Civilian spouses/partners of military members are enlisted through their relationship to support combat operations and are the strength behind the uniformed family;Approximately 85% of civilian spouses/partners of Regular Forces members are female;Relationship difficulties is the most common reason to seek assistance at a Military Family Resource Centre;Intimate partner violence is higher within military populations than among non-military;Separation and divorce are higher among ill and injured military members;On average, military members experience between one to more than 10 relocation postings, every one to four years, during their career;Military relocations are paid for at government expense, which includes the cost of relocating civilian dependents of the military members;An estimated 18,500 military members are relocated in annual postings, impacting 10,000 families, resulting in civilian spouses/partners experiencing social, occupational, and spiritual consequences;At government expense, a military member is entitled to a final move upon retirement/release from service and upon the dissolution of civilian-military marriage/common-law relationships, when the couple is posted outside of Canada, the civilian spouse/partner is returned to Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Canada; andThere is currently no government support to relocated the civilian spouse/partner to their desired residence upon the dissolution of civilian-military marriage/common-law relationships.We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to provide the civilian spouse/partner a final relocation within Canada, upon the dissolution of a civilian-military marriage/common-law relationship, at government expense.Canadian ForcesMoving and storage servicesSpouses44th Parliament223Government response tabledNovember 9, 2023441-01664441-01664 (Taxation)BradVisMission—Matsqui—Fraser CanyonConservativeBCSeptember 26, 2023November 9, 2023June 20, 2023PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADAWHEREAS:
  • The Canada Revenue Agency does not recognize the separation of a couple if the two former partners maintain the same residential address, even if the two are otherwise financially independent of one another, which can affect benefit eligibility; and
  • In today's housing market, Canadians are being forced to be creative when it comes to finding adequate living arrangements, with some having no choice but to reside in their former partner's home.
THEREFORE:We, the undersigned citizens and permanent residents of Canada, call on the Minister of National Revenue to direct her department to modernize its definition of a common-law partnership to recognize that some former couples may remain at the same residence due to the high cost of housing.
Response by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of FinanceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): The Honourable Chrystia FreelandEligibility for tax measures and benefits delivered through the tax system, like the Canada Child Benefit and the Goods and Services Tax Credit, depends on different factors, including in many cases whether an individual is married, in a common-law relationship or separated/divorced. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), which is responsible for administering the Income Tax Act (ITA), including the definition of a common-law partner in the ITA, considers that it is possible for separated individuals to live separate and apart for income tax and benefit purposes, while still occupying the same residence. Whether individuals live separate and apart is a question of fact that is determined by the CRA on a case-by-case basis. 
HousingIncome taxSpouses
44th Parliament229Not certifiedOctober 26, 2023e-4403e-4403 (National defence and military operations)RachelDunleavyHeatherMcPhersonEdmonton StrathconaNDPABJune 28, 2023, at 2:05 p.m. (EDT)October 26, 2023, at 2:05 p.m. (EDT)October 26, 2023Petition to the <Addressee type="4" affiliationId="263831" mp-riding-display="1">Minister of Finance</Addressee>Whereas:The Canadian military family is the "strength behind the uniform";Civilian spouses/partners of military members are enlisted through their relationship to support combat operations and are the strength behind the uniformed family;Approximately 85% of civilian spouses/partners of Regular Forces members are female;Relationship difficulties is the most common reason to seek assistance at a Military Family Resource Centre;Intimate partner violence is higher within military populations than among non-military;Separation and divorce are higher among ill and injured military members;On average, military members experience between one to more than 10 relocation postings, every one to four years, during their career;Military relocations are paid for at government expense, which includes the cost of relocating civilian dependents of the military members;An estimated 18,500 military members are relocated in annual postings, impacting 10,000 families, resulting in civilian spouses/partners experiencing social, occupational, and spiritual consequences;At government expense, a military member is entitled to a final move upon retirement/release from service and upon the dissolution of civilian-military marriage/common-law relationships, when the couple is posted outside of Canada, the civilian spouse/partner is returned to Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Canada; andThere is currently no government support to relocated the civilian spouse/partner to their desired residence upon the dissolution of civilian-military marriage/common-law relationships.We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to provide the civilian spouse/partner a final relocation within Canada, upon the dissolution of a civilian-military marriage/common-law relationship, at government expense.Canadian ForcesMoving and storage servicesSpouses44th Parliament223Government response tabledNovember 4, 2022e-3978e-3978 (Holidays and observances)RachelDunleavyAnitaVandenbeldOttawa West—NepeanLiberalONApril 25, 2022, at 3:29 p.m. (EDT)August 23, 2022, at 3:29 p.m. (EDT)September 21, 2022November 4, 2022August 30, 2022Petition to the <Addressee type="3" affiliationId="" mp-riding-display="1">Government of Canada</Addressee>Whereas:A civilian married to, or in a common-law or committed relationship with, a military member experiences more hardships and life stresses than a civilian relationship;In 2017, there were 51,635 civilian spouses of Regular and Reserve Canadian Armed Forces members;84% of civilian spouses of Regular Forces members, living in Canada in 2017, were female;The Canadian Military Family is the "strength behind the uniform" and the civilian spouse or partner of a military member is the strength behind the uniformed family;Civilian spouses or partners of military members are enlisted to support combat operations through their relationship;Their service and sacrifice include frequent relocations and separations, under or unemployment, increased risk of injuries and illnesses, intimate partner violence, separation or divorce, caretakership, and widowship, and identity loss, thereby impacting their physical, psychological, spiritual, and financial well-being;Their resiliency is challenged by and depended on for domestic and international security;Precedence was set in 1984 when President Ronald Reagan proclaimed a Military Spouse Appreciation Day; andThe orchid is a unique and adaptable flower, with over 20,000 varieties that bloom in austere environments.We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to recognize and increase awareness of civilian spouses or partners of military members':1. Service and sacrifice by proclaiming that the Friday before Mother’s Day shall be known as “Civilian Spouse or Partner of a Military Member Appreciation Day”; and2. Resilience by proclaiming that “The Orchid” shall be known as “The Symbol of the Civilian Spouse or Partner of a Military Member”.
Response by the Minister of National DefenceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Bryan MayNational Defence recognizes that military families are the cornerstone of support for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members. Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged (SSE), underscores the Government of Canada’s commitment to military members, and their families. Family members of CAF personnel share in the stresses and strains resulting from deployments of their loved ones into dangerous operational duty, and the prolonged separations they entail. They also make important sacrifices and face challenges associated with frequent relocation such as finding new family health care providers, re-establishing child care, moving children between school and education systems, professional licensing, and dealing with the inconveniences of moving between provinces.As such, National Defence offers support mechanisms and a comprehensive package of benefits to support our members and their families, such as family and compassionate leave options, and increasing the time required to move.Additionally, to recognize the important contributions of military families, the House of Commons unanimously adopted a motion on June 19, 2019, to establish the third Friday in September as Military Family Appreciation Day. Indeed, the goal of Military Family Appreciation Day is to raise awareness of the unique challenges of military family life, and to recognize the resiliency and sacrifices of our military families as they support their loved ones serving in the CAF.Seamless CanadaIn support of SSE, National Defence and the CAF launched Seamless Canada in 2018 to improve services to CAF members and their families when they move across different provinces or territories. Since its launch, the forum has led to several improvements in all jurisdictions and enabled discussions on CAF families’ key challenges, including:
  • Improving access to health care by waiving the 90-day waiting period for CAF families to enroll in provincial health care systems;
  • Securing essential worker status of CAF members; ensuring CAF members can fulfill their duties and receive services during the pandemic;
  • Launching discussions on education barriers for students relocating between jurisdictions; and,
  • Leveraging employment and training support services for military spouses.
The most recent Seamless Canada Conference, held on June 14, 2022 in Ottawa, represented an important milestone in strengthening the partnership with provinces and territories and laying the ground work for further cooperation, including in areas such as labour mobility and CAF families’ access to health care, and child care in different jurisdictions. The next Seamless Canada Conference is expected to be held in fall 2022.BenefitsA military member has a comprehensive compensation package that is also of benefit their family. For example, this includes relocation support, compassionate travel assistance, as well as maternity and parental benefits. Moreover, should a military member be posted outside the country and the military spouse wishes to remain in Canada in order to provide consistency for a dependant student’s secondary education, the family will not have to pay for the member’s rent and utilities for the outside Canada residence.In addition, a range of leave options, including short leave and compassionate leave, are available to CAF members in order to help them fulfil important family obligations.NetworksFinally, military spouses are supported by wide-ranging networks. This includes the Military Family Services Program (MFSP), a CAF-wide community-based support program that delivers coordinated, consistent national services for families, as well as a framework for families and communities to influence and manage local priorities and services. In fact, the MFSP is delivered through Military Family Resource Centres (MFRCs) in Canada, Europe, the United States, and around the world. MFRCs provide military families with access to a wide range of support programs including child care, financial, psychosocial, employment, education, tailored relocation and transitions services, emergency, community engagement, and more. These services support the military family community who are most vulnerable and adversely impacted by the conditions of military life. That is why the bulk of the services offered through the MFSP are focused on spouses, children, and parents.In addition, through the Military Spousal Employment Network, military spouses have access to virtual career fairs, employer profiling, and employment counselling. They are able to leverage national and community employer partners, tools, programs and resources to connect with employers directly, search the online job bank, seeks assistance to transfer professional certification, and access entrepreneurship training. Ultimately, National Defence and the CAF recognizes that frequent relocations of CAF members and their families can impact their ability to find a family physician. For example, the Calian Military Family Doctor Network is a program that aims to improve access to quality health care for CAF families. Since 2015, the program has helped over 3,000 military families get connected with family physicians.National Defence and the CAF recognize the valuable contributions of military families and the sacrifices they make, and we continue to look for ways to appreciate military spouses and the support they provide. Military service places unique demands on members’ families, and it is National Defence’s aim to alleviate those demands through our package of benefits and support programs.
Canadian ForcesSpouses
44th Parliament223Government response tabledAugust 17, 2022441-00560441-00560 (Veterans' affairs)RachelBlaneyNorth Island—Powell RiverNDPBCJune 13, 2022August 17, 2022May 10, 2022Petition to the Minister of Veterans AffairsWhereas:
  • The 1901 Militia Pensions Act contained a clause, known as the 'golddigger clause' that disallowed pensions to survivors of veterans who married after the age of 60;
  • Spouses of veterans, including common-law partners, who marry after the age of 60 are not entitled to the automatic survivor pensions under the Canadians Forces Superannuation Act;
  • The National Council of Veterans Associations, the RCMP Veterans Association, and the Armed Forces Pensioner's/Annuitants' Association of Canada have advocated for the elimination of the “marriage after 60" clause;
  • The Prime Minister's 2015 and 2017 mandate letters to his Minister of Veterans Affairs directed the elimination of the "marriage after 60" clause;
  • The ”Veterans Survivors Fund” in the 2019 Budget has not been successfully rolled out to survivors of Veterans;
  • The lifespan of Canadians is much longer now than in the early 20th century;
  • We should not punish Veterans for finding love after the age of 60; and
  • Veterans are choosing to live in poverty now, halving their pension, in order to give their survivor a portion of their pension after their death.
Therefore, we the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon on the Minister of Veterans Affairs to immediately act to eliminate the "marriage after 60" clause and ensure that the spouse, or common-law partner, of a Veteran who married after age 60 automatically receives the superannuation benefit.
Response by the Minister of National DefenceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Bryan MayThe Canadian Armed Forces offer competitive salaries and world-class benefit packages that start on the first day of a member’s service, up until after they retire. To ensure members are fairly compensated for their service to Canada, National Defence continues to work to better reflect today’s reality for Canada’s Veterans.The Canadian Forces Superannuation Act, which governs the Canadian Armed Forces pension plans, allows for the payment of a benefit to a survivor and eligible children if a marriage or common-law relationship is established before the Canadian Armed Forces pensioner reaches age 60. The age limit of 60 for the Canadian Armed Forces pension plans was implemented in recognition of the fact that Canadian Armed Forces members tend to retire at an age earlier than the average Canadian.  In 1994, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled that this provision does not discriminate on the basis of age and is not in breach of the Charter (Sutherland v. Canada, 1994). The Supreme Court of Canada denied leave to appeal the decision.It is common among pension plans in Canada to limit eligibility for survivor benefits to the spouse or partners that existed when the plan member was employed.  In doing so, pension plans do not take responsibility for changes in a personal status once that person is no longer employed.The Canadian Armed Forces pension plans, however, provide a more generous benefit than most pension plans, by offering an automatic survivor benefit to partners so long as the marriage or common law union began prior to the plan member reaching age 60, irrespective of when the member retired.Additionally, in 1992, the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act was amended to give plan members some flexibility in their ability to provide protection for their post-retirement spouses or common-law partners acquired after reaching age 60.  These amendments introduced the Optional Survivor Benefit, which provide Canadian Armed Forces members with the option to reduce their pensions by 30, 40, or 50 percent in order to provide a corresponding benefit for their surviving spouse. The reduction continues for the lifetime of the pensioner unless his or her spouse predeceases him or her, or the marriage is dissolved by divorce or annulment, in which case the full pension benefit is reinstated to the member from there forward.Budget 2019 announced the Veterans Survivor Fund to support Veterans who married over age 60 and their spouses. At that time, however, data on the survivor population was not available. Since this time, Veterans Affairs Canada has worked to identify the size and characteristics of the survivor population. The Department is using the information to determine how best to support these survivors.
SpousesSurvivor pensionsVeteransVeterans benefits
44th Parliament223Government response tabledJune 6, 2022e-3825e-3825 (Veterans' affairs)KevinSewellRachelBlaneyNorth Island—Powell RiverNDPBCFebruary 3, 2022, at 3:07 p.m. (EDT)April 4, 2022, at 3:07 p.m. (EDT)April 25, 2022June 6, 2022April 6, 2022Petition to the <Addressee type="3" affiliationId="" mp-riding-display="1">Government of Canada</Addressee>Whereas:The 1901 Militia Pensions Act contained a clause, known as the ‘gold-digger clause’ that disallowed pensions to survivors of veterans who married after the age of 60;Spouses of veterans, including common-law partners, who marry after the age of 60 are not entitled to the automatic survivor pensions under the Canadians Forces Superannuation Act;The National Council of Veterans' Associations, the RCMP Veterans Association, and the Armed Forces Pensioner’s/Annuitants’ Association of Canada have advocated for the elimination of the “marriage after 60” clause;The ‘marriage after 60’ clause applies to Veterans, RCMP veterans, and all federal public servants;The Prime Minister’s 2015 and 2017 mandate letters to the Minister of Veterans Affairs directed the elimination of the “marriage after 60” clause;The “Veterans Survivors Fund” in the 2019 budget has not been successfully rolled out to survivors of Veterans;The Lifespan of Canadians is much longer now than in the early 20th century;We should not punish Veterans or any federal public servant for finding love after the age of 60; Veterans are choosing to live in poverty now, halving their pension, in order to give their survivor a portion of their pension after their death; andBill C-221 lays out the elimination of the clause and could be adopted by the government.We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to immediately act to eliminate the “marriage after 60” clause and ensure that the spouse, or common-law partner, of a Veteran who married after age 60 automatically receives the superannuation benefit.
Response by the Minister of National DefenceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Bryan MayThe Canadian Armed Forces offer competitive salaries and world-class benefit packages that start on the first day of a member’s service, up until after they retire. To ensure members are fairly compensated for their service to Canada, National Defence continues to work to better reflect today’s reality for Canada’s Veterans.The Canadian Forces Superannuation Act, which governs the Canadian Armed Forces pension plans, allows for the payment of a benefit to a survivor and eligible children if a marriage or common-law relationship is established before the Canadian Armed Forces pensioner reaches age 60. The age limit of 60 for the Canadian Armed Forces pension plans was implemented in recognition of the fact that Canadian Armed Forces members tend to retire at an age earlier than the average Canadian.  In 1994, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled that this provision does not discriminate on the basis of age and is not in breach of the Charter (Sutherland v. Canada, 1994). The Supreme Court of Canada denied leave to appeal the decision.It is common among pension plans in Canada to limit eligibility for survivor benefits to the spouse or partners that existed when the plan member was employed.  In doing so, pension plans do not take responsibility for changes in a personal status once that person is no longer employed.The Canadian Armed Forces pension plans, however, provide a more generous benefit than most pension plans, by offering an automatic survivor benefit to partners so long as the marriage or common law union began prior to the plan member reaching age 60, irrespective of when the member retired.Additionally, in 1992, the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act was amended to give plan members some flexibility in their ability to provide protection for their post-retirement spouses or common-law partners acquired after reaching age 60.  These amendments introduced the Optional Survivor Benefit, which provide Canadian Armed Forces members with the option to reduce their pensions by 30, 40, or 50 percent in order to provide a corresponding benefit for their surviving spouse. The reduction continues for the lifetime of the pensioner unless his or her spouse predeceases him or her, or the marriage is dissolved by divorce or annulment, in which case the full pension benefit is reinstated to the member from there forward.Budget 2019 announced the Veterans Survivor Fund to support Veterans who married over age 60 and their spouses. At that time, however, data on the survivor population was not available. Since this time, Veterans Affairs Canada has worked to identify the size and characteristics of the survivor population. The Department is using the information to determine how best to support these survivors.
SpousesSurvivor pensionsVeteransVeterans benefits
44th Parliament223Government response tabledJanuary 31, 2022441-00061441-00061 (Veterans' affairs)RachelBlaneyNorth Island—Powell RiverNDPBCDecember 13, 2021January 31, 2022December 8, 2021Petition to the Minister of Veterans AffairsWhereas:
  • The 1901 Militia Pensions Act contained a clause, known as the 'golddigger clause' that disallowed pensions to survivors of veterans who married after the age of 60;
  • Spouses of veterans, including common-law partners, who marry after the age of 60 are not entitled to the automatic survivor pensions under the Canadians Forces Superannuation Act;
  • The National Council of Veterans Associations, the RCMP Veterans Association, and the Armed Forces Pensioner's/Annuitants' Association of Canada have advocated for the elimination of the “marriage after 60" clause;
  • The Prime Minister's 2015 and 2017 mandate letters to his Minister of Veterans Affairs directed the elimination of the "marriage after 60" clause;
  • The ”Veterans Survivors Fund” in the 2019 Budget has not been successfully rolled out to survivors of Veterans;
  • The lifespan of Canadians is much longer now than in the early 20th century;
  • We should not punish Veterans for finding love after the age of 60; and
  • Veterans are choosing to live in poverty now, halving their pension, in order to give their survivor a portion of their pension after their death.
Therefore, we the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon on the Minister of Veterans Affairs to immediately act to eliminate the "marriage after 60" clause and ensure that the spouse, or common-law partner, of a Veteran who married after age 60 automatically receives the superannuation benefit.
Response by the Minister of National DefenceSigned by (Minister or Parliamentary Secretary): Bryan MayThe Canadian Armed Forces offer competitive salaries and world-class benefit packages that start on the first day of a member’s service, up until after they retire. To ensure members are fairly compensated for their service to Canada, National Defence continues to work to better reflect today’s reality for Canada’s Veterans.The Canadian Forces Superannuation Act, which governs the Canadian Forces Pension Plan, allows for the payment of a benefit to a survivor or eligible children if a marriage or common-law relationship is established before the Canadian Armed Forces pensioner is age 60. The age limit of 60 for the Canadian Service Pension Plan was implemented in recognition of the fact that Canadian Armed Forces members tend to retire at an age earlier than the average Canadian.  In 1994, the Federal Court of Appeal ruled that this provision does not discriminate on the basis of age, and is not in breach of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Sutherland v. Canada, 1994). The Supreme Court of Canada denied leave to appeal this decision.It is common among pension plans in Canada to limit eligibility for survivor benefits to the spouse or partner that existed when the plan member was employed.  In doing so, pension plans do not take responsibility for changes in a personal status once that person is no longer employed.The Canadian Forces Pension plan, however, provides a more generous benefit than most pension plans, by offering an automatic survivor benefit to partners so long as the marriage or common law union began prior to age 60, irrespective of when the member retired.Additionally, in 1992, the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act was amended to give plan members some flexibility in their ability to provide protection for their post-retirement spouses or common-law partners acquired after reaching age 60.  These amendments introduced the Optional Survivor Benefit, which provides Canadian Armed Forces members with the option to reduce their pensions by 30, 40, or 50 percent in order to provide a corresponding benefit for their surviving spouse. The reduction continues for the lifetime of the pensioner unless his or her spouse predeceases him or her, or the marriage is dissolved by divorce or annulment, in which case the full pension benefit is reinstated to the member from there forward.Budget 2019 announced the Veterans Survivors Fund to support Veterans who married over age 60 and their spouses. At that time, however, data on the survivor population was not available. Since this time, Veterans Affairs Canada has worked to identify the size and characteristics of the survivor population. The Department is using the information to determine how best to support these survivors.
SpousesSurvivor pensionsVeteransVeterans benefits