News Release

March 9, 2009

Minister of Veterans Affairs Announces Appointment to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board

Ottawa – The Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of Veterans Affairs, today announced the appointment of a new member to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board.

Pierre Champagne, of Warwick, Que., has been appointed to the Board for a three-year term, effective March 30, 2009.

"Mr. Champagne will make an excellent addition to the overall strength of the Veterans Review and Appeal Board," said Minister Thompson. "I am confident he will do a great job serving our Veterans and other Canadians who rely on the Board for fair and just decisions."

The Veterans Review and Appeal Board handles the reviews and appeals of disability pension and award decisions for Veterans, Canadian Forces personnel, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and certain civilians and/or their dependants. It also deals with the final appeal on War Veterans Allowance decisions made by Veterans Affairs Canada.

Created in 1995, the Veterans Review and Appeal Board is an independent, quasi-judicial tribunal that reports directly to Parliament through the Minister of Veterans Affairs. There are now 26 full-time members on the Board (including the Chair and Deputy Chair).

Mr. Champagne is a tri-lingual lawyer who has specialized in family mediation. From 1978 to 2003, Mr. Champagne was a member of the Canadian Forces Primary Reserve, where he served as a military musician and commanded several professional military bands in Quebec. Most recently, he has been working as an aide to Yvon Vallières, a long-time member of Quebec's National Assembly.

For more information, including a backgrounder on the appointment process for new members, visit the Board's Web site.

All Other Enquiries:
information@vac-acc.gc.ca