Veterans demand easier access to compensation for illnesses linked to military exposure

OTTAWA — Canadian veterans and their families are calling for major reforms to the military disability-compensation system following a parliamentary report highlighting the difficulties faced by former service members seeking benefits for illnesses potentially linked to toxic exposure during their military careers.

A report by the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence identified approximately 2,750 contaminated sites associated with the Department of National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces as of June 2026.

The report includes 11 recommendations intended to improve transparency, access to environmental records and assistance for personnel who may have been exposed to hazardous substances while serving.

Veterans’ advocates say former military personnel often struggle to establish connections between serious illnesses and workplace exposure because historical environmental information is incomplete, difficult to locate or unavailable in their service records.

The challenges can be especially severe for veterans diagnosed with cancer or other illnesses years after leaving the military.

One case highlighted by CBC News involves former military pilot Hakan Haytaoglu, who developed a rare and aggressive cancer after a 35-year career in the Canadian Armed Forces.

His wife, Maura-Jo Haytaoglu, fought to obtain the evidence necessary to appeal his rejected medical-benefits claim. The appeal ultimately succeeded, but her husband died before the hearing.

Veterans’ organizations say families should not have to conduct extensive investigations to obtain information already held by government departments.

The parliamentary committee has recommended that military personnel, veterans and families receive more proactive notification about contamination risks and environmental assessments at bases and other defence facilities.

Advocates maintain that improved record-keeping, greater transparency and more accessible claims procedures are essential to ensuring that veterans suffering from service-related illnesses receive appropriate support.

The federal government’s response to the recommendations remains under scrutiny.