Author Archives: CanucksBanter

Estimate of financial support provided to disabled Veterans under the New Veterans Charter

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Estimate of financial support provided to disabled Veterans under the New Veterans Charter

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Estimate of financial support provided to disabled Veterans under the New Veterans Charter.pdf

Changes to the New Veterans Charter

The House of Commons approved a number of enhancements to benefits provided to Veterans under the New Veterans Charter (NVC), as part of the Economic Action Plan 2015 Act, No. 1 (Bill C-59). PBO estimates the new post-65 Retirement Income Security Benefit (RISB) and the higher Earnings Loss Benefit (ELB) income threshold for part-time reservists will increase VAC’s program expenditures by $231.6 million over 10 years.  That means the total cost of providing financial benefits for disabled Veterans, including these two enhancements, is estimated at nearly $3.3 billion over the next 10 years.

Continuing cost of the mission in Afghanistan

Afghanistan Veterans make-up 18 per cent of disabled Veterans receiving NVC benefits. For the period between 2015 and 2025, PBO estimates the cost of providing financial support to Veterans who served in Afghanistan at $157.0 million.

Afghanistan Veterans are three times more likely to have a mental health diagnosis. This group is 20 years younger than those without Afghanistan service (with an average age of 41 v. 61) and will continue to collect benefits while pension earnings will offset the cost of the benefits paid to the non-Afghanistan group. Consequently, benefits paid to Veterans with mental health conditions will exceed those of Veterans with musculoskeletal conditions by 2017.

Cost of future combat missions

PBO developed a methodology for estimating the cost of providing financial benefits to Veterans of future conflicts. The estimated cost of Veterans disability benefits as a result of a single year  of military operations similar to those experienced in Afghanistan in 2007, would be $145.2 million over the period of 2017 to 2025.

Source: Estimate of financial support provided to disabled Veterans under the New Veterans Charter

A tick that feeds on birds may increase the range of Lyme disease

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Ixodes affinis

Blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are the primary vector of Lyme disease to humans, but researchers at Old Dominion University in Virginia are focusing on another tick, Ixodes affinis, even though it doesn’t bite people.

In their paper published in the Journal of Medical Entomology, “New records of Ixodes affinis parasitizing avian hosts in southeastern Virginia,” Erin Heller and co-authors document Ixodes affinis parasitizing five songbird species on which it had not previously been recorded. This is important because birds are able to travel long distances, and bring tick hitchhikers with them.

As the range of Ixodes affinis expands northwards and overlaps more with that of the human-biting blacklegged tick, the authors predict that having two competent tick vectors may increase transmission of the pathogen throughout the system and lead to an increase in the number of Lyme disease cases in humans.

This study adds to a growing body of evidence that indicates that in order to understand the spread of Lyme disease, researchers must consider the ecology of all of its various hosts and vectors. Ixodes affinis and its various feathered hosts may prove to play a significant part in the story of this potentially debilitating disease.

Source: Entomological Society of America

Source: A tick that feeds on birds may increase the range of Lyme disease | Science Codex

Daniel Sedin named NHL’s 2nd Star of the week

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Vancouver Canucks' Daniel Sedin, left, of Sweden, scores the winning goal against Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price during overtime NHL hockey action in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday October 30, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver Canucks’ Daniel Sedin, left, of Sweden, scores the winning goal against Montreal Canadiens goalie Carey Price during overtime NHL hockey action in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday October 30, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Vancouver, BC –Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin has been named the NHL’s second star for the week ending November 22.

Sedin led the NHL with five goals and ranked second with seven points (5-2-7) in four games. He scored in each of the team’s first two games: a 4-3 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Nov. 16 and a 4-1 defeat against the Winnipeg Jets on Nov. 18. Sedin then registered four points (3-1-4) including his 900th NHL point, sixth career hat trick and 74th career game-winning goal, in a 6-3 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks on Nov. 21. In registering his 900th career point, Sedin (337-567-904) became the second player in Canucks history to reach the 900-point milestone, following his brother Henrik (218-718—936). He finished the week with one assist in a 3-2 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Nov. 22.

The 35-year-old Ornskoldsvik, Sweden, native currently ranks in the top 10 in the League and leads the team in both goals (10) and points (23); he also ranks second on the club in assists (13). Sedin has registered 14 points (7-7-14) in the last 10 games and currently sits on a five-game consecutive point streak, collecting eight points (5-3-8) during that span.

Martin Jones of the San Jose Sharks and Kevin Shattenkirk of the St. Louis Blues were also named the NHL’s first and third stars, respectively.

Source: Daniel Sedin named NHL’s 2nd Star of the week

Canucks recall Pedan, Reassign Fedun

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Vancouver, BC – Vancouver Canucks General Manager Jim Benning announced today that the club has recalled defenceman Andrey Pedan from the AHL Utica Comets and reassigned defenceman Taylor Fedun to Utica.

Pedan, 22, has appeared in 15 games with Utica this season, where he currently sits tied for first among Comets defencemen in scoring with seven points (1-6-7) and leads the club with 28 penalty minutes. During the 2014.15 season, Pedan appeared in 42 games with the Comets registering 14 points (3-11-14) and 70 penalty minutes. Prior to being acquired by Vancouver on November 25, 2014, Pedan played six games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, recording three assists and 51 penalty minutes.

The Moscow, Russia native played three seasons with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League before making his professional debut in 2012.13 with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The 6’5”, 217-pound defenceman was originally selected by the New York Islanders 63rd overall in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Fedun, 27, has appeared in 14 games with Utica this season, collecting six points (2-4-6) and eight penalty minutes. He also leads the Comets in plus-minus with a +6 rating. Fedun split the 2014.15 season between San Jose and the Worcester Sharks. He collected four points (0-4-4) in seven games with San Jose and 34 points (6-28-34) in 65 games with Worcester, where he was tied for fourth in team scoring. He also appeared in four playoff games for Worcester, notching one goal.

The Edmonton, Alberta native has appeared in 11 career NHL games with San Jose and the Edmonton Oilers, posting six points (2-4-6) and four penalty minutes.