This enactment amends the Veterans Well-being Act to provide that rehabilitation services provided under the Act include the provision of service dogs to veterans.

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:

Rehabilitation services — service dogs

10.‍1 (1) The rehabilitation services provided under section 8 may include the provision of service dogs to veterans.

Provision of service dog

(2) In developing a rehabilitation plan under subsection 10(2), the Minister must assess whether the veteran’s medical or psycho-social rehabilitation needs require them to be provided with a service dog.

Regulations

(3) The Minister may, after consultation with the provinces, make regulations related to the provision of service dogs to veterans respecting

• (a) the state of health required of service dogs;

• (b) the breeding of service dogs and accessories, including vests, used to identify them;

• (c) the training and testing of service dogs and of the dog and human team;

• (d) the certification of training organizations and examiners;

• (e) the financing of the service;

• (f) anything else that is to be prescribed under this Act in relation to the provision of service dogs.

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Definition of service dog

(4) For the purposes of this section, service dog means a dog that has been individually trained by an organization specializing in service dog training to assist a person with a need related to their physical or psychological health or their social adjustment.