Veterans' ombudsman Guy Parent is seen during a press conference in Ottawa in this file photo. (CHRIS ROUSSAKIS/QMI Agency)

OTTAWA — Canada's veterans ombudsman wants the feds to issue a national ID card to all former soldiers.

In a report released Tuesday, Guy Parent pointed to his office's long-standing concerns with the ability of Veterans Affairs Canada to maintain contact with veterans not currently using its services.

The department "is challenged to identify, reach out to, and maintain contact with the larger group of veterans and their families who are not its clients at the present time, but who constitute its potential client population," the report states.

Parent says the ID card would improve the department's outreach to veterans who may be eligible for health and financial benefits but aren't currently in the system.