Editor, The Times:
The Conservative government shows callous disregard in its treatment of Canada’s veterans.
Its neglect of vets is even more disgraceful when one considers that – according to research released by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation – the Harper Conservatives are spending an estimated $263 million this year on its “information services staff” or, as the CTF says, “spin doctors.”
At the same time, this government continues to fight veterans in court that seek fair compensation under the New Veterans Charter, and argues that it has no social contract or fiduciary responsibility to veterans.
When the government announced it would designate $200 million for mental health services for veterans, it implied the money would be spent over five years. Now we know that, in fact, it’s 50 years.
At an average annual expenditure of $4 million, that amounts to small change beside the hundreds of millions spent on its messaging machine this year alone. Meanwhile, Veterans Affairs managers made hundreds of thousands of dollars in bonuses for cutting costs as the department shed hundreds of jobs and closed offices responsible for disability benefits and pensions.
Veterans deserve timely access to services whereas some now wait up to eight months just to be seen.
The NDP has pledged to reopen the nine closed vets offices. Veterans and their families should be promptly given the information and tools they need to help identify mental health issues and support those in need.
This is yet another example of Conservative arrogance and disrespect of the needs of veterans and their families – it is dishonourable and it has become habitual.
Bill Sundhu,
NDP federal candidate
Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo
