XPost: can.politics, ont.politics, nb.general   
   XPost: man.politics   
   From: gregcarrsober@gmail.com   
      
   On 28/03/2014 6:36 PM, {~_~} Раиса wrote:   
   > — CP — Mar 27 2014   
   >   
   >   
   > Tory rhetoric doesn’t meet reality: vets   
   >   
   >   
   > OTTAWA - A veterans group says there's a major disconnect between what   
   > the Harper government is saying in court about its obligation to   
   > ex-soldiers and reassurances from Veterans Minister Julian Fantino.   
   >   
   > Canadian Veterans Advocacy says a decades-old commitment to care for   
   > those who served, particularly the wounded, has been abandoned by the   
   > Conservatives even as they prepare to commemorate the sacrifices of war   
   > in Afghanistan.   
   >   
   > Federal lawyers fighting a class-action lawsuit by Afghan veterans argue   
   > the government has no special, legal obligation to soldiers and that   
   > decisions about their entitlements are matter of policy and subject to   
   > revision. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^   
   >   
   > Fantino has said publicly that the government believes it does have a   
   > responsibility to service members, who are legally bound to risk their   
   > lives for the country.   
   >   
   > Mike Blais, president of the advocacy group, says that while the   
   > Conservatives say they have an obligation, their actions go in the   
   > opposition direction.   
   >   
   > "This government is adrift, they have lost their way," Blais told a   
   > Parliament Hill news conference on Thursday. "They will pretend and   
   > portray they have a sacred obligation, but they are not walking the walk."   
   >   
   > Until Fantino or other ministers instruct federal lawyers to change   
   > their defence, or settle the lawsuit, the government's stand is a sham,   
   > Blais said.   
   >   
   > A spokesman for the minister pointed out that the government created new   
   > monthly financial benefits for the injured, increased funding for job   
   > retraining and is in the process of enacting legislation to give   
   > veterans priority hiring in the federal public service.   
   >   
   > "More must be done and minister Fantino remains committed to improving   
   > the New Veterans Charter," Nicholas Bergamini said in an email.   
   >   
   > But Bergamini did not respond to the central question of whether the   
   > government will substantially alter its position in court.   
   >   
   > The class-action case was filed in British Columbia Supreme Court in   
   > October 2012 and involves six veterans of the Afghan war. They are suing   
   > over the New Veterans Charter, which provides lump-sum payments to   
   > wounded vets for non-economic losses, such as lost limbs, as opposed to   
   > the lifetime pensions provided to veterans of previous wars.   
   >   
   > Ex-soldiers have complained that the new system is less generous and is   
   > designed to save money at the expense of the wounded.   
   >   
   > The allegations in the lawsuit have not been proven in court.   
   >   
   > The veterans ombudsman did a painstaking analysis of both systems last   
   > year and found that the new regime can be as generous as the old one,   
   > depending on individual circumstances.   
   >   
   > But Guy Parent's report said the fairness ends when the most-severely   
   > injured veterans turn 65. The new system, he said, leaves those without   
   > a Canadian Forces pension vulnerable to live out their final years in   
   > poverty.   
   >   
   > Blais' organization claims to have done its own analysis which shows   
   > veterans are severely disadvantaged, but it did not release a copy of   
   > the report on Thursday.   
   I hope the veterans are well taken care for. I live next door to a   
   Legion run care facility and know the Legion does a good job helping the   
   govt meet its obligation to veterans. PTSD care should be a top priority   
   for the Veterans Affairs Dept.   
      
   --   
   *Read and obey the Bible*   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)