Friday June 17, 2016

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Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Friday June 17, 2016 Ottawa revives Harper-era legal arguments to block pensions for injured vets Justice department lawyers will revive legal arguments advanced by the former Harper government to try to block a lawsuit by six Afghan war veterans intent on restoring pensions for injured and wounded soldiers. CBC News first reported last monthÊthat the federal government is taking veterans involved in the Equitas lawsuit back to court to try to block certain benefits for soldiers, despite a Liberal campaign promise to better support them after an era of Conservative cuts. A peace agreement of sorts, reached by former veterans affairs minister Erin O'Toole, recentlyÊexpired without any sort of resolutionÊmeaning the litigation will now proceed at the B.C. Court of Appeals. The government's handpicked lawyers will argue that Canada does not have a social contract or covenant with veterans, and that a "scheme providing benefits cannot be said to amount to a deprivation merely because claimant views the benefits as insufficient.Ó The plaintiffs have argued in court that the lump-sum payment wounded veterans receive under the New Veterans Charter Ñ as opposed to the lifetime pension that was offered to veterans before 2006 Ñ is inadequate compensation, as they receive less money over a lifetime. In court documents filed this week, the government's top class action lawsuit lawyer, Paul Vickery, said that "the submissions made by [former Conservative attorney-general Rob Nicholson] on hearing of the appeal, as set out in the factum filed by him, accurately reflect the current position of the federal government.Ó That is a controversial position among many in the veterans community as there is a long-held belief that Canada has a special responsibility to its veterans Ñ a social contract Ñ based on the promise politicians have made for generations to adequately care for those soldiers who are hurt in the li

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Friday June 17, 2016

Ottawa revives Harper-era legal arguments to block pensions for injured vets

Justice department lawyers will revive legal arguments advanced by the former Harper government to try to block a lawsuit by six Afghan war veterans intent on restoring pensions for injured and wounded soldiers.

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator - Wednesday November 11, 2015 Some have been forgotten On Remembrance Day, Canadians will remember those who fell in service to their country. Their names are etched on war graves, on memorial walls and in family scrapbooks. Every name of the war dead is accounted for. In the case of the two world wars, it doesnÕt matter where or how they died. If they served in uniform, they are remembered officially. An investigation by the Globe and Mail, however, has discovered gaps in the recent record. Some names are missing from the Afghan conflict. Military psychiatrist Dr. Greg Passey calls them "the unknown fallen," or, as the Globe says, "the unremembered." They include 59 veterans of the Afghanistan war who committed suicide. ThatÕs more than one-third of the 158 soldiers killed in the 13-year war. They are war dead, victims of wounds to their minds, yet their names are not engraved on the Afghan Memorial Vigil because they werenÕt killed by gunfire, or blown up by a roadside bomb. The high number of suicides and soldiers with mental illness and post-traumatic stress disorder should have been a bugle call for emergency repairs to a system that has failed to help the walking wounded. Some 14,000 serving members are still receiving benefits for mental-health issues. Veterans have long been fighting a losing battle for improved addictions treatment and other mental-health services, as well as better benefits and programs to help them transition out of the military. The former Harper government talked a good game about wanting to ensure veterans and serving soldiers were looked after, but deeds never quite matched their lofty words. Former senator and general Romeo Dallaire has frequently complained about "penny-pinching" by Veterans Affairs. He has called on the government to introduce a social covenant similar to one in Britain, where "a duty of care" to soldiers and veterans is recognized in law. Prime Minister Justin Tru

November 11, 2015

CBC News first reported last month that the federal government is taking veterans involved in the Equitas lawsuit back to court to try to block certain benefits for soldiers, despite a Liberal campaign promise to better support them after an era of Conservative cuts.

A peace agreement of sorts, reached by former veterans affairs minister Erin O’Toole, recently expired without any sort of resolution meaning the litigation will now proceed at the B.C. Court of Appeals.

The government’s handpicked lawyers will argue that Canada does not have a social contract or covenant with veterans, and that a “scheme providing benefits cannot be said to amount to a deprivation merely because claimant views the benefits as insufficient.”

Friday November 21, 2014

November 21, 2014

The plaintiffs have argued in court that the lump-sum payment wounded veterans receive under the New Veterans Charter — as opposed to the lifetime pension that was offered to veterans before 2006 — is inadequate compensation, as they receive less money over a lifetime.

In court documents filed this week, the government’s top class action lawsuit lawyer, Paul Vickery, said that “the submissions made by [former Conservative attorney-general Rob Nicholson] on hearing of the appeal, as set out in the factum filed by him, accurately reflect the current position of the federal government.”

That is a controversial position among many in the veterans community as there is a long-held belief that Canada has a special responsibility to its veterans — a social contract — based on the promise politicians have made for generations to adequately care for those soldiers who are hurt in the line of duty.(Source: CBC News)

Published in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix

Published in the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix