The Canadian government will pay $10.5 million to Omar Khadr, 30, a Canadian-born al-Qaeda militant who killed an American soldier, Sgt. Christopher Speer in a 2002 firefight in Afghanistan. In addition to the $10.5 million, Khadr will get an apology from the Canadian government. The case marks a stark contrast to the Canadian experience.
When Canadians have fought abroad they have joined Canada's allies and engaged in combat against Canada's enemies. My grandfather Lorne Henry Billingsley was with the Canadian forces at Vimy Ridge and other major battles of World War I. He was one of the first victims of German mustard gas attack but never received a monetary award in seven figures.
His son James Richard Billingsley, who recently passed away at 94, fought in the World War II Battles of Groningen and Oldenburg, on the enemy's home turf. He was wounded in action twice, once by a German sniper, but duly returned to his regiment and fought on. The Canadian government never issued this hero a monetary award, let alone anything in the millions.