Perhaps it is appropriate Minister Blackburn chose to use the phrase "drawing a line in the sand" when recently describing his government’s refusal to address the New Veterans Charter’s Lump Sum award. The battlefields of Afghanistan are arid, the sands Canadian soldiers have trod upon these past nine years have truly been bloodied with Canadian sacrifice. 152 two valiant soldiers have been slain in Afghanistan.
Bullets, RPGs and homemade improvised explosive devices have wounded hundreds, perhaps thousands, of our troops. The Taliban’s weapon of choice, the IED, is particularly vicious, designed to create as many terrible injuries as possible. Our soldiers have sustained multiple amputations and very serious injuries as the consequence.
These are the veterans who will be subjected to the lower standard created by Minister Blackburn’s line in the sand.
As primary organizer of the Canadian Veterans National Day of Protest conducted on November 6th, I can assure Canadians that the Lump Sum issue is THE primary motivational factor. Veterans have a sacred duty to those to whom we have passed the torch, it is our responsibility to ensure the wounded possess the appropriate standard of care/economic stability should they be repatriated with life altering injuries.
Minister Blackburn claims we who stood up for our troops on November 6th are uninformed, that we do not understand the complexities of the New Veterans Charter.
Untrue!
Veterans have heard Major Mark Campbell, Colonel Patrick Stogran and countless others who shall remain nameless until they are no longer bound by military protocols. We have heard the wives, the families, indeed, these stories of unnecessary hardship have only added to our commitment to resolve this unjust situation.
I would quote Major Mark Campbell, who bravely spoke out in the aftermath of the first national day of protest. Major Campbell lost both of his legs fighting to erase another line drawn in the sand. “Those of us who are severely disabled are still looking at about a 40-per-cent reduction in our income, compared to the old pension system. Does that seem like a good deal for a guy who's got no legs?"
Does it? Is Major Campbell also uninformed?
These numbers proposed are also exaggerated and disingenuously cross the line between a Veterans Affairs Pension and the LTD disability program that all soldiers are forced to purchase. The VAC pension is a tax free, non-economic award based on the degree of pain and suffering and the consequences it bears on his post-injury life. It is separate from the 75% wage replacement policy! The pensions comprising the 58000 dollars Minister Blackburn boasts are NOT, unlike VAC, tax-free! This real sum equates roughly to the Pre-NVC pension awarded to MCpl. Paul Franklin.
Mcpl Franklin’s monthly award continues for life, a poignant demonstration of the historic trust between Canada and our soldiers during times of war. The ELB, CPP disability and the SISIP LTD loss replacement payments all cease at the age of 65 and the veteran’s service pension is reduced. After taxes… what’s left for a young private missing two limbs?
Must I remind Canadians OUR veterans are STILL severely disabled? Must I remind our government that their responsibilities to these veterans do not cease at 65, but when they die? Just what do the conservatives expect these catastrophically injured veterans to do when over third of their income has been eliminated? Get a part time job at Walmart? Go on social assistance? Subsidized housing?
Reality check! Veterans pension only.
Two soldiers, one who fought valiantly on the crest of Hill 187 in Korea, 1953, the other who fought just as valiantly in the Panjawai Valley, 2007. Both are twenty-five years of age, sustained injuries commensurate with a full VAC pain and suffering pensions. Each has a lovely wife, a happy child, both live to the age of 85. Over the course of their lives, the Korean veteran received slightly over two million dollars. His wife and child were eligible for special programs/educational support.
The veteran of the Afghanistan war receives… 276 thousand dollars.
Is this how our government honours the special covenant between nation and soldier, those who would offer life and limb for Canada? Has our government become uncaring, dispassionate, desensitized to the needs of our veterans who have experienced great hardship, pain and suffering? Shall we, Canadians who believe in justice, stand idle and complacent when our government willfully implements a much lower standard for those to whom we have passed the torch?
I think not!
I think we have just begun to fight, that our cause is just!
Should the government fail to stand up for our troops, veterans will accept their responsibility to those who serve. We shall organize and we shall diligently seek to elect a government that will support our troops during the next election!
Lest we Forget!
Michael L Blais CD
Canadian Veterans Advocacy.
Canadian Veterans National Day of Protest - 2010
