Absence of Social Contract -NDP challenges conservative government

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2014

NDP CHALLENGES THE ABSENCE OF SOCIAL CONTRACT BETWEEN VETERANS AND CONSERVATIVE GOVERNMENT

DARTMOUTH – The Conservatives are wrong to say that the federal government has no social contract or social covenant with veterans and members of the Canadian Armed Forces, according to NDP Veterans Affairs critic Peter Stoffer (Sackville – Eastern Shore).

“The federal government has a moral, social, legal, and fiduciary responsibility for the Canadian men and women who are asked to serve in harm’s way,” said Stoffer.  “It’s ridiculous that this Conservative government is denying that a social contract exists between veterans and members of the Canadian Forces and the federal government.” 

The Conservatives’ position was unearthed in recently released legal statements for a veterans’ class action lawsuit, involving Equitas Society, which is seeking fair compensation for injured veterans under the New Veterans Charter (NVC).

Stoffer noted that many pieces of veterans’ legislation include a reference to the government’s social contract with veterans, and that the NDP will be pushing to include this reference during the parliamentary review of the NVC.

“This is a century old policy, in which the federal government promises to take care of our wounded veterans and this government is the first one to break that oath. We urge the Conservative government to drop their appeal of the class action lawsuit,” said Sylvain Chicoine (Châteauguay—Saint-Constant).