Veterans Organizations Stand United

Veterans Organizations Stand United and demand Government Reaffirms its Social Contract to all Veterans.

This is a republication of a media release by the Royal Canadian Legion.

The Veterans Consultation Group, representing 17 Veteran Organizations, is outraged that Department of Justice lawyers representing the Government of Canada reject the view that the Government has any moral or social obligation to Veterans and their families. On behalf of these
17 Veteran groups, The Royal Canadian Legion Dominion President, Gordon Moore strongly believes that all Canadians trust the Government will honour its obligation to the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and the RCMP who willingly risk injury, illness or death to
serve our country protecting the values and way of life we all enjoy. There is also a responsibility to the families of these men and women.

In 1917, just prior to the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Conservative Prime Minister Robert Borden stated that “You can go into this action feeling assured of this, and as the head of the government I give you this assurance:

"That you need not fear that the government and the country will fail to show just
appreciation of your service to the country and Empire in what you are about to do and what you have already done. The government and the country will consider it their first duty to see that a proper appreciation of your effort and of your courage is brought to the notice of people at home…that no man, whether he goes back or whether he remains in
Flanders, will have just cause to reproach the government for having broken faith with the men who won and the men who died.”

Inherent inthese words, by the Prime Minister, was the promise and moral recognition that Canada and the Government of Canada would never forget the sacrifice its Veterans and their families make. This promise formed the basis of Canada’s legislation to support our Veterans. Moore is concerned that the Government has forgotten this commitment.

“On behalf of the Veterans Consultation Group I am asking the Government to demonstrate its social and moral obligation to all Veterans and their families who serve and continue to serve our country and assure us that there will be an expanded review of the New Veterans Charter this fall.”

 In addition Moore states, “This lawsuit highlights beyond any doubt the need to confirm the
Government’s commitment to all Veterans, to hear from Veterans and their families and to fully understand the impact of this important piece of legislation. When have injured soldiers ever sued their government?”

The money and travel related to commemorating Canada’s military history does not have meaning when soldiers are suing their government. With the 100th anniversary of World War I just around the corner, the most profound activity this Government could deliver to honour this historic event would
be to reaffirm its social contract to all Veterans and their families and assure an expanded and transparent review of the New Veterans Charter is conducted.

This is exactly what the Legion along with the members of the Veterans Consultation Group asked for in their letter to the VAC Minister in May of 2013. We are still waiting for the Minister, and indeed the government, to take action on this issue.

Opinion:  While there has been ample main stream media coverage on those killed during the Afghan conflict, there are many veterans suffering silently, primarily due to PTSD.  We have veterans that are homeless due to inadequate care, including many that have committed suicide or have contemplated it.

It is time that the mainstream media take up the mantle and report this story with the same vigour.  The overwhelming sentence that sticks in my mind from this release is:  When have veterans ever sued their government before?   That is definitely food for thought.

Should Canada's National Broadcaster Be Accountable?

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has been fighting against disclosure of documents requested by Canada's Information Commissioner, stating that some secrets are necessary for its independence and competitiveness.  The problem with that argument is that the CBC receives $1.1 Billion in taxpayer funding annually and it already has an unfair advantage over the other Canadian networks. 

While there is no argument that the CBC should be able to protect journalistic sources, the proponents for disclosure argue that as a federally funded corporation the CBC should be under the same rules as Crown Corporations, i.e what are the salaries paid to executives, travel expenditures not related to journalism, etc etc.

Suzanne Legault on Wednesday won a Federal Court of Appeal case giving her the authority to review documents CBC doesn’t want to release because they deal with programming, creative or journalistic issues.

Lacroix noted the law allows CBC to stop short of releasing information that would prejudice its competitive position.
"If you or another broadcaster that competes against us for audiences, producers, talent, and programs, want to know how much Peter Mansbridge gets paid …or CBC’s promotion strategy including how much it spends on advertising Stromboulopoulos on billboards or through a special launch of his season at [the Toronto International Film Festival], that information will not be disclosed publicly," he said.  CBC

While calling for the government and associated Crown Corporations to be more open and accountable, the CBC has resisted to be judged by the same measure, when in fact it would be incumbent upon the corporation to lead by example.  The resistance by the CBC begs the question, "What is the Corporation trying to hide?" 

Sun News Network, called "FOX News North" by some detractors, has been in the forefront in the pursuit of CBC disclosure.  Needless to say, this has caused some parties to allege that SUN News has an agenda.  Perhaps they do.  That, of course, is irrelevant in view of the fact that taxpayers should get an account of how its $1.1 Billion is spend by the CBC. 

The easy route out of this for the CBC is to give up its annual funding and conduct its business like the other media outlets.  What are the chances of that happening?  Failing that the CBC should comply with the disclosure requests, while protecting journalistic sources.  The Privacy Commissioner, in co-operation with the CBC, should be able to sort this out.