OTTAWA – The Green Party of Canada questions Harper’s Conservatives commitment to Veterans in the Budget tabled last week.
From the budget:
“The Government has increased support for veterans and their families by no longer deducting veterans’ disability benefits when calculating their Service Income Security Insurance Plan Long Term Disability, Earnings Loss and Canadian Forces Income Support benefits. These changes ensure that veterans have access to the full range of supports available to them.”
“It almost sounds like it was their idea and not the result of a six-year class action suit by over 7,000 veterans. Harper’s Conservatives spent millions of taxpayer dollars defending an indefensible position against those whose service was required by this country, causing undue stress and hardship for many service personnel,” said Green Party of Canada Veterans Affairs Critic John Percy.
“Additionally, while the increase in funding budgeted for the Last Post Fund is welcomed, and will provide $65 million over two years to double the reimbursement for veterans’ funerals and burials to $7,376 per person, this almost brings it up to the national average cost of a funeral at $11,000. However, it can be argued that money is not, nor ever has been, the relevant issue. If access to the funding is routinely denied it matters little how much money is available,” said John Percy.
Regardless of the increase there are still serious concerns about the Last Post Fund's overly restrictive criteria, excluding all except veterans who served in WW2 and Korea. “Are there not families of veterans who honourably served our country in other campaigns that require financial assistance for a dignified interment? The answer is yes, there are many in that situation,” said Mr. Percy.
“As well there are ongoing concerns about the current Means Test and the formula responsible for the denial of two thirds of applicants and we must continue to push for resolution to these outstanding issues,” concluded Mr. Percy.
-30-
Media Contact:
Stéphane Vigneault
Communications Coordinator, Green Party of Canada
cell: 613.614.4916