New announcement: Matthew Fisher: As ‘go-to guy’ in Kandahar, new defence minister won respect of

Matthew Fisher: As 'go-to guy' in Kandahar, new defence minister won respect of senior officers

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Matthew Fisher
Thursday, Nov. 5, 2015

Brig.Gen. Jon Vance, right, speaks with Lt.-Col. Harjit Singh Sajjan in Kandahar City in 2008. Matthew Fisher/National Post

ROTA, Spain — Seven years ago, then Brig.-Gen. Jon Vance sought out Lt.-Col. Harjit Sajjan's crucial advice on whom to trust and whom to stay away from in the political and very real minefield that was Kandahar.

In a totally unexpected turn of events, it is now Gen. Vance, as Canada's top soldier, who will provide advice to Sajjan, who was named Wednesday as Canada's new minister of national defence.

They won't have to wait long to renew their relationship: The Canadian Forces are already spooling up to provide support for the new government's plan to quickly bring 25,000 Syrian refugees to Canada, a mission that has tentatively been given the working name of Operation Provision.

I was with a group of senior officers and NCOs on a NATO exercise in Europe as they listened intently on an Internet

link as the names of the new cabinet ministers were being read out in Ottawa. When Sajjan and his portfolio were announced there were hoots of amazement followed by immediate congratulations for a soldier turned politician that many of them knew and held in high regard.

Operating in the background in Kandahar City and even more dangerous places such as Zahri and the Horn of Panjwaii, Sajjan created a complex, proprietary chart that soldiers with Task Force Kandahar likened to "a spider web" because it identified and provided links between enemies, neutrals and those that Canadian and U.S. forces could safely work with. In so doing he worked closely with some of the most malignant and corrupt political leaders in Kandahar.

Sajjan collated such vital information for Jon Vance during his first tour as commander in Kandahar in 2008, as he had for then Brig.-Gen David Fraser in 2006. Sajjan did so a third time for then Brig.-Gen. Dean Milner when Milner led Task Force Kandahar in 2010-2011 as well as for U.S. Army Maj.-Gen. James Terry of the 10th Mountain Division, who commanded RC South for ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) at the time.

"Harj was the key. He developed a detailed, sophisticated understanding of the tribal and political dynamics," said Milner, who is now a major-general running the 1st Canadian Division.

"He (Sajjan) was very much right. Because of that he was our 'go-to guy.' He was a serious soldier but one you could also shoot the breeze with."

I came to know Sajjan during his tours with both Vance and Milner. We rode together in the back of cramped, unmercifully hot armoured vehicles as we navigated mine-infested highways and dirt tracks to meet with Kandahar's leaders — including ruthless, unpredictable war lords whose tentacles of influence reached into everything.

Sajjan spoke at length during the many stops that were part of those long, perilous journeys about how being from India and speaking Punjabi helped him to understand the Afghan culture and to communicate with locals who had learned similar languages while in refugee camps in Pakistan. Being a cop on some of Vancouver's toughest beats had, he said, given him insights into the pervasive quasi-criminal mindset that dominated much of Kandahar's leadership.

A former commander of the British Columbia Regiment, Sajjan discussed how his Sikh faith was one of his anchors and how proud he was that the Canadian Forces allowed Sikhs, who come from a long warrior tradition, to wear turbans as part of their uniforms while many other western armies did not.

"Harj kept coming back to Kandahar because he was the one who could reach out for us there," said Howard Coombs, a professor at Royal Military College who was Milner's civilian adviser in Kandahar. "He was not loath to establish first hand contact because he understood that that was the way to understand the nuances of the culture.

"I really respect him because he is intellectually agile. He impressed me more than others because he could adapt to a changing environment, with dissimilar cultures, roll with it and figure out ways to solve problems. He was real value-added."

When I spoke with Sajjan after he announced his candidacy for the Liberals in Vancouver South earlier this year, he modestly scoffed at my suggestion that he might soon become defence minister. In an email to me after winning his riding two weeks ago, he wrote that he was looking forward to reviewing the files on ISIL and Syria, among others.

But he gave no hint that he was being considered as minister of national defence, let alone that he might be immediately thrown this week into intensive planning with his old boss.

"I believe that the positive relationships that people establish in hazardous place such as Afghanistan bode well later on," Coombs said. "In this case it signifies something positive for defence that the minister and the commander of the Canadian Forces deployed together, worked well together and are back together again."

National Post

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The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: STE. ANNE'S HOSPITAL STANDARDS....DEFINITION, ETC

-----Original Message-----
From: Wolf Solkin [xxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: November-03-15 7:53 PM
To: Walter Natynczyk
Subject: Re: STE. ANNE'S HOSPITAL STANDARDS....DEFINITION, ETC.

Dear General.....many thanks for your prompt and detailed reply. I was, as is evident,, unaware of the situations you described, and I am, accordingly, encouraged by it, especially if those other facilities are housed within a single structure , such as Ste. Anne's.

And yes, I would appreciate your having someone knowledgeable from VAC contact me re any further information not addressed in this regard....that should also serve to get me out of your hair, at least for the nonce.

Respectfully,

Wolf.

Sent from my iPad

> On Nov 3, 2015, at 4:46 PM, Walter Natynczyk <Walter.Natynczykxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Wolf, thanks for your note and I can appreciate your concerns.
>
> The two-tier long-term care standards are in operation in all of the transferred hospitals that are currently being administered by the respective provinces.
>
> I have visited Perry Rideau, Sunnybrook, Deer Lodge in Winnipeg and the Broadmead Lodge in Victoria. In many of the facilities we support (and there are a total of 1500 care facilities coast to coast) we have a mix of your level of care and a community standard of care.
>
> If you wish, I will have someone from the Department give you an overview of the care support and answer any additional questions you may have.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> WJN
>
>
>
>>>> Wolf Solkin <xxxxxxxxxx> 03/11/2015 3:50:44 PM >>>
> Dear General: the closer we get to April 1st, 2016, the more essential it is to be fully informed and properly prepared for that which is about to befall us immediately thereafter.
>
> The core issue underlying VAC's various post-transfer assurances, is
> that of maintaining the present high standards of treatment and care of the Veterans at Ste. Anne's Hospital,without diminution, disruption or degradation; and the tactic tailored to uphold that immutable condition is to be the proposed "two- tier" system of operation.
>
> The primary purpose of this letter is to ascertain whether there exists any established, agreed definition /description/delineation of such a set of standards, so as to render it possible to unambiguously discern and decide whether they are being respected or rejected. And, should that not be the case, to urgently request that such a document be quickly , yet thoroughly , prepared and promptly promulgated.
>
> I refer, as exemplars, to such issues as number and classifications of staff (i.e., doctors/nurses/orderlies) per number of patients, and on each shift (day, evening, night); number of baths/per patient/per week; excluded medications, if any; number of masso-therapy, foot care, zoo-therapy and various other special treatment sessions allowed per annum; time lapse allowed for replacement of eyeglasses, dentures, hearing aids and batteries; any limitations on physiotherapy, ergo therapy sessions; and so on, down a very long list of like elements.
>
> Without any definitive description and clarification of the otherwise very vague reference to "existing standards of care", the acutely necessary monitoring of the day-to-day operation of the Quebec-controlled treatment of Canada's vanishing Veterans at Ste. Anne's, will be both mute and moot, as will indubitably be any effort to implement the touted two-tiered concept, which appears to be at the very root of VAC's projected program for those Veterans still living out their declining days at Ste. Anne's.
>
> And, of course, this path of inquiry inevitably leads to my repetitive queries about the pertinence and effectiveness of VAC's projected "oversight" mechanism; representation from within the pertinent patient population; and assignment of a qualified VAC ombudsman, in situ.
>
> But all else must first emanate, ab initio, from a clear-cut depiction of every one of the major designated specific standards of service and care, which are here at stake.
>
> I would deeply appreciate the courtesy of your helpful reply.
>
> Respectfully,
>
> Wolf William Solkin.
>
>
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPad

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New announcement: Hiring veterans not a priority for O’Toole

Hiring veterans not a priority for O'Toole

In the first six months of 2015, which corresponded to O'Toole's inaugural tenure, the Public Service Commission reports that he oversaw the priority hiring of zero medically released veterans. Since 2010, Veterans Affairs Canada has priority hired only six veterans, two of whom were hired by the Veterans' Ombudsman.

By SEAN BRUYEA |
Published: Monday, 10/12/2015 12:00 am EDT
Last Updated: Tuesday, 10/13/2015 1:01 pm EDT

OTTAWA—For the first time in eight decades, issues affecting Canada's military veterans issues are featured prominently in an election.

With so much at stake, why would government yet again mess up another issue with veterans: priority hiring into the federal public service? Veterans Affairs Minister Erin O'Toole, in another installment of government hype on the treatment of veterans, provided this statement during the July 2015 changes to priority hire veterans: "The Government of Canada is keeping its commitment to help military veterans thrive while making the transition to civilian life."

Prior to these changes, only medically-released members could have one chance to be priority hired. Serving members weren't allowed to access internal competitions, representing 88 per cent of public service job openings. Changes now allow Canadian Forces members to access internal competitions but with no priority placement. Non-medically released veterans can have priority accessing only external jobs, representing the remaining 12 per cent of competitions. After World War II, all overseas veterans received preference in all competitions, the injured having the highest preference, no time limits, and multiple attempts.

Time will tell if priority-hiring amendments are working, but are the minister, his department, and the rest of the civil service helping veterans "thrive"? In the first six months of 2015, which corresponded to O'Toole's inaugural tenure, the Public Service Commission reports that he oversaw the priority hiring of zero medically released veterans. Since 2010, Veterans Affairs (VAC) has priority hired only six veterans, two of whom were hired by the Veterans' Ombudsman.

O'Toole isn't the only veteran in the upper ranks of Veterans Affairs. Former top general, Walter Natynczyk was appointed deputy minister in November 2014. These two individuals are the two most powerful individuals in VAC and arguably the most influential veterans inside government. They aren't the only ones piling on endless platitudes but why the gaping chasm between media talking points and dawdling?

The current government has manifestly professed its commitment to veterans while demonstrating an iron grip on the public service. Yet, in the first six months of 2015, the entire 250,000 strong federal civil service could only priority hire 21 veterans.

In the past five years, 6,162 CF members have received medical releases out of a total of 24,000 releases. Troublingly, the public service has engaged only 446 veterans, or less than 7.2 per cent, of medical releases for those years, (veterans released other years would have also qualified further lowering the per cent).

Of the approximately 3,500 employees at VAC, only 97, or 2.7 per cent, are veterans, eleven of whom work in the Ombudsman's Office. Most of these were not priority hires. A cornerstone commitment accompanying the controversial veterans' benefits known as the New Veterans Charter was priority hiring. In the nine years since its enactment under the Conservative government, Veterans Affairs Canada has made just 25 veteran priority hires. Correctional Services, Public Works, Employment and Social Development, as well as Fisheries and Oceans, all priority-hired more veterans than the department legally mandated to "care" for and "re-establish" veterans.

National Defence has better fulfilled an obligation to veterans with 838 veteran priority hires, 71 per cent of the total. But the booby prize goes to the Veterans Review and Appeal Board (VRAB). With more than 100 employees and a perennial insensitivity to veterans, this agency priority hired just one veteran in 11 years. This must be what the public service wants because the chief bureaucrat during this time, Dale Sharkey, was last month awarded the Public Service Award of Excellence. Her nominator: VRAB's director of communication. Back patting and rhetoric over substance.

Does all this mean the public service discriminates against veterans? Some veterans employed in the public service have made this allegation. Perhaps the greatest barrier is the public service culture. As the auditor general and DND have noted, hiring an individual can take 10 months while their application meanders through bureaucratic obstacles. When Canadian Forces members are ordered overseas at 48 hours' notice to potentially lose their lives, government's dull-witted response when the uniform comes off is a distant cry from the caring and dignity this government keeps telling veterans they deserve.

One astute committee member noted during hearings on the changes to the priority hiring bill: "why aren't we thinking outside of the box in which we tend to think right now?"

Enlightenment, compassion, and innovation appear anathema to the senior public service. There are time limits for the priority hiring window. Yet, for disabled veterans, the only expiry date on their disability is death. For spouses, if a veteran is too ill to work, she is barred from priority hiring.

More than 70 per cent of the priority placements are in clerical positions. For some, worthy jobs, but O'Toole tells us our veterans have a wide-ranging skill set. In fact, there is no unique veteran specific follow-up to ensure that veterans are not frustrated, bored, undervalued, under-performing or suffering discrimination in a public service culture, which is widely divergent from that of the military.

When Canadians join the military, they are constantly trained, taught, and transitioned into responsibility with some of the best mentoring management culture in the public or private sector. There is no gradual transition into a new public service job for the few accepted. All applicants must satisfy narrow criteria that either discourage or disqualify anyone outside the public service. Bureaucratic culture has a difficult time translating private sector skills to a public service context. No wonder almost all departments, except DND, have been unable to translate military skills sufficiently to substantively employ large numbers of veterans.

Neither are disabled veterans supported to take on partial workweeks to adapt their limitations to new employment. Anecdotally, veterans are too frequently unable to make the transition from disability to 100 per cent work schedule in an unfamiliar work environment.

But we really don't know because we don't care enough about our veterans to do any meaningful follow-up let alone provide urgently required coaching. And our veterans need a helping hand. Fully 60 per cent of recent releases have 20 years or less military service with 38 per cent having five years or less. They want a job and their skills are a must-have for a stagnant public service.

For veterans who are sloughed off onto civilian not-for-profits, we have no idea how they are doing because there is no accountable follow-up. Washing hands of veterans by the government to outside agencies has taken on a mean, hot-potato streak in the last decade.

Let's put this all in perspective. In the six years after World War II, Canada's federal civil service hired more than 130,000 veterans. By 1951, Veterans Affairs had 14,000 employees; almost 9,500, including more than 95 per cent of senior managers, were veterans. For all veterans in any employment, particularly the disabled, personalized follow-up was part of the package. Case managers met with veterans and employers on a regular basis to help 'translate' the military skill set and working limitations of veterans into civilian context.

"Walt" Natynczyk provided the following in a scripted news release: "Those who wear the uniform of the Canadian Armed Forces serve Canada with loyalty, pride, and a commitment to excellence." Each military member does this for each and every Canadian at the orders of the Government of Canada. Canadians have increasingly appreciated this reality of late.

Discouragingly, government is far too mired in political self-interest, advised by the parochial and initiative-paralyzed bureaucracy to tangibly return the commitment in kind to our veterans and their families. Are veterans 'thriving' O'Toole? The best many veterans have been able to achieve, if they aren't committing suicide, is to merely survive.

Sean Bruyea, vice-president of Canadians for Accountability, is a retired Air Force intelligence officer and a frequent commentator on government, military, and veterans' issues.

news@hilltimes.com

The Hill Times

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New announcement: ONE VETERAN'S VOICE STE. ANNE'S HOSPITAL SERVICE STANDARDS START SLIDING DOWN SL

ONE VETERAN'S VOICE by Wolf William Solkin

"S.......O......S"

"STE. ANNE'S HOSPITAL SERVICE STANDARDS START SLIDING DOWN SLIPPERY SLOPE"

Not too many moons ago, this old Algonquin Regiment "brave" sent up a smoke - signal that spelled out what I personally knew about the commendable conditions and standards of care THEN extant under Veterans Affairs Canada at my current billet, Ste. Anne's (Veterans) Hospital . In that opinion piece, I contrasted the present positive performance with my fearful forecast and core conviction that, no sooner will Ste. Anne's fall from grace at VAC by being transferred (kicking and screaming all the way) into what I see as the quagmire of Quebec's unhealthy Health Dep't., then all bets are off, and we will become orphans in the storm of poorer provincial protocols and crass cost-cutting, courtesy of "Bully-Boy" Barrette and his bunch of benighted bureaucrats and political pals.

That column was titled "TODAY AND TOMORROW(?)", and it was my (naive) assumption that the egregious era of "TOMORROW" would be yet a while before making its foreboding appearance on the scene....certainly not before the "Transfer Tremors" takeover.. Not so, I regret to remark upon and report !
Even now, the portentous cracks in the very foundation of Ste. Anne's unique culture of care and concern are visibly spreading, and showing , on the surface, what further fissures lie below, awaiting their turn and time of eruption.

At this juncture, I refer particularly to the employee/staff situation which , like the recent stock market behaviour, has taken a sudden downturn in the quantity and quality of its customary "blue chip" elements. Those "securities", in our case, are the knowledgeable nurses and the extraordinary orderlies who attend to us 24/7.....at least, what remains of them, after the many early retirements, resignations and other ship-jumpings that have already taken place , due to rampant job insecurity and general frustration with the administration's misbegotten modus operandi.

Of late there has been a spate of sudden and/or lengthy absenteeism on the part of an unacceptable number of essential employees, frequently leaving the shift staff seriously short-handed, and, by the same token, leaving us Vets in the uncertain and spotty care of far less experienced (and betimes strictly unilingual ) "newbies"*** ; retirees pressed into service long after their shelf life has expired, or, even less desirable, simply no replacements whatsoever, causing standards to be sacrificed on the altar of austerity, or perhaps even that of insouciance, while "marching in place" and marking time until the problem falls within the province of the Province.

I have just been informed that the main reason for deliberately calling in "newbies" to fill staff shortages , rather than experienced and available "veteran" employees, appears to be that the latter must be paid at a higher rate than the former, thus helping "Management" to show a better "bottom line"! All at the expense (no pun intended) of the pre-existing higher standards of care...yet another step down that slippery slope which endangers Ste. Anne's erstwhile reputation for its stellar services to Canadian Veterans.


While some absences may be lscheduled vacations or days off, more and more seem attributable to other causes. Overwork has caused some blazing burn outs, resulting in prolonged medical leave; and what has previously been the familiar "Friday Flu", that now ubiquitous virus seems to have significantly spread not only into Saturdays and Sundays, but is wending its way into weekdays as well.

The consequences are as self- evident as they are unavoidable, especially due to the seeming regrettable rush to cut costs, no matter the cost. The current consensus /'vox populi' is that employee morale is sliding downhill on a slippery slope, with diminished standards of care as the booby-prize at the bottom. The reliable staff members that still show up as scheduled are often requested/entreated/pressured into "doing a double" (shift), often until they are too tired to stand on their feet; orderlies and nurses are switched from floor to floor, or even wing to wing, at will and without notice; muted mutterings have replaced happy 'hellos', and every exhausted employee seems to be bearing the burden of two, as they breathlessly hurry hither and thither to try to properly attend to the needs of their above normal assignment/quota of patients in a timely fashion, while still attempting to maintain their usual high levels of care and attention.....for the most part, like Sisyphus, facing an ever-impossible mountain to climb.

Moreover, these staff shortages can cause delays in meals and other essential services which, in turn, create a domino effect whereby previously tightly scheduled appointments with clinicians such as physio and/or occupational therapists, as well as with a wide variety of visiting medical specialists, must, of necessity, be rapidly rescheduled or, as is too often the case, postponed for a prolonged period of time....hardly a desirable outcome, nor is it, in the slightest, up to Ste. Anne's standard "standards of care".

Again, due to staff shortages, some patients have even had to miss their once-weekly(!) bath on more than one occasion, which is totally unacceptable, and an augury contrary to the oft-repeated and avowed /proclaimed VAC pledge that the vaunted high standards of care at Ste. Anne's will never be reduced Don't get me wrong....if one has to reside in a long-term care facility, this is still a darn good place to be....but it is definitely becoming less so with each passing day, as it anxiously awaits the provincially-suspended Sword of Damocles to plunge into its very essence.

I say, enough of the present on-site administration fantasizing that all is 'tickety -boo', and 'business as usual' is ongoing until the onset of Nirvana, in the form of their vision of a seamless transfer/transition which they trumpet will yet occur. God may be in his heaven, but all's not well with the world of Ste. Anne's. Hypothetically, it would be ideal if someone with some savvy from VAC's HQ could come here and just mingle and talk with a random sampling of the floor nurses, orderlies and patients, to determine whether or not I'm babbling through my beret. If my observations and evaluation of this incipient situation prove to be correct, then concrete corrective measures should/must be implemented immediately, from the top down, before the proverbial fan gets hit too hard.

On second thought, the above suggestion would be impossible to act upon, as the floor staff have been instructed, in no uncertain terms, that it is forbidden for them to speak to patients about anything pertaining to the hospital, other than matters related to their immediate duties at hand, under penalty of serious consequences. In effect, if they rock the boat, they risk being made to "walk the plank". And as for speaking out to "outsiders"... why, that would be courting a veritable court martial !

We Veterans will undoubtedly lose a lot of things on a number of fronts during and due to the transfer troubles that we will soon be facing. Notwithstanding, the one element that must be protected and preserved above all else, and is germane to our sense of security and satisfaction which comprises the essential aspect of our life at Ste. Anne's, is the culture of peerless care combined with the wonderful work ethic which has hitherto permeated the rank-and-file personnel. The SAH patients and floor staff have for decades enjoyed a mutualistic/symbiotic relationship , which should be permitted and encouraged to flourish undiminished and undamaged, without fear or favour.

That is what we Vets were promised. That is what we Vets deserve. That is what we Vets expect.

What was once a warm and welcoming work place is fast becoming one of conflicts and complaints, and this inevitably shows up in the reduced degree of care and time allotted, plus unraveling of reciprocal relationships, all contra-indicated for the patients' well-being. And all this starting to simmer this summer, long before the actual transfer is even consummated !

I lay no blame whatsoever on the employees. The fault lies in their confounded confusion and uncertainty about what they do not yet know about their future, coupled with their basic distrust and discontentment with what little they do know of that which lies ahead.

Just reading my diatribes and nodding your concurrence to yourself as you nod off, won't accomplish diddly squat, unless YOU write a letter, make a call, or send an email to the person whom YOU are personally paying to represent YOU as your Member of Parliament , and instruct him/her to respond to (y)our "S O S" ........."SAVE OUR. STAFF" !!!

And please, Lest We Forget......
LEAVE NO VET BEHIND !
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Wolf William Solkin.

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New announcement: BBCanada.com is pleased to be participating in B&Bs for Vets

BBCanada.com is pleased to be participating in B&Bs for Vets, a Canadian tribute to our veterans and military personnel. First developed in the USA in 2008, this promotion has grown throughout North American B&Bs and Inns offering FREE rooms to commemorate Veteran's Day / Remembrance Day in 2015.

Canadian B&Bs will be offering the night of November 10 or November 11, 2015 FREE or discounted to a veteran or a member of the military as listed below. Please contact the B&B operator directly to book your stay by e-mail or telephone as online reservations are not applicable. Proper identification is required and a charge card number may be required in order to reserve a room. Participating B&B for 2015 are added daily and some B&Bs will offer year round vets specials through the Canadian Forces Appreciation Program.

On behalf of BBCanada.com and all its members we would like to thank our veterans and military personnel for their commitment to our country. Please enjoy a night in a B&B - It's always better the B&B way! Listed below are the 2015 participating B&Bs and Inns.


http://www.bbcanada.com/bbforvets

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New announcement: ONE VETERAN'S VOICE - TODAY and TOMORROW Ste Anne

ONE VETERAN'S VOICE
by Wolf William Solkin

"TODAY and TOMORROW (?)" @ Ste.ANNE's (VETERANS) HOSPITAL



TODAY, It is reasonably accurate to say that, by and large, we Veterans at Ste. Anne's Hospital are still "enjoying the good life", with excellent health care standards, attentive and experienced employees, an effective staff-to -patient ratio, ready access to overarching medical and dental treatment, plus ample recreational/entertainment activities and facilities. The whole is embodied within a "hands-on" employees' culture of concern and compassion, to the substantial satisfaction of all of us on the receiving end of such bounty, which we now consider to be "normal". That is a fair assessment, based upon my personal experience, of the "facts of life" at Ste. Anne's, as they stand....."TODAY ".



BUT, and it is a very BIG "BUT" we are now perilously perched on the precipice of a very steep cliff, and will soon (next April Fools' Day ! ) be pushed over the perilous edge, into the deep, dark pit of the formal transfer/transition of Ste.Anne's from the caring hands of Ottawa's Veterans Affairs, to the clawing clutches of Quebec's Health Department and its heavy-handed Minister Barrette, whose main mantra appears to be..."My Way, or the Highway!".

"TOMORROW" is when , where , and how our pains and problems will increase exponentially, in spite of the well-meaning and sincere assurances from Veterans Affairs Canada, that nothing of significance will change for us here. Those soothing statements stem from the recently signed Transfer Agreement which, among other crucial concessions, commits Ottawa to pay Quebec a substantial " per diem" financial subsidy, to be used for the express purpose of providing each of us with our accustomed high standards of care.



So much so, to the extent that VAC plans to create and operate a "Two-Tier" system, wherein we Vets will receive a higher grade of care than the forthcoming "civilian" patients. Realistically, it is patently not feasible that such a duality of programs be implemented, with all of us housed within the one hi-rise building, containing only one clinic floor, one pharmacy, one physio/occupational therapy facility, one kitchen, and so on, unto one indivisible set of "common elements" (e.g., auditorium, library, , staff offices, etc.), albeit entirely administered and completely controlled by the Province of Quebec, as "The New Sheriff in Town"....starting "TOMORROW".

I I can but envision the ensuing confusion, confrontations and contradictions, as a re-make of the iconic "Abbott & Costello" classic comedy routine of "Who's on First ?....What's on Second ..?..
Why's on Third ?"...and so on , until major meltdown inevitably moves in.


I do not doubt the sincerity of VAC's belief that their "Dream Scheme" will work out as planned, but I fear that, before long, Ottawa (and we Vets) will be low man on Quebec's totem pole. We all know that the tail should not wag the dog, and that the fox should never be assigned to guard the hen-house, but that is exactly what I predict will happen to us at Ste. Anne's, on the morrow, unless "TODAY" we exercise our own due -diligence. keep our own eyes wide open, report our own complaints, protect our own rights, and defend our own way of life by speaking up, acting out, and participating prominently to mitigate what surely promises to be a traumatic transition...."TOMORROW".

If it is axiomatic that " only the squeaky wheel gets the oil", then just picture the possible production of petroleum we might be provided with, if we are willing and able to raise one helluva holler in the hallow halls of the legislatures in both Ottawa and Quebec, BEFORE "they" hammer the final nail to close the coffin of transfer tribulations, with us still inside, while there is yet some "wriggle room". And even after that, we must keep banging loudly on the lid until the public, if not the complacent and compliant politicians on our payroll , hears us and calls for our release from the potentially harsh conditions of our confinement, and the restoration of all our rightful rights,versus only some residual remnants.


We "grass roots" Veterans at Ste. Anne's MUST be included, in one form or another, as part and parcel of the Transfer/Transition process, becoming truly and directly represented on and heard by the VAC "Oversight Committee" and/or the hybrid "Transition Team.....to ignore that, would be the worst "oversight" of all ! Otherwise, we could well wake up one not-so-fine morning, only to find that Ottawa's subsidy for/to SAH has somehow mysteriously wandered its way over to some new bridge to nowhere, or some other obscenely overpriced construction projects, or (Heaven forbid !) even to some plump political pockets , or some bagman's snazzy sox !

In the final analysis , the bottom line is : who, in Ottawa , is going to be responsible for properly transmitting the "per diem" subsidy funds for Ste. Anne's Veterans ? ; who, in Quebec, is going to be responsible for disbursing those funds to Ste. Anne's ?; who is going to be responsible for keeping track of the application of said funds ?; who is going to be responsible for reporting any discrepancies , anomalies or just plain, old -fashioned fraud and chicanery ?; and to which body?; and who, if anyone, is going to have the full authority and responsibility for enforcing meaningful measures to rectify any wrong-doings ?

In essence, who will be charged, on an ongoing basis ( far beyond the initial three-year "guarantee" period), with the ultimate responsibility of closing the barn door before too many prized horses are gone ? Or, to go further forward with the rural metaphor, who on God's green earth will watch over the proper and promised use of the per diem dollars in the Ste. Anne's Hospital hen-house....the feral fox from Quebec, or the more fair-minded but unpredictable, fickle farmer from Ottawa ?

We must all be ever-vigilant and protest aggressively against various terms of the Transfer Agreement and its more roughshod regulations and collateral repercussions...of prohibitive parking fees for visitors , volunteers and employees...of less qualified and fewer staff, as linked to protection of seniority and retention of the very special current crop of nurses and orderlies...of inadequate security measures...of increased meal charges for all non-Veterans...of the potential for misapplication of private funds donated specifically to the Veterans for their exclusive use ...of who gets to enjoy the fruits of the SAH Foundation's labours in raising funds for the welfare of "their" Veterans, and many, many more factors that could well become "Game-Changers" for all of us who are here "for the duration".

Good faith and good intentions alone will not prevent us from being overcome by the powerful and destructive force of the Transfer/Transition Tsunami now on our near horizon. Our only chance for any survival at all, is if we work our bony butts off NOW, to preserve and inject more of what we treasure "TODAY", into what I fearfully foresee will be coming down the pike "TOMORROW" !

And, as ever, please remember to....
...LEAVE NO VET BEHIND !


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A VETERAN'S VOICE: Intro / TRANSFER of Ste Anne by Wolf Solkin WWII Veteran
http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=15356.0


VETERANS' VOTES ARE VITAL by Wolf William Solkin
http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=15823.0

ONE VETERAN'S VOICE - A VETERAN AND HIS VOICE
http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=15824

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Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: VETERANS' VOTES ARE VITAL by Wolf William Solkin

A VETERAN'S VOICE
by Wolf William Solkin

"VETERANS' VOTES ARE VITAL"


It has indeed been the iconic Biblical "Threescore years and ten" since our generation of WW II Veterans finally forced the foes of our freedoms , the Nazis and the Fascists, to abandon their destructive and dastardly efforts to rule over us by dictatorship defeating democracy.

At that time we were all so truly proud and happy that autocratic rule over most of the world was replaced by the democratic process, whereby we were primarily granted the ("God-given"?)) right to VOTE, to select and/or reject our nation's leaders.

There were, of course, many other precious rights and freedoms that we gained, but they could not have surfaced, let alone thrived, without our first having the cornerstone upon which they could be built...free and fair elections, whereby we could express our desires and demands for our preferred way of life by (s)electing those legislators whom we felt would best represent our best interests.

However, and sad to say, as the years came and went, so too did our enthusiasm and interest for engaging ourselves and concerning ourselves with governing ourselves, wane and decrease to the point of diminishing (electoral) returns.

To quote from a recent article written by Pete McMartin of the 'Vancouver Sun', ..."In all,the adjusted turnout for the 2011 federal election was 58.5 per cent, second lowest in the country's history...The largest voter turnouts came in the decades after the Second World War.. Perhaps the visceral connection between sacrifice and the democratic process was more evident to voters...(and Veterans)...then, because it was literally paid for in blood...".

Right on ! There is no question that many of us, have slowed down, drowsed off and grown fat...OK, no need to be ashamed of our weight. But there is a great need to be deeply ashamed of not carrying our weight, when it comes down to our real responsibility to act as responsible citizens, in determining the continuing way of life for that very same country of ours for which we few fought so fiercely to keep our freedoms flourishing. "Our" war of yore may be long over, but there are still battles to be fought for our country within our country.....not with bullets, but with ballots !

Both as Veterans and as part of the total Canadian citizenry, we are faced with myriad problems which affect us today, and will affect our children and grandchildren tomorrow and the day(s) .following. Not only what will become of my vanishing vintage of Vets, but also, and equally if not more important, the current and future treatment of our "younger" brothers -in-arms, who fought just as hard and bled just as much, trying to keep the peace in perilous places like Somalia, Bosnia, Rwanda,Haiti, the Middle East and many others, plus "the pick of the litter" being Afghanistan. Enough said !!

And that is by no means all that should concern us as Veterans. What about such things as the economy , higher taxes, cost of living increases, unemployment and so on down the very long line of important matters affecting not only you, but your family, your neighbours, your community and, for that matter, your/our whole darn country ? Or do you just not care anymore, and have become indifferent to what's happening in and to the world outside your own little comfort zone ?

"So what?", you say....I'll tell you " what" ! We Canadians have a national election coming up this 19th of October, and while I will never presume to tell anyone whom to vote for, I do dare to demand that we all get off our bony butts to participate in our cherished democratic process. Help to elect the representative(s) whom, after due diligence, you decide will best act on your/our personal and collective behalf, as Veterans of all ages and all military operations. Check him/her out very carefully, satisfy yourself that your choice will not just talk the talk, but actually walk the walk, and is prepared to do so in your old service boots !

Your duty as a Canadian /Veteran is far from over. You fought for and preserved a democratic way of life; now is the time for you to benefit from your victory by voting for those candidates who will most truly and consistently recognize, respect and reinforce the rights of all true Veterans all across Canada.

Voting is not simply a right or a privilege. I look upon voting as an obligation that we Veterans should/must fulfil at all costs, and I sometimes even consider the possible advantages of enforceable mandatory voting laws, such as now exist in some forward-looking countries. Whatever your view, let your views be known to the people who are even now submitting their resumes and applying to you and me for the pretty cushy yet highly critical job of performing as OUR public servants and doing OUR bidding for the forthcoming years.

So do yourself, your family, your friends and your fellow-Vets a forever favour, by going out to VOTE, and getting out the VOTE !!!!

And always remember to....
...LEAVE NO VET BEHIND !

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The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: Military Veterans get increased access to government jobs

Military Veterans get increased access to government jobs
Military Veterans and Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel get increased access to federal public service jobs

Les vétérans militaires ont dorénavant un accès accru aux emplois du gouvernement
Les membres et les vétérans des Forces armées canadiennes (FAC) obtiennent un accès accru aux emplois dans la fonction publique fédérale

June 30, 2015 – Ottawa – Veterans Affairs Canada

The Honourable Erin O'Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs announced today that the Veterans Hiring Act (Bill C-27) comes into force tomorrow, July 1, 2015.

The Veterans Hiring Act makes it easier for Canadian Armed Forces personnel who are leaving the military to secure jobs in the federal public service. It does so by amending the Public Service Employment Act (PSEA)—the Act which governs the federal public service staffing process.

Starting on Canada Day, eligible military Veterans and Canadian Armed Forces personnel will have increased access to jobs with the federal government.

Quick Facts

• Canadian Armed Forces Veterans whose medical release is attributable to military service are eligible for up to five years of statutory priority hiring status in the federal public service.
• Statutory status provides the highest level of priority in the hiring process.
• Canadian Armed Forces Veterans whose medical release is not due to a service-related injury or illness are eligible for up to five years of regulatory priority hiring status in the federal public service, an increase from the current two years.
• Canadian Armed Forces Veterans who honourably release with at least three years of military service will now receive preference in externally advertised public service employment processes.
• Still-serving Canadian Armed Forces personnel and military Veterans who honourably release with at least three years of military service will now be able to view and apply for internally advertised public service employment processes.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada is keeping its commitment to help military Veterans thrive while making the transition to civilian life. With the coming into force of the Veterans Hiring Act, we have moved one step closer to achieving this goal. The federal public service will benefit from having more military Veterans join its ranks. Canadian Armed Forces Veterans bring more to the table than a set of valuable skills; they bring dedication, loyalty and integrity to all they do."
The Honourable Erin O'Toole, Minister of Veterans Affairs

"Those who wear the uniform of the Canadian Armed Forces serve Canada with loyalty, pride, and a commitment to excellence. The Government knows Veterans will continue to exhibit these qualities after their time in the Forces is complete. That is why we are encouraging them to join the federal public service."
The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of National Defence

Related Products

• Bill C-27
• News Release – Harper Government Improves Veterans' Access to Federal Public Service Jobs
• News Release – Government of Canada Announces Priority Hiring for Injured Veterans
• Backgrounder – Priority consideration for federal public service jobs for medically released Veterans with a service-related injury
• Backgrounder – Improved Access to Federal Public Service Jobs for Veterans

Associated Links

• Infobytes – Hiring Veterans in the Government of Canada
• Hire a Veteran
• Priority Job Appointment in the Public Service

Veterans Affairs Canada is committed to ensuring Veterans are treated with the care, compassion and respect they deserve. Veterans and their families are at the centre of everything VAC does.

– 30 –

Contacts

Martin Magnan
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs
613-992-7468

Media Relations
Veterans Affairs Canada
613-992-7468

Communiqué
Pour diffusion immédiate

Les vétérans militaires ont dorénavant un accès accru aux emplois du gouvernement
Les membres et les vétérans des Forces armées canadiennes (FAC) obtiennent un accès accru aux emplois dans la fonction publique fédérale

Le 30 juin 2015 – Ottawa – Anciens Combattants Canada

L'honorable Erin O'Toole, ministre des Anciens Combattants, a annoncé aujourd'hui que la Loi sur l'embauche des anciens combattants (le projet de loi C 27) entrera en vigueur demain, soit le 1er juillet 2015.

La Loi sur l'embauche des anciens combattants facilite l'accès à des emplois dans la fonction publique fédérale pour le personnel des Forces armées canadiennes en voie de libération, en modifiant la Loi sur l'emploi dans la fonction publique (LEFP), la loi qui régit le processus de dotation au sein de la fonction publique fédérale.

À compter de la fête du Canada, les vétérans militaires et les membres des Forces armées canadiennes admissibles auront un meilleur accès aux emplois au sein du gouvernement fédéral..

Faits en bref

• Les vétérans des Forces armées canadiennes libérés pour des raisons médicales attribuables au service militaire ont un droit de priorité d'embauche statutaire au sein de la fonction publique fédérale pour une période maximale de cinq ans.
• Grâce à la priorité statutaire, les vétérans bénéficient du plus haut niveau de priorité dans le processus d'embauche.
• Les vétérans des Forces armées canadiennes dont la libération pour des raisons médicales n'est pas liée à une blessure ou à une maladie attribuable au service bénéficient d'un droit de priorité d'embauche réglementaire dans la fonction publique fédérale pour une période maximale de cinq ans, une période plus longue par rapport à la période actuelle de deux ans.
• Les vétérans des Forces armées canadiennes libérés honorablement, qui ont cumulé au moins trois années de service militaire se verront maintenant accorder la préférence dans le cadre des processus de nomination externes de la fonction publique.
• Les membres actifs des Forces armées canadiennes et les vétérans libérés honorablement qui ont cumulé au moins trois années de service pourront maintenant voir les offres d'emploi internes annoncées à la fonction publique et postuler à ces emplois.

Citations

« Le gouvernement du Canada tient sa promesse d'aider les vétérans militaires à bien réussir leur transition au civil. L'entrée en vigueur de la Loi sur l'embauche des anciens combattants est un pas de plus dans cette direction. La fonction publique fédérale tirera profit du fait que des vétérans joindront ses rangs. Les vétérans des Forces armées canadiennes apportent plus que de précieuses compétences. Tout ce qu'ils font, ils le font avec dévouement, loyauté et intégrité. »
L'honorable Erin O'Toole, ministre des Anciens Combattants

« Ceux et celles qui portent l'uniforme des Forces armées canadiennes servent le Canada avec loyauté, fierté et un engagement à l'égard de l'excellence. Le gouvernement sait que les vétérans continueront à démontrer ces qualités après leur service dans les Forces. C'est pour cela que nous les encourageons à se joindre à la fonction publique fédérale. »
L'honorable Jason Kenney, ministre de la Défense nationale

Produits connexes

• Projet de loi C-27
• Communiqué de presse – Le gouvernement Harper améliore l'accès des vétérans aux emplois offerts dans la fonction publique fédérale
• Communiqué de presse – Le gouvernement du Canada annonce la priorité d'embauche pour les vétérans blessés
• Document d'information – Changements apportés au droit de priorité d'embauche dans la fonction publique des vétérans libérés pour raisons médicales attribuables au service
• Document d'information – Accès amélioré des vétérans aux emplois offerts dans la fonction publique fédérale

Liens connexes

• Infobulles – Embauche de vétérans au gouvernement du Canada
• Embauchez un vétéran
• Placement prioritaire dans la fonction publique

Anciens Combattants Canada tient à s'assurer que les vétérans sont traités avec la bienveillance, la compassion et le respect qu'ils méritent. Les vétérans et leurs familles sont la raison d'être d'ACC.

– 30 –

Personnes-ressources

Martin Magnan
Attaché de presse
Cabinet du ministre des Anciens Combattants
613-992-7468

Relations avec les médias
Anciens Combattants Canada
613-992-7468

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Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: Standing Committee on VAC - Continuum of Transition Services June 16th

General framework for the study

When members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are ill or injured, whether or not the injury or illness is service-related, they may be medically released if their condition causes their long-term inability to be deployed with their unit. This release also means that responsibility for the member's rehabilitation and compensation will be transferred from the Department of National Defence (DND) to other stakeholders, in particular, Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and the Service Income Security Insurance Plan (SISIP). The process that begins the moment a member becomes ill or injured can be complex, and the programs established to support the member's transition are numerous. As a result, it can be difficult for members, veterans and the public to navigate them, and misunderstandings may arise.

With this study on the continuum of services, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs wishes to determine the key steps in this process, identify the programs available to serving members, veterans and their families at each of these steps, and establish an outline of the respective responsibilities of the various parties involved. The Committee hopes that this study will help point up the stronger and weaker points along this continuum in order to facilitate a sound transition to civilian life for injured members.

This document provides an overview of the transition process based on testimony heard from witnesses during the seven meetings the Committee held on this topic between February 26 and April 23, 2015. Its purpose is to outline the steps and time frames of the transition process and to highlight the issues identified by witnesses. The continuum of transition services is divided into three phases:
• The period starting when an injury or illness appears and ending when the decision is made to release a CAF member for medical reasons;
• The period between the decision to release a CAF member for medical reasons and the actual release;
• The adjustment period, of approximately two years following the release, and during which Veterans Affairs Canada services replace those provided by the Canadian Armed Forces.

The purpose of this report is not to provide another review of all the programs and services that Veterans Affairs Canada can offer to veterans; rather, it is to highlight the lesser-known elements of the transition process, such as what programs are available from the Canadian Armed Forces before the Veterans Affairs Canada programs take effect, what coordination measures are taken by both departments during the transition process, and what initiatives are available through third-party organizations that complement government measures.

Report 6 - Continuum of Transition Services (Adopted by the Committee on June 16, 2015; Presented to the House on June 18, 2015) http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=8049069&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=41&Ses=2&File=9

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Cadre général de l'étude

Lorsqu'un militaire subit une blessure ou souffre d'une maladie, qu'elle soit liée à son service ou non, cela peut entraîner sa libération pour raisons médicales, si cette condition entraîne l'incapacité à long terme du militaire d'être déployé avec son unité. Cette libération signifie également un transfert des responsabilités touchant la réadaptation et la rémunération du militaire, les faisant passer du ministère de la Défense nationale (MDN) à d'autres acteurs, en particulier Anciens Combattants Canada (ACC) et le Régime d'assurance revenu militaire (RARM). Le processus qui se met en branle à partir du moment où un militaire subit une blessure ou devient malade est complexe, et les programmes visant à soutenir la transition des militaires blessés sont nombreux. Il peut donc être difficile pour les militaires, les vétérans et le public de s'y retrouver, et cela risque de causer des malentendus.

Grâce à cette étude sur le continuum de services, le Comité permanent des Anciens Combattants de la Chambre des communes souhaite identifier les principales étapes de ce processus, les programmes offerts aux militaires, aux vétérans et à leurs familles à chacune des étapes, ainsi que délimiter les grandes lignes des responsabilités respectives des différents acteurs impliqués. Le Comité espère que cette étude contribuera à mieux faire ressortir les zones de force et de fragilité le long de ce continuum de manière à faciliter la transition harmonieuse des militaires blessés vers la vie civile.

Le document qui suit présente un survol du processus de transition, à partir des témoignages recueillis au cours des sept réunions que le Comité a tenues sur ce sujet entre le 26 février et le 23 avril 2015. L'objectif est de donner un aperçu du déroulement chronologique de ce processus, et de souligner les enjeux que les témoins ont identifiés. Le continuum des services de transition est découpé en trois étapes :
• la période qui sépare l'apparition d'une blessure ou d'une maladie et la décision de libérer un militaire pour raisons médicales;
• la période entre la décision de libérer un militaire pour raisons médicales et la libération effective;
• la période d'adaptation d'environ deux ans qui suit la libération, et durant laquelle les services d'Anciens Combattants Canada prennent le relais de ceux qui étaient offerts par les Forces armées canadiennes.

L'objectif ne consiste pas à présenter une fois de plus toute la gamme des programmes et services qu'Anciens Combattants Canada peut offrir aux vétérans, mais d'insister sur les éléments moins connus du processus de transition. Cela comprend le rôle joué par les Forces armées canadiennes (FAC) avant que les programmes d'Anciens Combattants Canada ne soient offerts, les mesures de coordination mises en place par les deux ministères lors du processus de transition, ainsi que les initiatives offertes par des tiers qui viennent en soutien aux mesures gouvernementales.

Rapport 6 - Continuum des services de transition (Adopté par le Comité le 16 juin 2015; Présenté à la Chambre le 18 juin 2015) http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=8049069&Mode=1&Parl=41&Ses=2&File=9&Language=F

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New announcement: Dangerous Déjà Vu for Veterans: Send the Omnibus Plate Back to the Chef By Sean

From Sean Bruyea, full transcript of Hill Times Article

Dangerous Déjà Vu for Veterans: Send the Omnibus Plate Back to the Chef

By Sean Bruyea

In a bizarre and never-ending déjà vu, government is ramming through Parliament the fourth piece of veterans' legislation in a decade. It is plainly bad legislation swallowed inside yet another budget omnibus bill.

The proposed veterans' programs are joined by a torrent of feel-good political announcements. Does the hype match reality?
Do the programs fill the identified gaps and address the evidence-based recommendations?

No and no. The proposed veterans' legislation should be sent back to the kitchen until what was ordered by veterans is finally served after 10 years of painful hunger.

Retirement Income Security Benefit

A new Retirement Income Security Benefit claims it will top up to 70% of what the veteran received from government prior to age 65. However this is based upon the veteran's income loss benefit which already reduces military salary to 75%. This income loss benefit is inadequately adjusted for inflation to a maximum of 2% since military release from 1953 onwards. In the past twenty years, inflation has been above 2% nine of those years. Seventeen of the previous 20 years were above 2%.

For example, veterans released in 1996 have had their earnings loss benefit increased by approximately 30% while military salaries have increased 80%.

The retirement benefit therefore equates to the veteran effectively receiving 52.5% of their military salary, inadequately adjusted for inflation. The Ombudsman, Guy Parent, was quick to endorse this program during a partisan political announcement. Yet, Mr. Parent's office clearly recommended a retirement benefit matching 70% of release salary, fully indexed for inflation.

The majority of veterans' groups active in advocacy, the ombudsman, VAC's own advisory groups and Parliament in 2010 have all repeatedly recommended that the 75% earnings loss benefit be substantively increased to anywhere from 90 to 100% of release income matching salary increases of a typical career of promotions. Civilian courts have been doing this for decades. Implementing this universally supported recommendation would result in a dignified income loss program which would in turn provide a dignified retirement benefit for our most injured veterans.
The consequence of government's repeated dismissal of this evidenced-based research and recommendation: a paltry payout from this proposed retirement benefit which will go to just 261 veterans with disabilities by 2020.

Family Caregiver Relief Benefit

The Family Caregiver Relief Benefit is another puzzling creation. Only 351 family members by 2020 will qualify out of the anticipated 6000 totally impaired and disabled veterans.

No veteran group, parliamentary committee, ombudsman or advisory group asked for a benefit in this form. What others have asked for is everything from matching the DND Caregiver Benefit which pays up to $36,500 over any 365 cumulative days to providing spouses of disabled veterans with their own benefit to compensate for lost income in their poorly appreciated efforts to care for their struggling veteran spouses. One of the easiest solutions would be merely to open up the existing attendance allowance program to all injured veterans. The proposed family caregiver benefit pays $7238 per year equivalent to the lower levels of attendance allowance which pays up to $21,151.44 annually.

Critical Injury Benefit

The Critical Injury Benefit will provide a one-time payment of $70,000 to Canadian Forces members and veterans "for severe, sudden and traumatic injuries or acute diseases that are service related, regardless of whether they result in permanent disability". Countless veterans have come forward telling us that disabling PTSD, traumatic brain injury or loss of organ function are being low-balled below the approximately $40,000 average lump sum payment for pain and suffering. How can government justify to veterans enduring lifelong disability that their pain and suffering merits far lower a payment than a veteran who temporarily suffered an injury?

This leads to the obvious question: from what obscure bureaucratic orifice did this proposal originate? Absolutely no one in the veterans' community, the ombudsman's office, parliament or advisory groups asked for this benefit. We know little of the criteria but we know it is highly restrictive: only two or three individuals per year will receive it from a totally disabled and permanently incapacitated population of 6000 veterans in 2020 and a current CF serving and veteran population of nearly 700,000 individuals.

How is this in any manner fulfilling Canada's obligation to all of our veterans and their families? It does not. Why did government not do what all have been asking: increase the amount of the lump sum benefit to at least match court awards for pain and suffering? Why have so much time and tears been expended by suffering veterans for a potpourri of political pretense grudgingly helping too few.

Canada's Obligation to Our Veterans and Their Families
We are inundated by slick PR campaigns and political photo shoots as to the importance of military service but when it comes to addressing shortcomings for those most in need, government delays, deflects and unfortunately dances on the suffering of our veterans and their families. Much of this rhetoric is centred upon how much Canada is indebted to our veterans and their families.

The new legislation proposes an obligation to our serving members, veterans and their families to provide "services, assistance and compensation". It is more encompassing than some previous legislation but all offer little substance and are mostly meaningless. To what end is this obligation? To rehabilitate, re-establish, to offer opportunity, well-being, quality of life, education, retraining, employment or provide a clear service standard?

Professing an obligation absence a goal is hollow at best.

Why does this proposed obligation only recognize assistance to injured members, veterans and their families? Is Canada not responsible for all veterans? The duty of the Minister in the Department of Veterans Affairs Act is "the care, treatment or re-establishment in civil life of any person who served in the Canadian Forces" and "the care of the dependants or survivors". At one time this included "retraining". Is all of this not what government keeps claiming the new veterans charter accomplishes but has so far abysmally failed to deliver?

Why the Legislation Should be Sent Back to the Chef

These programs if passed without substantive change will set dangerous precedent.

First, they create yet more classes and subclasses of inequity between veterans. Second, unnecessary programs result in more red tape and more work for overstaffed frontline workers when merely expanding and improving existing programs will do more. Third, they will encourage government to create discriminatory policy under a political facade while simultaneously dismissing evidence-based research and widespread consensus of those directly affected who truly understand the options available.

Finally, government's bullying with 'it's better than nothing' attitude intimidates an already subserviently indoctrinated military culture to accept paltry scraps to compensate for genuine sacrifice and life-altering disabilities. Caving into bullying disguised as sweet-talk effectively endorses shoddily concocted programs. This gives license to government again to do nothing for the next five, ten or more years to fix these abominations while government ignores a host of outstanding programs veterans and their families need now.

Veterans must realize they deserve what they need and have it delivered in a timely fashion. Why would anyone swallow that which was never ordered or a spoonful from the menu haphazardly fried up a decade ago? Veterans deserve to have the dish remade as requested. Isn't a fair and square meal the minimum that lifelong sacrifice deserves?

And let's stop hiding veterans, let alone any unrelated legislation, in omnibus bills or otherwise ramming veterans' programs through parliament.

Almost 120,000 Canadians have lost their lives and hundreds of thousands more have lived and continue to live with lifelong disabilities. They have done this to serve our nation in protecting democracy and its vital pillars of transparency, accountability and due process. Surely Parliament can do better for its veterans. Send the programs back to the chef.

Sean Bruyea, vice-president of Canadians for Accountability, is a retired Air Force intelligence officer and a frequent commentator on government, military, and veterans' issues.

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New announcement: SISIP Financial Introduces New TRAVEL INSURANCE

SISIP Financial Introduces New TRAVEL INSURANCE - La Financiere SISIP Lance NOUVELLE ASSURANCE VOYAGE

http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/VACDND_Services-Benefits/?p=760

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The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: Status Update On OVO Priorities And ACVA Recommendations - Veterans Ombudsman

Status Update On OVO Priorities And ACVA Recommendations - Veterans Ombudsman

Hard to keep track of all the improvement recommendations that have been made for Veterans? I've created a series of easy to read tables that highlight recommendations by my office and ACVA and clearly show where things sit and what remains to be done to support Veterans. Have a look at it and share it with others!

http://bit.ly/1Bm776v

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Mise à jour sur les priorités du BOV et les recommandations d'ACVA - Ombudsman des vétérans
http://bit.ly/1FzUzMD

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The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: Personal Travel Fare offered to Members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans

Personal Travel Fare offered to Members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans

Personal Travel Fare offered to Members of the Canadian Armed Forces, Veterans, and National Defence civilian personnel
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Thank you to the Canadian military! To show our support and gratitude for the men and women that serve our country with dedication, VIA Rail is offering our military across-the-board savings on train travel in Canada.

25% discount on the best available adult, senior, student, youth and child fares in all classes & all trains for qualifying DND members and immediate family!

VIA Rail is offering a 25% discount on the best available fare in all classes (excluding on Prestige Class or Discount Tuesday Sleepers Fares) for one-way or round trip travel on board any VIA Rail train in Canada to qualifying DND members. And the good news is–immediate family members travelling in the same class with you will also receive a 25% discount!

How to buy

How to book online

Log in to your profile or create one prior to booking.
Book your one-way or round trip ticket in your preferred class and fare (excluding on Prestige Class or Discount Tuesday Sleepers Fares).
On the "Passenger Information" screen, select "Corporate Rate" as the Discount Type, and enter "12070" as the Discount Code. No serial number is required.
The price of the ticket will be adjusted automatically if the trip meets all of the conditions of this fare plan.

How to book by telephone or at a VIA station:
Advise the VIA agent that you wish to use discount code "12070" prior to the agent booking your travel.

Conditions of the "25% discount on best available fare" offer for qualifying DND members & family

Offered to Active and Veterans members of Canadian Forces. Civilian employees must present their card DND AND CFOne card.

Identification Required:

The offer is valid for any passenger 18 years of age or older who has at least one of the following forms of identification plus, if needed, one additional piece of photo identification:
o DND ID card for National Defence (NDI 20)
o Record of Service Card (NDI 75)
o Any Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) Benefit Card (Please contact Veterans Affairs Canada at 613 992-7470 in Ottawa to obtain the required identification to qualify for this offer.)
o Discharge Certificate from any branch of the Canadian Military
o Statement of Service from any branch of the Canadian Military
o Certificate of Service (CF 54 or CF 75) from any branch of the Canadian
Military.
o Valid DND Temporary ID card (NDI 10).
o Canadian Forces or Former member CFOne card (with photo ID).
Up to a maximum of five (5) family members* travelling on the same trains, dates and in the same classes of service as the passenger in possession of one of the forms of identification listed above may accompany the qualifying member.
The qualifying member must present specified identification at any time upon request by a VIA employee.

*Family members may include the qualifying member's spouse/partner (including common law), minor or dependent children (including children for whom the qualifying member is a legal guardian), parents, grand parents, great-grand, parents, grand children or great-grand children.

Purchase period:

The offer is applicable to new bookings made as of November 1, 2010.
Tickets must be purchased according to the conditions and restrictions of the fare plan to which the additional 25% discount is applied.

Travel period:

The offer is valid for travel commencing as of November 1, 2010.

Valid routes:

The offer is valid on all VIA trains and between all VIA stations in Canada (excluding on Prestige Class or Discount Tuesday Sleepers Fares).

Valid classes:

The offer is valid in all classes (excluding on Prestige Class or Discount Tuesday Sleepers Fares).

Refunds and exchanges:

Bookings are subject to the conditions and restrictions of the fare plan to which the additional 25% discount is applied.
Refunds and exchanges for qualifying members' tickets will only be processed if companion tickets issued with it are processed at the same time.

Other conditions:

The offer cannot be combined with any other fare or discount which requires a discount code to qualify. Cannot be combined to Prestige Class or Discount Tuesday Sleepers Fares. Cannot be combined with tickets issued using a rail pass or employee rail pass, group tickets, VIA Préférence reward tickets, charter car fare tickets or tickets issued by a tour operator.
Tickets must be booked in advance of travel. The offer is not applicable to tickets purchased on board a VIA train.
Minimum fares after the application of the discount and other conditions may apply.
Offer is subject to change without notice.

http://www.viarail.ca/en/canadian-forces

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Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: Veterans Professional Association of Canada

Michael Blais
21 hrs

What would YOU say to a Veterans Professional Association of Canada? I have been working on this issue for a couple of years now and most recently established high level contact-discussions with a major national unions (UNIFOR) to discuss setting up a community based (Veterans) professional association that would provide PRO ACTIVE and dedicated services to OUR community.

Over the past four years of advocacy, it has become clear to me that the wounded and disabled of all eras deserve and require an organization that is dedicated to their care/safeguarding their quality of should they suffer or have suffered a mental or physical wound on while serving this nation. The PA envisioned will focus on ensuring full justice is served through the claim process and that members of the professional association have a dedicated team of medical-legal advocates. The PA will provide individual attention throughout the entire process and ensure quality of care standards associated with the injury and Veterans Affairs Canada support is comprehensive and delivered in an expedient manner.

Imagine the amount of stress this would alleviate from your life, imagine having the ability to appeal unjust awards with a dedicated team at your side

We need help, consistency, confidence that those that are acting on our behalf are dedicated to our plight and willing to take the comprehensive measures required.

Think about it, I am, as always, in consultation mode and would appreciate your input.

Be advised, I am an advocate, while I fully intend on setting up the foundations, joining and supporting the VPA when it established, I have no intentions of serving in any other capacity other than as a concept organizer.

I am old, the mission to date have borne consequences on my health and once the principles I have founded the Canadians Veterans Advocacy have been attained, I plan on fading unto obscurity.

Thoughts.

https://www.facebook.com/MPPAC?fref=nf

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Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: Budget boost for Veterans Affairs not enough to repair cuts: Liberal MP

Budget boost for Veterans Affairs not enough to repair cuts: Liberal MP

By Janice Dickson | May 7, 2015 4:18 pm

http://www.ipolitics.ca/2015/05/07/budget-boost-for-veterans-affairs-not-enough-to-repair-cuts-liberal-mp/

The Harper government tabled its budget implementation bill, and the new legislation contains what appear to be significant financial improvements for veterans — but the key word is "appears", according to Liberal MP and veterans affairs critic Frank Valeriote.

Valeriote said the areas where it appears veterans affairs is making headway — rehiring staff, nearly doubling the retiring income security benefit and increasing the lump sum payment — "sound like a great thing", but it's mostly show.

"They cut about 900 front line staff and they're re-hiring about 100 and then only some of them are part time and full time," said Valeriote, who added that the re-hiring of 100 staff will not honour "our sacred obligation that we have to veterans."

The Conservatives are also proposing to double the retirement income security benefit, so that a retiring veteran who would have received $27,000 a year will earn about $42,000. According to Valeriote, though, veterans initially earned $63,000 per year.

"They're restoring, again, only a fraction of what they cut back so their modus operandi is to cut considerably and restore partially and expect accolades," he said.

The government also announced an additional lump sum award of $70,000 for severely injured veterans, which Valeriote said excludes post traumatic stress disorder because of the way its described. "If you look at what they cover, they will only give $70,000 if the injury was … an immediate result of a single event," he said.

"If the injury was the immediate result of a single event, that excludes PTSD because PTSD in more than 90 per cent of cases arises long after. So essentially it does not cover mental illness, it covers loss of limbs."

Valeriote said the new minister's approach is gracious but not much more generous than his predecessor.

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Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: Bill C-597, an act to amend the Holidays Act. (Nov 11th)

Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs - Comité permanent des anciens combattants

Today we'll be studying, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the subject matter of clause 1 of Bill C-597, an act to amend the Holidays Act.

Aujourd'hui, conformément au paragraphe 108(2) du Règlement, nous allons effectuer l'étude de l'objet de l'article 1 du projet de loi C-597 , Loi modifiant la Loi instituant des jours de fête légale.

EVIDENCE

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Legion's position: "The holiday status of Remembrance Day has been debated at numerous Dominion Conventions throughout the Legion's history, in fact, 13 times since 1970, and most recently at our 2012 Dominion Convention. It was at the 2012 convention that the Legion's position against Remembrance Day being a statutory holiday was reaffirmed."

Canadian Veterans Advocacy position: "As it stands now, through consultation with serving members, veterans, families, and the civilian population we have engaged we find there is universal support for the legal holiday that Bill C-597 presents. Once the bill is defined, once it has been clarified that no days off would be accorded, support has been universal. It is vital that our discussions today focus on the opportunity Parliament has been provided through this bill to honour and respect national sacrifice in a meaningful and effective manner."

"At the York Catholic District School Board's regular meeting of the board, held on Tuesday, November 25, the board of trustees passed a motion that a letter be written to members of municipal, provincial, and federal governments to express their strong belief that November 11, Remembrance Day, should not be made a statutory or school holiday."

The Vice-Chair (Mr. Frank Valeriote (Guelph, Lib.)):
We have with us from the Canadian Veterans Advocacy, Michael Blais, president and founder. We have from the Royal Canadian Legion, Bradley White, Dominion secretary, Dominion Command; and William Maxwell, senior program officer, Dominion Command. Joining us from the York Catholic District School Board via teleconference is Sonia Gallo, communications manager.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=7941311&Mode=1&Parl=41&Ses=2&Language=E

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Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: Peter Stoffer MP - Motion to Recognize Existence of a Veterans' Covenant

Peter Stoffer MP - Upcoming Motion to Recognize Existence of a Veterans' Covenant

Please see the following message from Peter Stoffer, MP:


Canada's New Democrats believe the Government of Canada has a moral, social, legal and fiduciary obligation to care for the men and women who have served in Canada's Armed Forces.

My colleague Fin Donnelly (New Westminster-Coquitlam and Port Moody) has been working with the veterans community to pressure the government to recognize that a social covenant exists between our government and military veterans. This Monday May 11th, MP Fin Donnelly will introduce the following motion in the House of Commons.

That, in the opinion of the House, there exists a standalone covenant of moral, social legal, and fiduciary obligation, between the people and Government of Canada to provide equitable financial compensation and support services to past and active members of the armed forces who have been injured, disabled or have died as a result of military service, and to their dependents, and which the Government of Canada is obligated to fulfill. Further, that the guiding principle for their recognition, care, and compensation must always include compassion and dignity while properly taking into account the unique nature of military service.

You can watch the debate of this motion online at ParlVu (http://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/parlvu/) on Monday May 11th from 11 am EST until 5:30 pm– with a break for Question Period.

We agree with veterans who want the Conservative government to stop fighting them in court and finally admit such a covenant exists. The motion also takes inspiration from similar standalone covenants that exist in other commonwealth countries.

Injured and disabled veterans should not have to fight for the compensation and care they deserve! Canada's New Democrats are calling on the federal government to support our motion recognizing the existence of a social covenant.

You can add your name in support of this motion using the following link: www.ndp.ca/covenant.

We ask you share this petition with your network, so others can add their voices to the thousands of veterans who want the government to do the right thing and formally recognize the existence of a social covenant. Together, we can help restore the damaged ?relationship between the government and those who have fought so hard to defend the freedoms we enjoy today.

For further information about this motion, please feel free to contact my office or MP Fin Donnelly at fin.donnelly@parl.gc.ca

Sincerely,

Office of Peter Stoffer, MP | Bureau du député Peter Stoffer
Official Opposition Critic for Veterans Affairs | Le Porte-Parole de l'Opposition Officielle pour Les Anciens Combattants.
New Democratic Party | Nouveau Parti démocratique
______________________________________________________

2900 Hwy #2 Fall River, NS B2T 1W4
Phone: (902) 861-2311 | Email: stoffp0@parl.gc.ca

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Regards,
The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.

New announcement: We need restorative justice for members of Canadian military

We need restorative justice for members of Canadian military

It is a principle of fundamental justice that all Canadian citizens are equal before the law and entitled to its benefit and protection.

http://www.hilltimes.com/opinion/2015/05/04/we-need-restorative-justice-for-members-of-canadian-military/41977

The unfair disparity in the enforcement of the criminal law by the military justice system is in breach of this fundamental principle. The time has come to apply this principle and restore justice, write Michel Drapeau and Gilles Létourneau.

By GILLES LéTOURNEAU, MICHEL W. DRAPEAU |
Published: Monday, 05/04/2015 12:00 am EDT

In 1980, the military justice system survived a challenge to its legality with respect to the prosecution of ordinary criminal law offences before military tribunals. The challenge was based on the Canadian Bill of Rights: see Mackay v. R., [1980] 2 S.C.C. 379. The basis of the challenge was the differential treatment afforded to those prosecuted before military tribunals, i.e. members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and civilians subject to the jurisdiction of the Code of Service Discipline such as dependants of CAF members and civilians contractors accompanying the military abroad.

Unlike the constitutionality-entrenched Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (Charter), the Bill of Rights had no teeth. Yet the Supreme Court of Canada expressed great concerns about the existence of this parallel system of justice for the enforcement of criminal law because military tribunals are tribunals of exception, which, by definition, derogate from the legal system in place and deprive the persons subjected to it of equality before the law.

Justices Brian Dickson and William McIntyre wrote the following at pages 408-409 of the decision: "In a country with a well-established judicial system serving all parts of the country in which the prosecution of criminal offences and the constitution of courts of criminal jurisdiction is the responsibility of the provincial governments, I find it impossible to accept the proposition that the legitimate needs of the military extend to prosecutions of servicemen for any offences under any penal statute of Canada could be conducted in military courts. The serviceman charged with a criminal offence is deprived of the benefit of a preliminary hearing or the right to a jury trial. He is subject to a military code, which differs in some particulars from the civil law, to differing rules of evidence, and to a different and more limited appellate procedure. …While such differences may be acceptable on the basis of military need in some cases, they cannot be permitted universal effect in respect of the criminal law of Canada as far as it relates to members of the armed services serving in Canada."

Chief Justice John Laskin and Justice Willard Estey went further. At pages 380 and 381 of the same judgment, they could not conceive that persons charged with an offence under the ordinary criminal law could be tried before a court where the prosecution is not free from any suspicion of influence or dependency on others. They could not conceive "that there can be in this country two such disparate ways of tying offences against ordinary law, depending on whether the accused is a member of the armed forces or is not."

The truth is that, over the years, through general indifference, the military justice system has expanded its jurisdiction over all ordinary criminal law offences, except murder, manslaughter and abduction of children when committed in Canada. In fact and in practice the military justice system has usurped functions that are constitutionally assigned to the provinces, i.e. the investigation and prosecution of the crimes contained in the Criminal Code of Canada.

Here are the consequences resulting for members of the military as well as civilians, including children, falling under the military jurisdiction.

•Right to a jury trial. First and foremost, they lose the right to a trial by a jury. Instead they are entitled to a trial by a panel composed of five members of the military selected randomly by the military. None of the guarantees with respect to the selection and empannelling of a jury given to an accused before a civilian trial apply.

It is sheer common sense that it is easier to obtain an unamimous verdict of guilt or innocence from a panel of five than from a panel of twelve. Indeed, it is all the more so when the five persons are part of the same organization and share the same institutional attributes as opposed to 12 persons chosen and coming from different walks of life.

•The benefit of hybrid offences. Second, persons prosecuted before military tribunals lose the benefit of a hybrid offence provided for under the Criminal Code of Canada. A hybrid offence is one that can be prosecuted by way of summary conviction or by way of indictment. Civilian prosecutors can exercise the discretion conferred upon them to proceed by way of summary conviction when the offence committed and the circumstances surrounding its commission do not warrant the full-fledge and stigma of the procedure by way of indictment. A cap on sentencing and a limitation period for prosecuting apply to offences prosecuted by way of summary conviction. These are important benefits that persons prosecuted before military tribunals are deprived of.

•The right of appeal. Third, persons convicted or acquitted by a military tribunal are treated differently and detrimentally when it comes to the right of appeal. As a matter of fact, the prosecution in a military trial can appeal the acquittal on a question of mixed law and fact. In a criminal trial before a civilian tribunal the prosecution's appeal is limited to a question of law.

Moreover, while an accused convicted by a civilian tribunal can appeal his conviction on a question of fact, the person convicted by a military tribunal is deprived of that right by the National Defence Act (NDA). In Military Justice In Action; Annotated National Defence Legislation, 2ed. published by Carswell earlier this year, we criticized this differential and prejudicial treatment. At page 50 we wrote: "Thus at law, the balance with respect to appeals is tipped in favour of the accused in criminal proceedings before a civilian tribunal. However in proceedings held before a military tribunal, the same balance is tipped in favour of the prosecution to the detriment of the accused. Once again it appears that this situation runs afoul of the presumption of innocence."

•The sentencing range. Fourth, persons prosecuted before military tribunals do not benefit from the wide range of sentencing options available to those convicted by a civilian court. They are not entitled to a suspended sentence, a conditional discharge, a probationary order and a sentence of imprisonment to be served in the community or within their unit. Nor are they given equality of treatment with respect to intermittent sentences. While Sec. 732 of the Criminal Code fixes at 90 days the maximum length of imprisonment for the availability of an intermittent sentence, the 2013 amendments to the NDA makes this kind of sentence available only if its length does not exceed 14 days.

•Summary trials. Fifth, close to 2,000 summary trials are held every year as opposed to some 60 to 65 courts martial. Summary trials are the dominant form of justice in the Canadian military. Yet this form of justice is highly problematic, especially as regards ordinary criminal law offences. Consider the following features of the process.

The accused is tried by his commanding officer who possesses no knowledge of the law. As opposed to a trial before a civilian tribunal where the judge does not know the accused and has no knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the crime, the commanding officer knows the accused, the witnesses and is already aware of the facts and circumstances leading to the crime.

It is also not enough that the accused has no right to counsel, he and his wife are compellable witnesses. He can be forced to incriminate himself in violation of the constitutional right against self-incrimination given to accused by the Charter.

In addition the summary trial process is not governed by the rules of evidence applicable to trials of ordinary criminal law offences. Adverse inferences can be drawn from his silence. Full reliance can be had on hearsay and opinion evidence. Charter arguments cannot be raised. The level of disclosure of the prosecution's evidence is much more limited than the level of disclosure at a court martial. But above all, the accused has no right of appeal to a court against his conviction.

•A criminal record for purely disciplinary offences. Sixth, military offences are set-up to enforce discipline in the military. Yet, the military justice system generously distributes criminal records to the persons convicted. It even goes as far as creating a criminal record for offences that have no criminal connotation and are purely disciplinary in nature. This is unprecedented in Canada. No conviction by a disciplinary board or tribunal for offences like conduct prejudicial to the profession gives rise to a criminal record. In the military, you can even get a criminal record for a conviction at a trial at which you are not entitled to be defended by a lawyer.

The newly enacted Sec. 249.7 of the NDA creates a criminal record for offences such as insubordinate behaviour, absence without leave, a false statement in respect of prolongation of an absence without leave, drunkenness, conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline. The military is a profession of arms. This last offence of conduct prejudicial to good order or discipline is in fact a conduct prejudicial to the profession of arms. Yet conducts by lawyers or doctors, for example, that are prejudicial to the legal or the medical profession do not give rise to a criminal record.

Bill C-32 - Victims Bill of Rights Act does not apply to military personnel. Seventh, military persons who are victims of crimes investigated or prosecuted under the NDA are excluded from the benefits of the Bill and are, therefore, unable to exercise their victim's rights. Subsection 18(3) of the Victims Bill of Rights contains the exclusion.

Fortunately, the Supreme Court of Canada is given in the case of Moriarity et al. vs. Her Majesty the Queen et al., to be heard on May 12, 2015, which is a golden opportunity to restore justice to members of the military by returning to the provincial authorities the investigation and prosecution of ordinary criminal law offences. The civilian police and tribunals possess an expertise fashioned over time that the military police and courts do not have. In addition, they are independent from command and external influence.

It is a principle of fundamental justice that all Canadian citizens are equal before the law and entitled to its benefit and protection. The unfair disparity in the enforcement of the criminal law by the military justice system is in breach of this fundamental principle. The time has come to apply the principle and restore justice.

Gilles Létourneau is a former president of the Law Reform Commission and chairman of the Somalia Inquiry. He served on the Federal Court of Appeal and the Court Martial Appeal Court from 1992 to 2012. Michel W. Drapeau is a professor of military law at Ottawa University. He also served in the Canadian Forces for 34 years retiring in 1993 in the rank of colonel. They are the co-author of Military Justice in Action : Annotated National Defence Legislation, Second Edition, published by Carswell in February 2015.

news@hilltimes.com

The Hill Times

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The Canadian Veterans Advocacy Team.