May 20, 2016
QUEBEC – Conservative critic for Veterans Affairs, Alupa Clarke, today expressed his disappointment with the Liberal government’s decision to take a group of veterans back to court after an agreement negotiated by the previous Conservative government expired this month. During the election campaign, the Liberal government promised Canadians that veterans would never have to fight against the government for the support and respect they deserve.
“After multiple broken campaign promises, including reinstating lifelong disability pensions, the Veterans Affairs Minister has gone one step further by seeking to reduce veterans’ rights,” said MP Clarke.
This week, Minister Kent Hehr instructed the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Jody Wilson-Raybould, to take veterans back to court and argue that the federal government has no sacred obligation to our brave men and women in uniform. When asked about it in the House of Commons, the Minister said he prefers not to comment on matters currently before the courts.
“The Minister could put pressure on the Justice Department to do the right thing; instead veterans are being forced to go back to court to stop the Liberals from blocking the adoption of certain benefits for wounded soldiers,” said Mr. Clarke.
Last May, all parties voted unanimously in favor of a motion recognizing the government’s duty to care for its wounded veterans.
“Re-opening several rarely used Veterans Affairs offices will not fix the Liberals’ broken campaign promises. The Minister is treating our veterans with contempt. He should instruct the Department of Justice to follow the previous government’s lead and abandon this lawsuit,” said the critic.
