Canadian veterans’ disability pension error: pay them now, says Labelle
Veterans Ombudsman Guy Parent has recently identified that more than 270,000 veterans received a lower disability payment than they were entitled to. Minister of Veterans Affairs Seamus O’Regan promised that veterans would be compensated, but full payments may not be completed until 2020. Notably, 120,000 veterans have died and by 2020 another 100,000 veterans could die. Payments […]
The Hill’s Memorial Chamber, a space of reverence
When the original Parliament Building was destroyed in the fire of 1916, Canada was in the midst of the First World War. Construction of the new Parliament Building began almost immediately, and its architect, John A. Pearson, designed it to be a call to parliamentarians to remember that in a time of war they had […]
How to remember the war
LONDON, U.K.—“If they are not remembered, was the sacrifice they made even worthwhile?” asked an American veteran of the Iraq War who named his son after a fellow soldier who was killed there. It’s quite common, actually. My brother-in-law is named after a member of his father’s bomber crew who was killed over the Balkans […]
MPs, Senators, including 20 who’ve served in the military, mark Remembrance Day
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, fighting ended in the Great War, eventually leading to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919 and an end to the First World War. To mark the occasion, there will be a series of events on the Hill and around Ottawa. The annual […]
This Remembrance Day, let’s pay tribute to the Canadian Forestry Corps
On Nov. 11, Canadians will pay tribute to the men and women who have served our country during times of conflict, and honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice in order for all of us to enjoy the freedoms we have today. What many people may not be aware of is the story of the […]
One hundred years after the war, it’s Canada’s time to lead
One of the most eloquent summations of the First World War came from Pope Benedict XV, who witnessed the conflict and called it “the suicide of civilized Europe.” As Canadians prepare to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the fighting, we should all recommit to memorializing the terrible decisions and actions that have […]
Feds betraying commitment to veteran community
In late August, the Supreme Court dismissed the Equitas class-action lawsuit, closing the door on the legal claim initiated against Ottawa on behalf of Canada’s disabled veterans’ community. Members of the Equitas veterans’ society, led by determined and courageous advocates, were essentially seeking a court order that would compel Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) to address […]
How to razzle dazzle veterans and do nothing
OTTAWA—One thing consistently flies over the heads of Veterans Affairs Canada’s senior mandarins: the concept of accessibility for disabled veterans and their families. The upcoming Veterans’ Stakeholder Summit on Oct. 29 is the summit of bureaucratic insensitivity when it comes to accessibility. Disabled veterans and their families will once again be denied accessibility to having […]
Culture change needed to improve mental health on the Hill
In the summer, staffer Paul Wernick bravely shared the intensely personal story of his suicide attempts in The Hill Times in hopes of sparking a conversation on the Hill that could lead to better support for people dealing with mental health challenges. We’re continuing that conversation today during Mental Illness Awareness Week with a special […]
Seamus O’Regan: if we want Canadians to talk about mental health, public figures have to too
This week is Mental Illness Awareness Week. I want to challenge all Canadians to raise awareness and understanding of mental illness, and to take action. It’s a time to encourage conversations that, quite frankly, would not have taken place 10 years ago. Supporting good mental health is not just a campaign that happens one week […]
