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 […]
Conservatives need to cool it on the fridging of Const. Campbell
In pop culture, there’s a trope known as “fridging.” It’s a term that gained popularity via a comic book writer named Gail Simone, who through her website Women in Refrigerators, called attention to the all-too-common plot device of women meeting incredibly gruesome ends as a means to spur their grief-stricken husbands and boyfriends into action. […]
MPs among thousands showing their warrior spirit for annual Army Run
As much of Ottawa was without electricity, a number of MPs powered up to run in the 11th annual Army Run in the city’s downtown core on Sept. 23. The politicians joined staffers, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, reporters, and more than 20,000 other registrants who walked, ran, and rolled for the annual event, […]
Slow process leaves disabled vets in a lurch: ombudsman
Imagine being a veteran who has served your country well and, some years after you are released from the Canadian Armed Forces, a service-related medical condition crops up. It affects your quality of life and may well put a strain on your family’s financial security. So, you turn to Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) and rely […]
