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 […]
Rotten process, rotten product for veterans
OTTAWA—Process is as important as product. When the product is destined for a group of Canadians willing to die for our democratic process, shouldn’t Ottawa put a little more effort into how the product is made? I am talking about veterans and the recent announcement to bring back a veterans’ identification card. No other group […]
Judge tosses defamation case against veterans minister
An Ontario judge has dismissed a defamation case against Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan, saying the need to protect the freedom of expression is more important than any harm alleged to have been suffered by an outspoken veterans advocate. Sean Bruyea, who represented himself in Ontario Superior Court, says he plans to appeal the ruling. […]
Judge to rule on throwing out advocate’s defamation case against veterans minister
An Ontario judge is expected to rule in the next week or so on whether outspoken veterans’ advocate Sean Bruyea’s defamation lawsuit against Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan will go ahead. The two sides argued for five hours in small claims court on Aug. 24 at the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Ottawa about […]
