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 […]
Brig.-Gen. Misener clarifies JPSU’s current work and what future has in store
Re: “Feds deny ‘instability’ in senior ranks at support unit for injured soldiers that top general said would be abolished,” (The Hill Times, Aug. 8, p. 1). I have been in position as commander of the Joint Personnel Support Unit (JPSU) for over a year now. It is acknowledged that, for various personal reasons, there was […]
Feds deny ‘instability’ in senior ranks at support unit for injured soldiers that top general said would be abolished

The government is walking back a promise to disband and reform a problem-plagued support unit for ill and injured soldiers and ignoring the turnover in its senior ranks, say veterans affairs critics. In response to a recent House Veterans Affairs Committee report, the government rejected the committee’s assertion that the Joint Personnel Support Units (JPSUs) […]
After 10 years of advice, are the feds making enough progress to help veterans?

I believe that Canadians want veterans and their families to be treated well and accorded the utmost respect. After all, these are the men and women who selflessly take up the mantle to protect our way of life and, if need be, are ready to lay down theirs to ensure our peace and security. It […]
Liberals failing to prioritize Canadians’ health concerns in an effective manner

When it comes to health policy in Canada, it is clear that there are more issues than funding available. For this reason, the government should be prioritizing public health responses specifically to the needs of Canadians. Essentially, what should become key priorities on this list are the health issues that are affecting us nationally. As […]
Service quality, meeting Liberal promises ‘competing priorities’ at Veterans Affairs, department warns

Veterans Affairs Canada is warning it may not be able to both offer quality core services and keep up to the government’s mandate and budget commitments in this year’s departmental plan—proof critics say the Liberals over-promised and can’t deliver on veterans’ issues. But the minister responsible for veterans affairs says he has no intention of […]
Pension for life: the ‘elephant in the room’ remains

OTTAWA—Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan, in his March 21 column in The Hill Times entitled “On veterans, let’s compare apples to apples,” continues his attempt to convince the veteran community that his announcement of Dec. 20, 2017, satisfactorily addresses the “elephant in the room” as to the financial disparity between the New Veterans Charter and […]
$37-million spent on veteran legal costs a ‘broken promise’: critics

The Liberals have spent at least $37-million since January 2016 on legal proceedings with veterans in a move opposition MPs and the veterans they’re fighting in court say represents a broken platform promise. The vast majority—$36.3-million—makes up two years’ worth of budgets for two programs: $18.4-million for the Veterans Review and Appeal Board, a body […]