One hopes and expects that veterans have long memories; if they do, the Harper regime will find their lies catching up with them.
A new campaign, entitled Vote To Stop The Cuts, has been launched by the Public Service Alliance of Canada, its aim to put the Harper record under scrutiny with facts that even the most seasoned spinmaster might find hard to counter. Consider this damning information about Veterans Affairs:
- In 2013 and 2014, the Conservative government closed nine Veterans affairs offices across Canada – in Corner Brook, Charlottetown, Sydney, Thunder Bay, Windsor, Brandon, Saskatoon, Prince George and Kelowna. Total served by affected offices = approximately 21, 432.The genius of the campaign is that it is framed in such a way to show that ordinary Canadians are also falling victim to the parsimonious practices of the current regime, making it much harder to dismiss it as simply an effort by public servants to save their own jobs. In addition to the plight of veterans, it offers up facts on cuts to border security, environmental protection, employment insurance eligibility, public search and rescue capabilities and Canada's food safety.
- Total value of cuts to Veterans Affairs Canada as of 2015: $113.7 million
- From 2011–12 to the current 2014–15 budget year, the Veterans Affairs staff has been cut by 24% with an additional 1% cut planned by 2016–17. The majority of these jobs were front-line positions.
- The department now has the smallest workforce since before the war in Afghanistan.
- Veterans Affairs offices are now so short-staffed that there is a backlog of 6 to 8 months in providing requested services to veterans. 1 in 5 veterans suffering from a mental illness has to wait more than 8 months before their requests for help are answered.
This video offers an overview:
The site also has downloadable posters to help spread the word on these issues. In my view, it is incumbent upon all of us who yearn for a better Canada, a Canada free of the lies, distortions and myriad failures of the Harper regime, to help promote this and other efforts to ensure that October marks the month when our country begins what will undoubtedly be a lengthy but long overdue rehabilitation.
We used to believe that we had a duty -- a sacred duty -- to our veterans, Lorne. Of all the betraylas this government has committed, the most galling of all is its betrayal of our veterans.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently reading Kill the Messengers, by Mark Bourrie, Owen. In one of the chapters he goes into great detail about the Harper abuse of veterans. The treatment is unbelievably shoddy, and stands in marked contrast to the regime's lofty rhetoric about 'our men and women in uniform.' May the truth prevail.
DeleteDon't forget how badly they abused and maligned Pat Stogran … for doing his job well as ombudsman.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, CuJo, I just finished reading the section in the Bourrie book on that mistreatment. I had been thinking about reproducing part of an interview the author conducted with Strogan, who says, "I despise Harper personally."
DeleteHopefully, the veterans do have long memories. I live in an with a large number of military people. My impression is that many of these people actually support the Cons Party. It is almost as if they either feel invincible, or they do not expect to see active duty, or if they did, they do not expect to get injured and be treated shabbily like the Vets. Or they must feel that their self interests trump all, so they vote for Harper. Sad.
ReplyDeleteThat is sad, Anon. Perhaps some of them also have trouble separating the Harper rhetoric and propaganda about supporting the military from the ugly truth.
DeleteIt is the blatant lies that the cons spew in their ads and speeches that really disturb me. This is also prevalent when it comes to our vets. The opposition need to step up and challenge Harper on these lies. He is getting away with far too much. the vets need to be supported all the way. Thanks for posting the video. I have read part of Kill the Messenger and will get back to it soon. It is another excellent expose on who Harper and his CONs really are and how they operate their authoritarian cabal.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that the Harperites so blatantly, shamelessly and consistently lie to us, Pamela, should be disturbing to all Canadians, given that it is such an obvious sign of their deep contempt for almost all of us.
Delete