Hugh Message

I am sure there would be one hell of a pile of Veterans and their families that would go to those hockey games...

"This past weekend, some 50,000 Quebeckers turned out for a large rally in Quebec City calling for a return of the Quebec Nordiques to the province’s capital city.  The team was in the NHL from 1979 to 1995.  And capital — private capital — to support government pledges is what’s needed to bring the NHL back to the city.  Private funds are needed to build a new arena. This past weekend, some 50,000 Quebeckers turned out for a large rally in Quebec City calling for a return of the Quebec Nordiques to the province’s capital city."

On that same note, the Nordiques were all but a distant memory and now it appears they may be coming back.

Isn't it interesting that an assembly of pro-hockey enthusiasts 50,000 + got together in support of a Hockey Team in their town.

What would Canadians do for their Veterans if they were told we are just going to forget them?

It would seem that the information about our nation's Veterans that was almost all but a distant memory and the way that they and their families were being treated was brought under the microscope by a small group of Veterans and now that small spark of justice "for all" has been fanned in to flames of awareness of how wrong the system is. A lot of people aren't happy!

As reported on by Ombudsman Pat Stogran, the shortcomings, injustices and poor treatment of Canada's Veterans by the New Veterans Charter and the Bureaucracy at Veterans Affairs are no longer falling on deaf ears. Canadians everywhere are listening and they are not liking what they are hearing. 

Also thought the following worth sharing.

If you love our Veterans you will want to read and email-share this whole thing.

Cheers,

Dave

----- original message -----

I am requesting that the following be email-shared with as many as possible to ensure the momentum keeps going.

It would certainly appear from the Newfoundland Peacekeepers that they are really organized and getting things ready for November the 6th.

As one Veteran put it, it has had to come to this. Veterans had to exercise the freedom of assembly to make the national awareness of this more than most Canadians knew a few weeks ago. Columnist David Pugliese and his investigative reporting have really brought much of the information to the surface and there are probably hundreds of more hurting Veterans and in too many cases their families that just want to be treated decently and for all intent and purpose it took the advocacy of a few hurting Veterans to say the New Veterans Charter is not just, it is not fair and it is not something that can be fixed by throwing good money after none. Perhaps it is time to just go back to the Veterans Pension Act of yore and do the right thing, the thing that was promised to our Veterans, that they and their families would be cared for.

NOTE: If you can go on line and Google the Ottawa Citizen for today, Monday October 4th, 2010, there is a fascinating story.

"Self-styled veterans advocate 'accused of being an enemy' " Perhaps the author David Pugliese will have it on his web-site.

http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/defencewatch/

I tried to send it by attachments but it is a fair size set of pdf files. 

----- original message -----

FOR DISTRIBUTION AND POSTING

Congratulations Mike Blais on continued successes for the Day of Protest.

Mike Blais is bang on about Canada needing a national advocacy group dedicated to defending the rights of veterans, injured CF, RCMP and their families. The six organisations with which VAC has a symbolic tight grip have up until now remained silent on what are the greatest and most scandalous events affecting veterans in almost 100 years, since the post-World War 1 general strike. Back then, the government tried to get away with a highly insensitive civilian bureaucracy and incremental and very inadequate improvements to benefits. 

Sound familiar? As a result, governments repeatedly fell failing to adequately care for and assist veterans to return back to rewarding civilian lives.

Those most recent scandals are:

1) The failure and betrayal of the promised "living" so-called new veterans charter and the lump sum

2) Veterans Affairs is culpable in the largest privacy law breaches of their kind. As a result, the first-ever of its kind systemic investigation of a federal department has been initiated

3) Failure to openly address renewal of Veterans Ombudsman

4) Inability of government to address a culmination of a dozen or more large outstanding issues including SISIP Class Action, CPP Clawbacks, Agent Orange, an endless class system for veterans, etc., and,

5) The failure to deal adequately with all of the above has forced the first modern era peaceful demonstration of Veterans and their supporters

The idea of a national advocacy group for veterans has been growing for a number of years precisely because traditional veterans groups have remained mostly silent, achieving little if anything working as the 'favourite's with VAC bureaucrats on the inside. Although it is never too late for any of these groups to start speaking out on these scandals, there is in reality no group which is dedicated solely to defending the rights of injured CF members, veterans, retired RCMP and the families of all.

I would suggest that any advocacy group embrace all Canadians to participate. This would increase the talent pool and involve civilians who are passionate about returning the debt owed to our veterans. This would not be a social club with other commitments but would instead be an association of passion and talent to fight back the inevitable creeping bureaucracy. I suggest something like Canadians Advocate for Veterans ...naw...CAV is already taken so Bumbsy (CJ Wallace) might have something to say : ) but maybe something like Canadians Caring for Veterans and their Families (CCVF) or Canadians March for Veterans (CMV) ...you get the idea.

Meanwhile, here are an initial bakers 15 suggested slogans for the Day of Protest

1. We don't need any more Band-Aids! Cure the Disease! Call a Royal Commission for Veterans Affairs!

2. Incrementalism is for Glaciers! Injured Soldiers Need Change Now!

3. Let Veterans have a Fair Fight! Legislate our Ombudsman Now!

4. Dump the Lump Sum! Give us back the Pension Act!

5. ‘Crats don't know Crap about Veterans! VAC must employ Disabled Veterans!

6. Stop Sending Disabled Veterans to the Supreme Court! Settle SISIP NOW!

7. Agent Orange last more than a Day! We have the Cancer to Prove It!

8. Shame on You for Making Military Widows Pay Tax!

9. We Paid Our Debt With Blood! We're Still Waiting for Canada's IOU!

10. Politicians Put Canada into Debt for Any Reason...Except for Veterans!

11. Stop Putting Out Fires! Take the Matches Away From VAC!

12. Charlottetown is Getting Away With Murder! Move it Back to Ottawa!

13. No More Band-Aids! Cure the Disease! Fire VAC Bureaucrats!

14. Bureaucrats who Break the Law Go to Jail!

15. Stop Stealing Our Money! End CPP Clawbacks Now!

Hope this Helps

Sean Bruyea

----- original message -----

     A Veteran is a member of the Canadian Forces and/or RCMP that has sworn and taken oath to protect and defend the citizens of Canada and uphold the laws of this land. They are a unique bunch that has voluntarily donned the Uniform in the defence and protection of our great nation and none other than Veterans will ever *know what it means to walk in their shoes (or boots). It is something that has to be done, it cannot be assumed as their volunteer actions speak clearer than mere words. They have been doing it for over 140 years and without question, none are more capable of knowing the inner workings of them than that of their Spouses, Dependents and Families. I am of a mind to believe that their accounts of being so close to our Veterans would reflect far more accurately the truths of our Veterans and the things that many of them often hold deep inside and do not share. For their love and their commitment to our Veterans, they too are most deserving of our love, acknowledgement, gratitude and care.

     These Veterans hold a strong camaraderie and fellowship that is unique, special and deserving of the bonds they form as Comrades, those that have served and were ready to go at a moment’s notice anywhere to protect our country and in commitment to their duties that they with pride and conviction support at any time in aid to the civil powers and beyond when duty so demands.

     Having said that from time to time as most Comrades know, our Veterans who stand on guard can and do get hurt, maimed and injured often with lingering life long injuries and permanent disabilities. These injuries and the care and well-being of our Veterans' deserves no less care and maintenance of their pensions than that of a member of parliament or any other Canadian. If this nation is a nation of equality then that equality should apply to our Veterans yet the Ombudsman has honourably and with great dignity reported that this is not the case.

     Mike Blais and others (God bless you all) are coordinating an effort to hold a Rally in support of our Veterans and we need to assist all of them any way we can. All Canadians, any Canadians no matter what you do and who you are, as a Canadian anywhere and everywhere in this great nation a ground swell of great and worthy emotion and support is growing to ensure that regardless of whether it is in the smallest hamlets and villages to biggest cities and towns, municipal halls and township centres of this nation that on November the 6th, at 11:00 a.m. local your time, where ever you are, Canadians from all across this land will show up somewhere to show support for our Veterans.

     From Parliament Hill in Ottawa to town or city halls or where ever you decide to rally, the call is there that Canadians support our Veterans and that we need to support the Ombudsman Colonel (retd) Pat Stogran and his call to fix things to better care for our nations Veterans.

     If there are certain things that are needed by way of permits etc., where you are planning your event or if you know of anything that should be acquired for November the 6th, 2010 for this peaceful rally at around 11:00 a.m. at Parliament Hill, it would be appreciated if you can let us know so all the i's are dotted and all the t's are crossed and this rally is a great success, it is time we rightfully honoured them and supported them in a manner that justifies equality and fairness.

Note: *I consider the valiant efforts of our constabularies, our police officers and firefighters among those that would know.

Thanks,

In greatest respect to all Canadians,

My warmest regards,

Dave W Palmer, CD