Liberals issue 77 press releases in “Year of the Veteran,” but refuse to treat disabled veterans fairly
WINNIPEG – MP Bill Blaikie today called on the Liberal government to abandon plans to appeal a court decision awarding disabled war veterans and their families the unpaid interest from their pensions.
Justice John Brockenshire ruled in favour of 30,000 disabled veterans from the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War and Peacekeeping missions. The veterans had not been paid interest on pension money owing to them. Lawyers for the Liberal government have indicated that the government will likely appeal. The case has already been before the courts for seven years.
“2005 was proclaimed as the Year of the Veteran – and the Liberal government issued 77 press releases saying how much they honoured the men and women who fought to keep Canada free,” Blaikie said. “And now, as the year ends, they continue to refuse to treat disabled veterans fairly.”
“If the Liberals appeal this decision, then they are making a mockery of the Year of the Veteran,” Blaikie said.
Blaikie said the Liberals should immediately instruct government lawyers to abandon plans for an appeal, and concentrate instead on paying the interest that is owed to veterans and their families.
“These veterans have waited decades for justice,” Blaikie said. “Enough is enough. Let’s just treat them fairly.”
Bill Blaikie is the MP for Elmwood-Transcona and NDP Defence Critic.
http://www.canadiancontent.net/en/jd/go?Url=http://ndp.ca
WINNIPEG – MP Bill Blaikie today called on the Liberal government to abandon plans to appeal a court decision awarding disabled war veterans and their families the unpaid interest from their pensions.
Justice John Brockenshire ruled in favour of 30,000 disabled veterans from the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War and Peacekeeping missions. The veterans had not been paid interest on pension money owing to them. Lawyers for the Liberal government have indicated that the government will likely appeal. The case has already been before the courts for seven years.
“2005 was proclaimed as the Year of the Veteran – and the Liberal government issued 77 press releases saying how much they honoured the men and women who fought to keep Canada free,” Blaikie said. “And now, as the year ends, they continue to refuse to treat disabled veterans fairly.”
“If the Liberals appeal this decision, then they are making a mockery of the Year of the Veteran,” Blaikie said.
Blaikie said the Liberals should immediately instruct government lawyers to abandon plans for an appeal, and concentrate instead on paying the interest that is owed to veterans and their families.
“These veterans have waited decades for justice,” Blaikie said. “Enough is enough. Let’s just treat them fairly.”
Bill Blaikie is the MP for Elmwood-Transcona and NDP Defence Critic.
http://www.canadiancontent.net/en/jd/go?Url=http://ndp.ca