We have heard loud and clear from the voice of Canada’s Veteran’s Ombudsman about the shocking treatment of veterans by the Harper Government. Retired infantry Colonel Pat Stogran said unequivocally today, ”It’s absolutely clear to me that the government expected the veterans’ ombudsman to behave as a complaints manager responsible to the department. ”Is it a surprise to anybody that the veterans’ ombudsman would speak out on behalf of veterans and their families?” He says he’s going to spend his last three months in office telling Canadians how badly vets are being treated.

Stogran is quoted in the Toronto Star, “I was told … that it is in the government’s best interests to have soldiers killed overseas rather than wounded because the liability is shorter term.”

He’s urging people to protest the government’s handling of veterans’ problems. Write letters to the editor, to MPs and ministers, he says; post messages on the Internet; stand up for vets. 
 
Stephen Harper once again shows his contempt for anyone or any group no matter how disadvantaged who disagrees with his political ideologies when he said, “The needs of today’s veterans are different than previous generations.”

How, Mr Harper, are their “needs” different? The effects of warfare, range from death, to maiming, to permanent psychological damage - how exactly is that different from previous vets. I would argue (and I would think most Canadians’ would agree) when our men and women risk their lives for our country in lands far from home, whether it be at Vimy Ridge in the first World War or liberating the Netherlands in World War II or fighting for freedom from oppression in Afghanistan today, our veterans are our veterans. Mr. Harper, they deserve your undying respect not political game playing.
 
Colonel Stogran proved that he was not a trained Harper seal clapping at everything the prime minister wanted. Now he is being removed from his job for standing up for veterans.  ”It is beyond my comprehension how the system could knowingly deny so many of our veterans the services and benefits that the people and the government of Canada recognized a long, long time ago as being their obligation to provide,” Stogran said.
 
This is a sad day for our men and women in uniform given the lack of support when they come home – those men and women who served their country so honourably, so nobly, because their Government asked them to.
 
There is an ongoing campaign against veterans in this country by the Harper Government, from pension issues to lack of a Veteran’s Charter that  Liberals have been calling for.
 
Mr. Harper you owe better treatment to our veterans. This is a non partisan issue that touches every corner in Canada. Who among us would deny Canadian veterans their due, from financial to medical supports to counselling – frankly, whatever they need. Have they not given enough? As a candidate in the next election I have to speak out on this issue as the largest military base in the country is in this riding.
 
Recently, I had the privilege and honour of attending a Highway of Heroes event to raise awareness for scholarships for military families and children and I heard first-hand the undeniable sacrifices made by our service people and their families. We can do better than the way they are being treated by the Conservatives.