April 08, 2014 - 2:14 PM
OTTAWA - Veterans of bureaucratic battles over the treatment of ex-soldiers unleashed a scathing critique of the Harper government's record before a Parliamentary committee.
Outspoken advocate Sean Bruyea, who was at the centre of a privacy scandal when his personal medical information was leaked, testified that MPs have failed to stand up to the department of veterans affairs and demand recommendations from previous studies be implemented.
The House of Commons veterans committee is reviewing the Conservative government's signature legislation, which governs the benefits and entitlements of those who've served.
It conducted a similar exercise in 2010 and came forward with 18 suggestions for improvements.
Bruyea says the department claims to have implemented 10 of them, but he can't find evidence to support that, notably on issues such as compensating families who care for severely disabled veterans.
Similarly, 16 recommendations coming from a separate advisory group that oversees the New Veterans Charter have been ignored and all of the efforts amount to one giant wheel-spinning exercise.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014