Shame on our federal government

Dear Canadians,

Our Royal Canadian Legions and other noble veteran groups across Canada are frustrated while doing their best against the federal government that is only worried about balancing the budget on the backs of our deserving veterans and their families.

I welcome your thoughts on the following;
 
A NEW LEADER-COMMANDER IS IMPERATIVE BEFORE ANY MAJOR CHANGES OCCUR

• The public is quickly growing impatient with the snail’s pace “speed” of these ineffective and inefficient Dominion Commands team efforts.
• What it has been doing is proof positive, it hasn’t worked!
• The number one essential element to the success of the Dominion Command, all its branches and most importantly the men and woman veterans and their families that it serves, is to select a new refreshing bold and persuasive leader/Commander.
• The new leader will not only transform the branch legion communities and other organizations into a new, exciting and healthy dynamic force. It will assemble complex deals, overcome obstacles especially financial barriers with creative and strategic thinking and align its interests with enough supporters to make a project successful, even against considerable opposition.

 
I am a private citizen and very concerned with the health and welfare of our men and women veterans and their families. My research indicates that Veterans Affairs and others within the federal government have done little to advance the Royal Canadian Legions proposed services and benefits since the NVCAG was launched in April 2006. This is unacceptable and a disgrace!
 
In 2006, all federal parties and the Canadian people supported the New Veterans Charter bill. The Minister of the day made a commitment to Veterans’ organizations, on behalf of the Government and Canadians, to continuously review and evaluate Charter programs and services: to make it a “living” Charter. With the large numbers of Canadian Forces now being deployed in Afghanistan and off the coast of Somalia, that commitment is being tested. If we fail to give new Veterans and their families the support they need when they need it most, we will be dealing with the legacy of Afghanistan for the next 50 years – just as the US has been haunted by its failure to support its Vietnam War Veterans. We urge Veterans Affairs Canada to act now: to respond quickly to our recommendations. And we commit to continuing to work with Veterans Affairs to put the Living Charter into action.
 
My attempts to schedule appointments with Dominion Command Executives were unsuccessful. If that’s any indication of their leadership skills and ability to negotiate agreements with the federal government, they haven’t a hope in hell of doing so.
 
I am not impressed by the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of Defence with their lack of interest in helping our men and woman veterans and their families. My messages were ignored! While I’ve read some recent positive stories from the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman, his interest was certainly not impressive either.
 
The Royal Canadian Legions and other support agencies continue to be an integral support system to our men and woman veterans throughout the country. We’ve lost most of our veteran’s from WWII and Korean Wars and those that have survived are very senior in age and likely in poor health. Legion memberships have decreased and non veterans have been encouraged to join in to fill the void.
 
Today’s veterans, their families and those warriors from future wars and conflicts will require additional sources of support and services. And that means changes in the way that all Canadians think of our warriors living and dead. Education is the key consideration to this success. Our public educational system, TV, computer and Internet will deliver the message that we (Canadians) value, appreciate and are willing to support our warriors and their families through the updated and streamlined Royal Canadian Legion.
 
I believe by establishing positive, strategic and dynamic partnerships with the Department of National Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs and other support agencies coupled with the generous support of the business, industry, commerce and the media communities, we will improve our success in supporting those who gave so much and asked for so little.
 
It is imperative that leadership at the highest levels within these organizations plus the Royal Canadian Legion, Dominion Command and others, buy into and support this program that will provide a major difference in the lives of all veterans, their families and Canadians coast to coast.
 
Earle Rheaume