Feature Story                                                                                                   Wednesday November 9, 2011

                                                                          

Marching Orders

Chilliwack veterans join national day of protest

Craig Hill/Voice photos

 

hile team leader, retired RCAF master warrant officer Joe Beauchesne fired volleys on Twitter pumping the protest rally, retired RCAF captain Claude LaTulippe worked the last few details of assembling the troops at Cottonwood Mall Saturday.

 

About 100 veterans and supporters met at the mall and then marched behind Chilliwack’s Colour Guard to MP Mark Strahl's office on Vedder Rd.   

                                                     

Even though veterans affairs is a federal bureaucracy, marchers included local Chilliwack city council candidates Dick Harrington and Phill Bruce, as well as School Board trustee candidate Dan Coulter, there educating themselves on issues facing veterans. Federal NDP candidate Gwen O'Mahony also marched shoulder-to-shoulder as did outspoken CRV critic Glen Thompson, who traveled from New Westminster for the rally and to show his support for the vets.

                                                                   

The issues that were raised at last year’s rally are the same ones they’re dealing now, but organiser Claude LaTulippe told the Voice on Saturday that there's been some ground gained since the march last year. The veteran’s organising committee, consisting of Beauchampe and LaTulippe, met with Strahl three-weeks ago to provide some perspective into the issues they're dealing with.

 

"Then Strahl took that to Ottawa and he said he's going to follow through and check up on what we give them and what we give them is facts, no assumptions," said LaTulippe.

 

The vets have 5 items they want dealt with. The Primary one is the New Veterans Charter that was introduced in 2006 and the lump sum allotments for injuries.

 

"This is at the top of the list because this is affecting the veterans that we have, the soldiers we have coming in from Afghanistan injured," he explained.

 

LaTulippe admitted all their issues were equally as important, but that the pension claw-backs at 65 was second on their agenda.

 

Veterans also want compensation for all the soldiers who were exposed to Agent Orange.

 

"They set a target date which was June where every submission from soldiers in Canada had to be in to Veteran's Affairs to be considered for compensation," said LaTulippe, adding that he wasn't sure where they were with the Agent Orange claim.

 

He said the Widow's Tax is unpopular with veterans because when a vet passes away the widow gets a "cut-off" pension type of thing.

 

"Some of the pensioners are already below the poverty level, so when you're looking at a pensioner who passes away, his widow still has to carry on, and she supported him throughout his life and family while away so we want that amended to some extent," he said.

 

LaTulippe was optimistic, saying after the rallies last year, there was some movement in Ottawa on their issues due to pressure from the media and this year

 

"This year, leading up to Veteran's National Day of Protest, Veteran's Affairs is being proactive instead of being reactive," said Latulippe. "Everybody's towing the line, is Mark Strahl going to tow the line? I don't know but it would be so nice for you and I if our politicians were true representatives of our constituency."

 

For many veterans, like Chilliwack resident and ex-Sea King pilot, Jim Newton, the real battle didn't start until after an injury forced him off the job.

 

"I got hurt while I was doing something that was part of an activity for our squadron in Canada and that incident destroyed my career," he told the Voice Saturday.

 

Newton ruptured his ear drum which has caused him to have benign positional vertigo for which there is no treatment.

 

"I wake up with bed-spins," he said.

 

Newton's lived with his wife and two small children in the city for 2-years and loves it here. He's doing a sales job now, but figures he would have ended up in great career after the forces with "Air Canada" or one of the other airlines if it wasn't for being hurt.

 

When Newton began his battle with Veteran's Affairs in 1999, what he didn't know was that it would take more than a decade to get his file onto someone's desk for an appeal review.

 

He said the onus is on the veterans to fight with the Veterans Appeal Board for their claims and their entitlement using lawyers provided by the Bureau of Pension Advocates who work on cases for reconsideration.

 

"You are your own best advocate, it really is up to yourself to dig in deep for what you need to get."

 

Newton hasn't seen a dime yet but he hopes that might change because he was promised a review recently.

 

"I've got the attention of the highest level people and it's taken 12-years now, I'm just too stubborn to quit," he explained. "I hope this person does what's right and grants me what I'm asking for because honestly, I don't trust the Veterans Review and Appeal Board."

 

It was a different scene at last year’s rally when Chuck Strahl stiffed veterans and was off singing in a men’s choir. This year his son was singing a different tune.

 

According to Strahl, there were two types of people outside his office Saturday — those supporting veterans and those protesting. Go figure.

 

"I will respect your right. I was asked to come here today to hear from you and that's what I will do," he said.

 

At one point during Strahl's pep talk, he told protestors that he stands by "peace, liberty, democracy, human rights and the rule of law and our government is proud to honour the legacy of those who served and those who continue to serve our country."

 

Strahl blamed media coverage for the schism with local veterans.

 

"I want to take this moment to clear up some misconceptions that have been circulating in the media recently," he said.

 

"Some reports and some individuals have stated that our government is preparing to cut veteran's benefits," said Strahl emphatically. "Friends, I can tell you with absolute certainty that these reports are 100% false".

 

Strahl said he spoke with the Ministry of Veteran's Affairs who told him that every ministry is under pressure to cut their budgets but having said that, there won't be cuts to benefits.

 

"Not one-cent is being cut from veterans benefits."

 

He told those at the rally military issues for him are on "top" and that even he has family actively serving on duty. He added that and is on the standing committee on national defence.

 

"If there are veterans here today who are not getting the federal benefits that they feel they're entitled to, they should contact my office," he said. "I will not rest until every single vet here has every benefit that that are entitled to and I am committed to serving you well and I will be there for you should you need help cutting through the bureaucratic red tape"

 

Strahl wagged his finger again at media saying they've turned this into a "partisan issue".

 

According to Strahl since 2006, his government has implemented the following changes;

Help out the Royal Canadian Legion and donate electronically via text messaging. Text the word “poppy” to 20222 and $5 will be added to your phone bill. The money will be used to help soldiers through career transitions, trauma counseling and housing issues.

 

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