At least one veterans group promises to campaign against the Harper Conservatives because of a stand taken by federal lawyers, who argue the country holds no extraordinary social obligation to ex-soldiers. The lawyers, fighting a class-action lawsuit in British Columbia, asked a judge to dismiss the court action filed by injured Afghan veterans, saying Ottawa owes them nothing more than what they have already received under its controversial New Veterans Charter. The stand drew an incendiary reaction from veterans advocates, who warned they are losing patience with the Harper government, which has made supporting the troops one of its political battle cries. Mike Blais, president of Canadian Veterans Advocacy, told a Parliament Hill news conference that since the First World War, the federal government has recognized it has a "sacred obligation" to veterans — and that notion was abandoned with the adoption of the veterans charter by the Conservatives. "We are asking the government to stand down on this ridiculous position (and) to accept the obligation that successive generations of Parliament have wilfully embraced," said Blais, who pointed out veterans of Afghanistan deserve the same commitment as those who fought in the world wars. "We're damned determined to ensure (the same) standard of care is provided by this government or we shall work to provide and elect another government that will fulfil its sacred obligation." The lawsuit filed last fall by six veterans claims that the new charter, which replaces life-time pensions with workers compensation-style lump sum awards for wounds, violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. In all cases, the awards are substantially less than what service members would have received under the old Pension Act system, which was initially set up following the First World War. Veterans advocates, including Blais, see the new veterans charter as a bottom-line exercise. "We went to war, signed up to serve this nation, nobody told us we would be abandoned," he said. "Nobody told us they were going to change the game in mid- flights and that our government would turn its back on us, and put the budget ahead of their sacred obligation." A spokesman for newly appointed veterans minister Julian Fantino said he wasn't able to comment directly on the court case. But Joshua Zanin noted that more than 190,000 veterans and their families received benefits under the revised charter and the "government has taken important steps to modernize and improve services to veterans." Even so, federal lawyers argued that the veterans lawsuit is "abuse of process" that should be thrown out. "In support of their claim, the representative plaintiffs assert the existence of a 'social covenant,' a public law duty, and a fiduciary duty on the part of the federal government," Jasvinder S. Basran, the regional director general for the federal Justice Department, said in a court application. The lawsuit invokes the "honour of the Crown," a concept that has been argued in aboriginal rights claims. "The defendant submits that none of the claims asserted by the representative plaintiffs constitutes a reasonable claim, that the claims are frivolous or vexatious, and accordingly that they should be struck out in their entirety." New Democrat veterans critic Peter Stoffer says the legal implication of claiming the government has no special obligation to veterans is far-reaching and he demanded the Conservatives clarify what it means. He noted that unlike the previous legislation, the new veterans charter — passed unanimously by all parties in 2005 and enacted by the Conservatives in 2006 — contained no reference to social obligation. Both Stoffer and Blais do not advocate for a complete return to the old pension system, but rather that veterans be given a choice of how the benefit is paid. Among the soldiers named in the suit is Maj. Mark Douglas Campbell, a 32-year veteran of the Canadian Forces who served in Cyprus, Bosnia and Afghanistan. In June 2008, Campbell, of the Edmonton-based Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, was struck by an improvised explosive device and Taliban ambush. He lost both legs above the knee, one testicle, suffered numerous lacerations and a ruptured eardrum. He has since been diagnosed with depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. Campbell received a lump-sum payment for pain and suffering of $260,000. He will receive his military pension, with an earnings loss benefit and a permanent impairment allowance but he is entirely unable to work and will suffer a net earnings loss due to his injuries, the lawsuit claims. Another plaintiff soldier suffered severe injuries to his leg and foot in the blast that killed Canadian journalist Michelle Lang and four soldiers. He was awarded $200,000 in total payments for pain and suffering and post-traumatic stress. The allegations in the lawsuit have not been proven in court. The federal government application says policy decisions of the government and legislation passed by Parliament are not subject to review by the courts. "The basic argument that they're making is that Parliament can do what it wants," said Don Sorochan, the soldiers' lawyer. He said he receives calls almost daily from soldiers affected by the changes, and thousands ultimately could be involved. Sorochan, who is handling the case for free, said he doesn't believe the objective of the legislation was to save money at the expense of injured soldiers, but that's what has happened. "When the legislation was brought in it was believed by the politicians involved — and I've talked to several of them, in all parties — that they were doing a good thing," Sorochan said. "But anybody that can objectively look at what is happening to these men and women who have served us, can't keep believing that."
Our Bro Jesus, thanks for all Your Help for the People -
the Syrian army has sent reinforcements to Christian village of Ma'loula, the historic village, which is on a
UNESCO list of world heritage sites - is home to two of the oldest surviving monasteries in Syria:
Mar Sarkis and Mar Takla. Some villagers there still speak a version of Aramaic, an ancient language believed to have been spoken by Bro Jesus Christ -
where government forces have been battling foreign-backed osama al-Qaeda rebel militants for the past three days -
It is the first time that militants attack Ma'loula, which is located about 70 kilometers northeast of Damascus.
100s people have also taken refuge in the convents.
Residents said the militants seized the mountaintop Safir Hotel and fired in the direction of the community below during the hours-long capture.
Syria Gov. Protecting Christian Village From Rebels (Video)
1821 - Georg W. F. Hegel formulates what is called the Hegelian dialectic - the process by which Illuminati objectives are achieved. According to the Hegelian ...
history often repeat itself - the BS osama pawn has to follow the khazarian king pin agenda - and if the People wake up to the true knowledge, we all better understand the 666 agenda and why the nonsense bail out robberies and destruction of USA etc. taking place -
The first is that EMF from cell towers can cause cancer. .. .. These are the largest and most comprehensive studies of their kind to date. ... to the Découverte program on Radio-Canada the total power from this group of antennas is 2000 watts.
The proposed five 150-foot AM Radio Towers site blow torch to torture people in Vancouver, Lower Mainland, B.C. - (some say, EMF radiation to go to PinceGeorge town, B.C.)
Cell towers with 50,000 Watts / tower EMF Radiation - 250,000 Watts radiation per day and night, 7 days/week. 365 days/year -
Cell towers is NOT consistent with the Point Roberts - New or Old Character Plan and the cell towers site is only 330 meters (1080 feet} from the Canada - US border -
An opposition led by The Cross Border Coalition to Stop the Towers (CBCST) meeting @ United Church 53 A St., Tsawwassen, Sept. 17th., 7 PM
CELL TOWERS AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS – LIVING WITH RADIOFREQUENCY RADIATION - Angela Flynn, Public Health Advocate, Member, Wireless Radiation Alert Network
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