Disabled Military Veterans in Canada Sue Government For 'Breaking Promises'

A group of military veterans in Canada is fighting against the government for benefits. They have gone to court to claim their rights.

The group of army veterans earlier won the legal right to sue the government. The veterans want to restore a programme that would guarantee injured veterans disability payments for life. The Canadian government, on the other hand, argues that it has the right to change how it administers benefits to the people of Canada. The government says that it has the right to change programmes whenever it wants to even if there are past promises made to veterans. CBC News reported that Equitas, a small group, is demanding that the 2011 programme which ensured monthly disability payments for veterans should be restored. According to retired major Mark Campbell, the government apparently wants to save small amount of money at the expense of the veterans.

Campbell's life changed in Afghanistan when he had his eardrum blown in an ambush in 2008. He also lost a testicle and both the legs above the knee. Even though he is receiving federal allowance, he claims that the money is around $35,000 less than what was earlier promised under the older system. Campbell said that he had expected to "move off into the twilight and retire" after coming back from Afghanistan. However, according to him, such conclusions may only be seen in Hollywood movies. The soldier, who served 33 years for his country, said that the biggest battle he had ever faced in his entire life was at home against his "very own government."

Campbell said that he would have avoided his disability if he did not accept a second call to duty in Afghanistan. The Globe And Mail reported that Campbell's lower body had been decimated by a blast of an improvised explosive device when his team went to recue another injured Canadian. He now believes that he may need 10 years to end the case against the government. "Canada bred us as warriors. To think that we're just going to fold and buckle under a bit of government pressure is ridiculous," Campbell declared, "We're going to fight this thing to the bitter end."

Contact the writer: s.mukhopadhyay@ibtimes.com.au