Aboriginal War Vets Motion Debated In Parliament

Aboriginal War Vets Motion Debated In Parliament

Tuesday, April 05, 2005 at 15:43

 

 

The plight of Aboriginal war veterans is being debated in the House of Commons today.

 

Members of Parliament are discussing a private member’s motion put forward by northern Saskatchewan’s MP, Jeremy Harrison.

 

Harrison’s motion calls on the government to “acknowledge the historic inequality of treatment and compensation for First Nations, Metis and Inuit war veterans”.

 

It also calls on Ottawa to take immediate action to give “real compensation to these veterans in a way that truly respects their service and sacrifice”.

 

First Nations war veterans received a maximum $20,000 settlement a couple of years ago on “compassionate grounds”.

 

Otttawa has argued Metis war veterans don’t have a case for compensation.

 

Both First Nations and Metis veterans say they were denied post-war benefits received by non-Aboriginal war vets.

 

The motion will be voted on tomorrow.