Native War Veterans Left Off Invite List

Friday, August 12, 2005 at 13:53

 

 

Northern Saskatchewan’s MP says the Liberals are to blame for an oversight that has offended members of the National Aboriginal Veterans Association.

 

Jeremy Harrison says native war vets were not invited to the lying-in-state of Canadian war hero Ernest “Smokey” Smith in the House of Commons this week.

 

Harrison says it was well known that Smith had a very strong relationship with Canada’s Aboriginal war veterans — including the head of their association, Claude Petit.

 

Harrison notes the Liberals voted against a private member’s motion recognizing the contributions of native war vets, and says this incident is the latest slight the vets have received from the Liberal government.

 

Smith was the last surviving Victoria Cross winner.

 

His funeral takes place tomorrow in Vancouver.