New Hope for Metis Veterans

New Hope for Metis Veterans

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 at 13:15

The minister responsible for veterans for the Metis National Council is fairly confident Metis veterans will receive a fair settlement from the federal government.

David Chartrand received assurances from federal Veterans Affairs minister John McCallum last week that Ottawa would be reviewing the Metis veterans’ file.

The veterans have been seeking compensation for post-war benefits they say they were denied.

As recently as last year, Metis veterans were being told they don’t have a case for compensation.

And even though it appears the Liberals have had a change of heart under Paul Martin, Chartrand says Metis people have to be prepared to fight for their veterans if things don’t go their way.

Chartrand says he will be pushing for individual payments of at least 20-thousand dollars to Metis veterans or their families, but more importantly, he wants to hear a public apology from the federal government.