Moral injustice unacceptable

Published Monday September 1st, 2008

Letter to the editor

Finally in the February 2008 budget the VIP was granted but only to 30 per cent of the veterans widows back to the Second World War and Korean War, and only to the veterans widows whom must be receiving the Guaranteed Income Suppliment under the Old Age Security Act, or be approved for the Disability Tax Credit, etc.

One veteran's widow whose husband died in 1982 leaving his widow with a family of fourteen to bring up on her own, received a letter in April 2008 in answer to her application for the VIP informing her that she would be receiving the VIP also sent her the reimbursement forms.

The end of May the widow sent the reimbursement forms for the groundskeeping and housekeeping she had received and paid for in May. By the end of June she had not received a reimbursement cheque for the latter, so phoned to inquire if they had received the forms.

They had received the forms and said they would send her more forms, but no explanation about the reimbursement cheque she was waiting for and urgently needed. With only receiving a poverty income some of her monthly bills were left on hold to enable her to pay for the work she needed to be done in May, June and July. Up to this date, August 15 she is still waiting to be reimbursed for those three months. She has not yet received one cent. Until she is reimbursed she is unable to contiue to pay anyone to do the work she needs to have done.

Another veterans widow whose husband died in 1961 leaving his widow with seven children to bring up on her own got a reply to her application for the VIP on the April 30 at which time the Department of Veterans Affairs were reviewing her application and has not heard anything from them since. To be kept in suspence for three and a half months is far too long.

How many hundreds of veterans widows are out there in the same or similar plight as these two widows I have been speaking about? The widows should not be kept waiting for their reimbursement or to find out if they are among the pittance of 30 per cent whom are to receive the VIP. No doubt 30 per cent does not include all the widows who are receiving the Guaranteed Income Suppliment under the Old Age Security Act.

About 70 per cent of the veterans widows are being discriminated against and for the Conservative government to continue to evade the promise they made to grant the VIP to all veterans widows back to the Second World War and Korean War is a moral injustice which is unacceptable also unforgivable this needs to be rectified without further delay.

Joyce Carter

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Whether these widows are receiving the supplement or not is irrelevant. I've said this countless times in the past...Veteran Affairs need to step up to the plate and do what they promised to do. Respecting all widows alike, age has nothing to do with it! During conflict when these men and women were called into service, they were all in the same boat while defending our freedom. These widows need help, and the government has turned their back on promises made. This is unacceptable! Sadly as a society, we must pressure the government to do what is morally and ethically right, by insisting honor be paid to the remaining family members of these heroes who fought for our freedoms in this country. And while we're at it, let us also pressure the Last Post Fund, who's meager handouts at the final hour give way to a shameful display of honoring our war dead. Rather than waiting until the last of our war veterans are gone, lets show them the respect they deserve now!!