Conservative Ideology Issues – People
with Disabilities
Living in Canada is a blessing for
everyone because we are a free country. Canadian soldiers fought for us, and
gave Canadian citizens the pleasure of living safe, happy, and most importantly
free. It is essential for us to recognize the soldiers and veterans, and do the
best we can to show them that we are thankful. Unfortunately, the
conservatives’ cut back on giving veterans who were disabled money within their
pensions, and within their disability insurance (Canadian Press, 2012). Even
though the “clawback” just ended in 2012, it has been ongoing for a long time
and should have been dealt with sooner (Canadian Press, 2012).
Having a disability does not only
affect you as a person, but it also affects your family. Sometimes there are
additional costs when having a disability. You may need a wheelchair, lift,
special kinds of bathtubs that are easy to access etc. None of these
necessities are inexpensive, they can really cost immeasurable amounts of money
that most families do not have. When the conservatives stopped giving money to
veterans with disabilities, it really took a toll on their life. Younger
ex-soldiers had families they needed to take care of and support, they
struggled with having little money. They were on their own with 50% less of
what they were receiving trying to pay for medicine, medical bills, and other
products they might have needed (Robert Smol, 2007). This put families in debt,
where they had a hard time financially and couldn’t fully support their family
(Robert Smol, 2007). Perry Gray was a twenty six year old veteran who stated “When
the financial difficulties were added, in along with the increased medical
expenses, my life quickly deteriorated and my family and I suffered immensely
as we struggled to cope financially…” (Robert Smol, 2007). This is unfair and
sad that the conservatives’ took something so important away from people who
truly deserve the money to help them.
With the “clawback” in place, other
issues started to arise. Veterans with physical disabilities had a hard time
finding work. They felt as if the government didn’t care about them within this
situation. Finally, when a veteran confronted a conservative about there being
no work, the veteran was told that there actually was work (Canadian Press,
2012). There is a program called Helmets-to-Hardhats that gives the ex-soldiers
work, although this is only good for soldiers who do not have physical
disabilities (Canadian Press, 2012). Within this article you can tell by the
people who spoke up against the issue, that there isn’t work and that veterans
and their families are upset and struggling to pay for their finances. People
who have physical disabilities can’t work for the Helmets-to-Hardhats because
it is working for a construction company. As and example, if someone is in a
wheelchair because they had only one leg, how are they supposed to do physical
constriction work? To me this does not make much sense and it just proves that
the government really isn’t helping. It would also baffle me if the government
thinks they are helping.
This relates to class because we
discussed how the conservatives’ feel that you should take care of yourself and
that the government should rarely step in only if necessary. I feel that they
should take a bigger initiative to step in within this situation because it is
affecting not only the veterans but their families as well. Conservatives focus
is more towards economics and not the well being of people. With this view we
can now be aware that they really don’t care about the veterans, they just care
about money. Veterans do believe that the conservatives don’t care about them
and just put a front onto the public. Dave Desjardins a veteran confronted
Blaney and said “and tell me you really care” (Canadian Press, 2012). It is
obvious that the conservatives within the government really don’t care about
the well being of people.
In conclusion, the “clawback”
finally ended and the veterans are getting their money back. The Federal Court
started a lawsuit against the government saying it was unfair for them to take
the money away (Kenyon Wallace, 2012). They will be getting about one hundred
seventy-seven point seven million dollars back between them, which is about three
hundred eighty-two to about one thousand five hundred per month (Kenyon
Wallace, 2012). This is great to see because it gives you hope that maybe the
government will turn around and stop being so greedy. These veterans and their
families will hopefully start to be financially stable and that added stress
will be lifted off. Yes, they are a little late on giving them the money back
and it should have been done years ago, but thankfully they actually are coming
through.
Smol, Robert.
(2007, September 17). Canadian Forces
veterans fight against pension clawbacks, still waiting for government
response. Retrieved from http://www.seanbruyea.com/2007/09/canadian-forces-veterans-fight-against-pension-clawbacks-still-waiting-for-government-response/
CBC News. (2012,
October 10). Veterans Affairs ends
clawback of benefits for 2,500 families. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/story/2012/10/10/pol-veterans-affairs-benefits-changes.html
Wallace, Kenyon.
(2012, October 10). Conservatives end
clawback on disabled veterans pensions. Retrieved from http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1268925--federal-conservatives-cancel-clawback-on-disabled-veterans-pensions
Canadian Press.
(2012, November 10). Veterans’
frustration cast shadow before Remembrance Day. Retrieved from http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/story/2012/11/09/pol-cp-veterans-widows-remembrance-day.html
Hunter
No comments:
Post a Comment