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-- utter disrespect to WW2 vets...
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utter disrespect to WW2 vets...
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...d=1083708610157
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| Vets must pay for D-Day trip Ottawa invites only 60 to Normandy Ceremonies will mark 1944 invasion GABE GONDA STAFF REPORTER On June 6, 1944, Keith Tozer took a deep breath, then shifted his ammunition truck into gear. He plunged it into the English Channel, up to Juno Beach and launched himself into the pivotal battle of World War II. The bloody trail that followed D-Day is burned into his mind's eye forever. Tozer is 80 now and his vision is going, yet he wants a last look at the place on France's northern coast where he joined the fight for Europe six decades ago. But Tozer isn't going to Normandy next month, and he's among a growing group of Canadian veterans angry at the government's decision to send just 60 of their number to commemorate D-Day's 60th anniversary. "They sent me applications for how many tickets I wanted for the ceremonies," Tozer said yesterday from his North York home. "But they said, `Of course you have to pay your own way.' I said, `What? They want me to pay to go back and see the hell I went through?' I didn't think that was right." Veterans Affairs Canada says it can't afford to send more than a small group on the trip, which will also include 70 support staff to ensure the "security and efficient movement of Canadians through the Canadian ceremonies," according to an e-mail from the department. "What we're trying to do is provide one group that's representative of them all," said spokeswoman Janice Summerby. About one-quarter of the 80,000 Canadians who participated in D-Day are still alive, according to Veterans Affairs, and Summerby said sending them all to Normandy this month would be impossible. Instead, the government charged regimental associations across the country with choosing their own representatives for Battle of Normandy events that are expected to cost $1.57 million. For Tozer, who was badly injured during combat on the Dutch-German border, this is just the latest round in a half-century fight with the federal government over what his years of military service were worth. The retired stationary engineer grew up in Toronto and went to Central Technical School before enlisting in the Army Service Corps, which serviced tanks and provided armoured battalions with fuel, ammunition and other supplies. While stationed in England during the Battle of Britain, he watched during a German bombing raid as a fuel explosion burned a fellow soldier to death. After D-Day, during a Luftwaffe counter-offensive in France, Tozer rushed to the aid of a comrade who'd been hit by shrapnel on a trip to the latrine. "The front part of his chest was taken right off, and there was his heart beating while we were looking at him ... there was nothing you could do for him." Tozer was recently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and spent years fighting for his pension. Like others, he says government excess in other areas makes the decision to keep so many vets at home this D-Day particularly galling. Ernie Bovey, who served on a frigate that swept the English Channel in the months leading up to D-Day, echoed Tozer's sentiment. The 79-year-old, who lives in Gananoque, Ont., cited Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson's recent circumpolar trip, which cost $5.3 million, as an example of the government's misplaced spending priorities. He said Veterans Affairs could have sent three times as many veterans to Normandy for a fraction of the price of Clarkson's junket. "Based on a tour price per person of $3,000 for 10 days, the total would be $540,000, only slightly more than 10 per cent of what it cost the government to fly the Governor-General and her VIP entourage (on its recent trip)," Bovey said. Summerby insisted the government values men like Tozer and Bovey and expressed sympathy for all veterans who will be left on the home front come June 6. "Hopefully, there will be events in Canada (veterans) can participate in," she said. "Or they can enjoy the overseas ceremonies on the television." |
Lame.
i agree, thats some major bullshit, they need to get their shit straight. what a shame.
What's new ?? There is utter disrespect almost everywhere, that's just another good example.
Complete bullshit 
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The 79-year-old, who lives in Gananoque, Ont., cited Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson's recent circumpolar trip, which cost $5.3 million, as an example of the government's misplaced spending priorities. He said Veterans Affairs could have sent three times as many veterans to Normandy for a fraction of the price of Clarkson's junket. "Based on a tour price per person of $3,000 for 10 days, the total would be $540,000, only slightly more than 10 per cent of what it cost the government to fly the Governor-General and her VIP entourage (on its recent trip)," Bovey said. |
Man that's so wrong!
welcome to canada 
I blame political correctness for this type of crap. We're so worried in this country about offending the Japanese or German Canadians (whose ancestors were clearly in the wrong), so our government tries not to make a big deal about our contributions to WW1 and WW2 (among other wars).
Besides absolutely fucking the veterans, the government sanctions cirriculum decisions that just glaze over the Holocaust, or the Battl of Britain and the German initiation of total war (bombing cities), or the brutality and murderous acts of the Japanese, etc. What do we learn about instead? How the Canadian government interned thousands of Japanese Canadians or how we participated in the "cruel" Allied bombings of German cities in the last years of the war. I remember one year in high school...we didn't even have a Remembrance Day announcement or assembly. I was disgusted...the students walked out and the principal was later reprimanded.
I love this country as much as the next Canadian...but goddamn...we have some serious issues dealing with our past. This kind of crap makes me sick.
Blaming the PC aspects of society, i.e the government is afraid of offending people, is pretty weak.
The Liberal government is pure bullshit, and has been for it's entire reign of power, but since they sing a good tune, one that makes ppl feel good and superior morally so they get and stay in.
It's more like everything in regards to the military in this country... war is bad, and the USA is right there to do it all for us, so why bother spending the $$$, even on our own veterans.
I remember seeing a "poll on the street" segment on one of the CBC's channels, and so many ppl were saying they trusted the liberals to clean up the ad scandal. Never mind it was Paul Martin as Finance Minister who personally oversaw the whole thing. His state to the nation promising better government ahead was nearly the same promise word for word he made when first elected in the 90's... after which he promptly fired the independant auditor of the goverment's spending.
But keep voting Red cause it makes you feel good. 
^^^^ what the hell do you mean that attacking the government for PC is weak? This country is fucking OBSESSED with political correctness!! look at what the CBC (a government funded corporation) is doing to Cherry...even though I disagree with him a lot of the time, he's been fucked over because he tells his opinions.
Nobody can say anything without having the fear of offending a minority. I support the basic multiculturalist policy of this nation, but damn...it has gone way too far.
As far as I see it, there is a direct link to political correctness and the lack of military spending/veterans affairs. Canada can't go to war with ANYONE on this planet without offending a group of minority Canadians. Look at what happened with the Bosnian situation....Canada rightly supported and participated in NATO action against that bastard Milosovich and there were protests in the streets by Slavic Canadians. Even when we have Remembrance Day celebrations, there are always the dissenting voices. How can you dissent against our role in WW2?
Anyway...who would you rather see run this country? As usual, it will be a choice between Martin and Harper. Martin may very well be a Tory dressed in red, but I'd take him over that whacko Harper any fucking day of the week. Western politicians are just too out there.
Stop wasting your ink onthis thread!!!! Instead write your elected representative and let him know how you feel , and maybe change will happen. re-fighting WW2 on this thread is not the objective, getting the vets the respect they deserve is!!!
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| Originally posted by Dj Smitty20 Western politicians are just too out there. |
The thing that gets me is :
Veterans Affairs Canada says it can't afford to send more than a small group on the trip, which will also include 70 support staff to ensure the "security and efficient movement of Canadians through the Canadian ceremonies," according to an e-mail from the department.
You can only afford to send 60 veterans and 70 suport staff? What do you need 70 supoprt staff for? I think I know.. free vacations to europe for veterans affairs. Pathetic.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by j_spot And this is why the West hates the East. They arent out there. Frankly, I have never seen a more centered to the actual beliefs and values of Western Canadians than Preston Manning. The guy knew exactly how my half the country felt. Western Alienation is real, but thats not this topic. anyways. there is nobody good left to vote for. Go green. |
| quote: |
| Right wingers might not like to admit it, but the only truly national party in Canada are the Liberals. They get substantial votes everywhere...in every riding in every city in every province or territory. |
^^^ i saw the CBC documentary on this thing.. didn't they say that virtually every companies does the same in order to remain competitive??
quote: Originally posted by boa-redux
Stop wasting your ink onthis thread!!!! Instead write your elected representative and let him know how you feel , and maybe change will happen. re-fighting WW2 on this thread is not the objective, getting the vets the respect they deserve is!!!
tru sayin! and it's prolly why they publish articles like this .. in order to bring it to the public's attention to invoke change
| quote: |
| anyways. there is nobody good left to vote for. Go green. |
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| Originally posted by ShadoWolf Actually, by population the two biggest will soon be Ontario and BC. Alberta and Ontario have the biggest economies. And the Liberals don't get votes in the West. There is no truly naitonal party. |
Ok so you want to talk about the liberals. Ive got a few things to say.
Federal Liberals: Have been in power now for 11 years. The promised all kinds of things in their little red book such as scrapping the GST, ending free trade, and more responsible government.
What Happened? The Fiberals went and signed nafta, mused about RAISING the GST and stole hundres of millions if not billions of our dollars. Let's talk about the $1 billion dollars missing from HRDC, the $100 million dollar Adscam. The Grand Mere affair, the list goes on. The RCMP was actually investigating the former prime minister until they suddenly discontinued their investigation for no apparent reason... hmmmmmmmmmm. Remember that Paul Martin was essentially second in command the whole time this was going on.
Provincial Liberals: Theyve only been in power for 6 months and already i have never seen a government who has lied more than they have. They promised not to raise taxes. The DAY they ttok power thery raised cig taxes. They signed a letter saying they would uphold the taxpayer's protection law. They then went ahead and broke thier promise. They are now going to run a deficit and raise taxes (by cancelling the promised tax cut). Also, they promised to leave eelctricity rates as is. the DAY they took power the removed the cap. Now they are even talking about "smart meters" so that they can force us to do laundry and vacuuming at midnight. Oh yes, and lets not forget how this new government seems to think it knows better than us to control our lives with all the social engineering laws they are passing. Namely, smoking, fat taxes, new driving restrictions for teens, and banning "junk" food in schools.
So now you go and paint the conservative party as "radical"? Its nice to see you are buying into liberal rederick. Whats so "radical" about a bunch of guys that want to end the politcal correctness BS you talk about? Whats so radical about looking at our health care system (which clearly is NOT working) and trying to fix it? Whats so radical about trying to eliminate our debt?
I will close by saying that some people beleive that they are "all the same" so why vote anyways? Well do you want to vote in the crooks who already stole from you or the crooks who MIGHT steal from us? If we vote against the Liberals and make it clear as a society that we are voting against them because of the corruption, it would send a nice message to future politicians. These guys are stealing from us because they know they can get away with it.
PS: using Joe Clark to defend your argument is a bad move. Joe Clark has never made a good political decision in his life. If you were old enough to remember when he was prime minister of a minority government youd understand what im talking about. He basically tried to run a minority as a majority and screwed himself over. His life in politics has been a shambles ever since. Joe Clark is not the man you want to be using as a mascot.
That truely is sad 
For shame really... I'm embarrased to be Canadian right now...
I was embarrassed to be Canadian when Chretien blamed 9/11 on the Americans!!! 
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| Originally posted by ShadoWolf I was embarrassed to be Canadian when Chretien blamed 9/11 on the Americans!!! |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by Dj Smitty20 and when did he do that? If he said it was indirectly a result of American foreign policy, he'd be correct. And from the flag on your profile, it doesn't really seem like you're Canadian anyway. Or is the Canadian flag red white and green? |
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