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utter disrespect to WW2 vets...
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| mr. poopyhead |
http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Co...d=1083708610157
| quote: | 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." |
wtf is wrong with the government? not only do they mismanage millions every year, the governor general is off blowing millions of dollars on extravagant vacations and now we cant even fork over a few hundred thousand to send our vets over to normandy to honour their comrades??? wtf has adrienne clarkson done for us compared to what our veterans have done? this is utter bull... we've got our priorities all mixed up in this country... |
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| <tuss> |
| i agree, thats some major bull, they need to get their straight. what a shame. |
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| Durafei |
| What's new ?? There is utter disrespect almost everywhere, that's just another good example. |
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| dEsidEL |
| quote: |
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.
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what a disgrace .. :mad: :(
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| LoCa |
| Man that's so wrong! :( |
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| Rocco |
| welcome to canada :) |
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| Dj Smitty20 |
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 ing 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. |
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| crazedcanuck |
Blaming the PC aspects of society, i.e the government is afraid of offending people, is pretty weak.
The Liberal government is pure bull, 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. :nervous: |
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| Dj Smitty20 |
^^^^ what the hell do you mean that attacking the government for PC is weak? This country is ing 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 ed 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 ing day of the week. Western politicians are just too out there. |
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| 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!!! |
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