Veteran Affairs is the bottom of the heap
What is it about the Veterans’ Affairs portfolio that it seems to end up at bottom of the ministerial heap?
The recent news of the former Attorney General’s testimony to a parliamentary committee was framed in the context of her being “demoted” to the position of minister of Veterans’ Affairs after pushing back against the PMO, PM and Privy Council’s office.
Should it not be one of the portfolios that we are most proud of? Despite the fact it appears to be underfunded on most occasions and a problematic delivery service for many, we should make it a priority.
In a month, we will remember Vimy Ridge, a pivotal battle in the First World War, and, some would argue, a pivotal time for Canada. The veterans from that campaign are no longer here to communicate the horrors of the battle, but we remember them on Vimy Ridge Day.
We are, however, pre-disposed to forget the importance of the contribution of not just those veterans, but veterans from the present day.
These are people who made a commitment to protect our country and our freedom, people who put their lives in harm’s way so that we may be able to sleep at night.
So in the context of politics, why the heck is it considered a demotion to get the Veterans’ Affairs portfolio?
Enough of this BS. Stop talking about it in the media that way,. The government needs to make it a priority and let's start giving some respect to the people who truly served this country.
The biggest privilege a politician should have is to be the minister of Veterans’ Affairs.
This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.