14 Canada WWW.PGCITIZEN.CA | FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011 Tories' $2 billion fix for injured vets a 50-year-plus plan Murray BREWSTER The Canadian Press OTTAWA — It could take more than 50 years to spend the $2 billion the Harper government set aside to improve the benefits of injured war veterans. And most of the extra cash they receive will be taxable, according to federal documents that accompanied recently enacted legislation. Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney turned the spotlight Thursday on the government’s long-standing commitment to improve the lives of critically injured soldiers, stating that the suite of programs, promised 11 months ago, is now up and running. The government has been keen to highlight the huge price tag that goes with guaranteeing wounded members a minimum pre-tax income, better eligibility allowances and a $1,000-a-month supplement to the permanent impairment allowance. The promises were made last year in the aftermath of a privacy scandal at Veterans Affairs, accusations from the former veteran’s ombudsman that Ottawa was short-changing the most critically injured troops, and following a review of government policy. The improvements amount to an additional investment of only $189 million over the first five years of the program, portion of which will be recouped through the tax system. At that rate of spending, the fund will last more than half a century. Most Afghan veterans are in their early 20s. Blaney and senior department officials say the program will be there as long as it’s needed. “It is $2 billion over the life the program,” the minister said during a news conference in front of armoured vehicles at the Canadian War Museum. When pressed about the estimated lifetime of the program, he would only say the commitment to veterans is “never-ending.” But figures posted on the Canada Gazette, as part of the legislative process, suggest the direct cost of three of the improvements to Veterans Affairs would amount to $129 million over 10 years. The Defence Department would kick in an additional $13 million during the same time frame. The submission underscored the advantage to the government. “The earnings loss benefit and the indexation of the permanent impairment allowance supplement are taxable; the Regulations will therefore result in increased tax revenues of $40.4 million, which will benefit Canadians and the Canadian economy,” said the Gazette entry posted online on July 9. Blaney brushed aside the fiscal questions. “What matters is not the money, it’s that the program is there for the veterans who need it,” he said. Longtime critics, such as former intelligence officer Sean Bruyea, said the government’s re-announcement was shameless politicking. “The rhetoric in no way matches the fiscal commitment to care for veterans and once again veterans are used as political props without any substantive actions to take care of them,” said Bruyea, whose personal medical file was leaked around Veterans Affairs - a privacy breach for which the government paid LIFESTYLE programs on TV tonight 10/7/11 | ro o 03 7 PM 7:30 8 PM 8:30 9 PM | 9:30 10 PM 10:30 Flipping Out .luff con¬ House House Consumed The Flipping Out Jeff onn- HGTV tinues to take on more Hunters Hunters In¬ Schwartan-Anchels" tinuesto take ai mere business ternational business Diners, Diners The Opener The Helm" Fat St. Eat St. Diners, Diners, FOOD Drive-Ins Drive-Ins (N) "Heavy Drive-Ins Drive-Ins and Dives and Dives Metal Gnll" and Dives and Dives Property Property Necessary Roughness ** The House Bunny ("08, Comedy) Anna W Brothers Brothers "Poker pare" A prrJes- Parrr* Ciim Hankr^ Emma Stone "Stephen & "Malt& snnat poker player's tell Julie" Aleya" (N) Four Weddings .and Say Yes to Say Yes to Four Weddings" and Say Yes to Say Yes to TLC a Dance Off" A black the Dress the Dress a Dance Off" A black the Dress the Dress ligrtrave (N) light rave Man v. Man v: Storage Storage Storage Storage Man v. Man v. OUTDOOR Food Food "Port¬ Wars Wars "All Wars Wars "Auc¬ Food Food "Port¬ "Eoston" land" Guns to tion Royale" "Boston" land" Put" *. You Got Served (04, Drama) Margies The Secret Cirde The Vampire Diaries MUCH Hmrtcn, Oman Grandberry Street dancers work "Heather" Faye has an "DirTurhrng Behavior" A MUSIC together to win a oompettion worth $50,000 and cffer for Cassre new enemy fruarates aspctinamuscwdeo Damcn Late Night With Jimmy Don't For¬ Saturday Night Live Don't For¬ Buffy the Vampire MMM Fallon Hutfr Jackman, get the James ton Dei Peek, get the Slayer "WrBtkHcr Hulty Rachel Bilson (N) Lyrics! F variant Lyrics! firptfi her attraction to Spike rince George's Onl “ ted & ^ $400,000 to settle his lawsuit. Bruyea said there is a lot of discontent in the veterans’ community and pointed to a planned protest on Nov. 6. Legislation that brought about the changes passed as the Conservative minority government was defeated in a House of Commons vote last March. The former minister, Jean-Pierre Blackburn, made a special appeal to the Senate to expedite it before Parliament was dissolved. Even with the approval, Blaney says full implementation of the new benefits was knocked off track by the federal election. The improvements also changed how a $285,000 lump-sum disability award is paid, allowing disabled soldiers to receive it all at once - or over time. That benefit is tax-free. Critics have charged the lump-sum payment is cheap in comparison to similar benefits in other countries, such as Britain and the United States where pay outs are three times higher. But veterans officials argue that the Canadian figure was based upon a study of settlements handed out by the courts in this country and workers compensation awards. They say it must be viewed within the context other allowances and benefits, including Canada’s universal healthcare system. But another advocate, Mike Blais, said studies show the average court awarded settlement for injury and negligence in Canada is now $350,000 or more. He points out there is a difference between getting a leg blown off with a roadside bomb and being injured in a regulated workplace. He says comparing the two is “disrespectful.” News Tip? 562-2441, local 2753 Amazing Food & Great Entertainment! NELLYs /I LARGEST SCREEN in PG! LIVE BANDS on weekends ■ Pool Tables • Dartboards Daily hood & Drink Specials 2280 Hart Hwy 250-563-0456 Home of the Famous Nelly Burger In the Northwood Motor Inn 1 minute from Aberdeen Golf Course fcf Trihcz Qeorge ‘JuneraC Servia 1014 Douglas Street 250-564-3880 • 1-866-604-3880 SUBARU arney Think. Feel. 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The Customer Choice name and logo is used under license from FortisBC Inc A gigajoul* (GJ) is a metric measurement of energy used for establishing rates, sales ond billing. One gigojoule is equal to one billion joules (J) or 948,21J British thermal units (Btu). CUSTOMER CHOICE Saudi Arabia detaining Canadian family: MP The Canadian Press OTTAWA — A Canadian citizen, his wife and two young children have been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia, a Liberal MP says. Jim Karygiannis said Thursday that the Harper government is doing nothing to free the family. At the very least, he said the children - two girls, aged 18 months and five years - should be released, regardless of what their parents are alleged to have done. According to Karygiannis, Majeed Uddin Ahmed, his wife Zareen and their two girls were picked up by police two weeks ago in Jeddah, where the family has been living for about four years. It’s not clear what prompted the arrests. Karygiannis said all four members of the family are being held in the “notorious” Dhaban prison in Jeddah, reportedly a high-security facility used to incarcerate terrorist suspects and political opponents. If the parents have done something wrong, Karygi-annis said, the Saudis can “throw the book at them.” “But let the kids go.” He added that one of the children is ill. Diane Ablonczy, minister of state for foreign affairs, said Canadian officials are working to confirm the family has been detained and, if so, to gain access to them. “We are aware of reports of this family being detained in Saudi Arabia,” she told the House of Commons. “Canadian officials have been working and will continue to work with local authorities to receive formal confirmation of the family’s present situation. In addition, consular officials are seeking, if there is confirmation of the family’s detention, to have consular access to the family.” Arsonist skips parole hearing Postmedia News MONTREAL — A man serving a seven-year prison term for a series of crimes against Jewish organizations, including the 2006 firebombing of a Jewish school for children, may spend the rest of his sentence behind bars after proving to be a problem since his release to a halfway house earlier this year. Omar Bulphred, 26, renounced his right to a hearing of the National Parole Board Thursday morning and subsequently saw his statutory release revoked. Parole board member Renaud Dutil said Bulphred “indicated confidential reasons” as his explanation for deciding to skip the hearing just 10 minutes before it was scheduled to take place at the Leclerc Institution, a penitentiary in Laval, north of Montreal. Dutil and his colleague Michel Lafreniere conducted a brief hearing despite Bulphred’s absence. When Bulphred was sentenced, on Feb. 12, 2009, he had 40 months left to serve. He pleaded guilty to uttering threats, setting a fire at the Skver-Toldos Orthodox Jewish Boys School in Outremont, in September 2006, and to trying to set fire to propane tanks he placed near a Jewish community centre in April 2007. The fire at the school caused little damage and the propane tanks failed to explode. No one was injured in either fire but some parents at the school withdrew their children out of concerns for their safety. The Montreal police investigated the fires and learned they were set by Bulphred and an accomplice. | 509 Carney St • 250.564.3300 | INUTE + UFFLER & BRAKE DON'T FORGET TO PREPARE FOR COLD WEATHER BEFORE IT GETS HERE. WINTERIZING YOUR VEHICLE IS A GOOD WAY TO AVOID COSTLY A A I k I’l J ;!•] -11 T'A Satisfaction Guaranteed ^-0 250-563-2022 • 2255 Queensway, Prince George, BC