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December 20th, 2013

Lowlight #12: Conservatives fail to properly support soldiers and veterans

COUNTDOWN OF CONSERVATIVE FAILURES FOR 2013

Stephen Harper’s Conservatives had a very bad year. Plagued by an expense scandal and cover-up reaching right to the top of the prime minister’s office, Conservatives have shown they are a tired and out-of-gas government.

We are condensing a year’s worth of lowlights into a countdown of the top 15 examples of Conservative blunders, scandals and ineptitude.

LOWLIGHT #****12 CONSERVATIVES FAIL TO PROPERLY SUPPORT SOLDIERS AND VETERANS

Canada's soldiers serve our country with great pride. These men and women, and their families, make great sacrifices for the rest of us.

Unfortunately, 2013 brought more empty Conservative promises as the government showed once again how they love to use the military and veterans for talking points and monument openings, but forget them at budget time.

Stephen Harper’s Conservatives failed to put needed supports in place for our soldiers and pushed ahead with the closure nine Veteran Affairs offices – laying off hundreds of staff across the country.

Worse still, ministers repeatedly misled Canadians and denied any responsibility for their policy on forcing out wounded soldiers, sometimes days before they qualified for their pensions.

Conservatives even launched an appeal when the court sided with Afghan war veterans on their suit against the government for taking away disability benefits.

Canada's soldiers and veterans deserve better than to be used as pawns for partisan Conservative attacks and photo-ops.

Canadians deserve better.

While other leaders have been missing in action, Tom Mulcair has been showing up to work on behalf of Canadians – holding Stephen Harper accountable and putting forward practical solutions to help families make ends meet.