MP Johns Slams Liberal Privatization of Veterans’ Services, Calls for Protection of Veterans’ Jobs

Late-night intervention in Parliament challenges government over plans to eliminate Commissionaires' priority access to federal security contracts

OTTAWA – NDP MP Gord Johns (Courtenay–Alberni) is calling on the Liberal government to reverse its decision to end an 80-year old federal contracting policy that supports employment for Canadian veterans, condemning the move as another unacceptable step toward privatization, this time at the expense of those who served their country.

"The Liberals have been ignoring privatization in our health care system, and now they're extending the same approach to veterans' services," said Johns. "Veterans who put their lives on the line for Canada should never have their livelihoods sacrificed so private corporations can increase their profits."

Johns challenged the government in the House of Commons at 12:32 a.m. on Thursday, demanding answers about its decision to eliminate the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires' right of first refusal on federal security contracts, effective April 2027.

Established following the Second World War, the policy was designed to provide employment for veterans transitioning to civilian life. The Corps of Commissionaires is Canada's largest private-sector employer of veterans, employing approximately 3,500 veterans nationwide. Its operations in the Comox Valley alone employ more than 100 people.

"For eight decades, successive federal governments recognized that we have a special obligation to the men and women who served our country," said Johns. "Now the Liberals are walking away from that commitment and opening up approximately $330 million annually in federal security contracts to private-sector competition. Our veterans deserve better."

Johns recently met with Mark Breslauer, CEO of Commissionaires Victoria, and Katelyn Anderson, North Island Client Services Manager, who described growing uncertainty among employees and their families, including concerns about job security and mental health.

Rather than working with Commissionaires to modernize the existing program, Johns said the government is dismantling it without a meaningful transition plan or replacement to protect veterans' employment.

During his late-night parliamentary intervention, Johns also questioned whether the government had been meeting with GardaWorld, a major private security company, while Commissionaires representatives have struggled to secure meetings with Veterans Affairs officials.

"Who is the government listening to? The veterans who served our country, or the private security corporations that stand to profit from this decision?" Johns asked. "Canadians deserve to know whose interests are driving this policy change."

Johns also criticized the government's failure to have either the Minister of Veterans Affairs or her parliamentary secretary respond to his questions in the House.

"This is part of a troubling pattern," Johns added. "Whether it's opening the door to more private, for-profit health care or handing over longstanding veterans' employment opportunities to corporate competitors, the Liberals are putting private interests ahead of public responsibilities. This isn’t what Canadians expect from their government."

Johns is urging the government to suspend its April 2027 decision, engage directly with Commissionaires and develop a policy that protects veterans' employment while ensuring federal contracts serve the public interest.

The federal government's decision threatens to undermine a longstanding commitment to veterans and create further uncertainty for thousands of former service members and their families. Johns said Canada needs to honour its obligations to veterans rather than abandoning proven employment supports in favour of greater private-sector competition.