Advocate says vets still have to fight to get adequate benefits
Sean Bruyea, a retired Armed Forces intelligence officer and advocate for veterans, says the Conservatives have been mostly talk and no action when it comes to supporting the troops. Soldiers and their families feel betrayed by Harper, he said, because they thought the Conservatives would give them the respect and support they deserve. (Since taking power in 2006, Harper’s government has taken steps to boost national mythology around the forces, and many Tory MPs have “Support Our Troops” bumper stickers, and implement “Red Fridays,” where people wear red to demonstrate support of the military.) But Mr. Bruyea said the fact that many wounded veterans have to fight to get adequate benefits—which outgoing Veterans’ Ombudsman Pat Strogan recently drew attention to—has left soldiers feeling disenchanted with the Tories.