Hon. Percy E. Downe:

Honourable senators, I would like to join the debate on Senator Cowan's inquiry on the current government and its record of broken promises. The Conservatives have made many promises to veterans and their families. Regrettably, after five years in government, these promises have gone unfulfilled, some even ignored. Let me provide a few examples.

The Veterans Independence Program, the VIP, was established in 1981 to, in the words of Veterans Affairs Canada website, "help clients remain healthy and independent in their homes or communities." It provides funds for basic services such as snow removal and lawn mowing. Stephen Harper not only supported the VIP program, but he did not think it went far enough, making his position very clear when he stated in a letter that:

A Conservative Government would immediately extend the Veterans Independence Program services to the widows of all Second World War and Korean War veterans regardless of when the Veteran passed away or how long they had been receiving the benefit prior to passing away.

The most prominent figure in the struggle to hold this government accountable on its promises to veterans has been 84 year old Joyce Carter of Cape Breton, who received one of the letters signed by Stephen Harper. She summed up her disappointment, and her determination, when she confronted Prime Minister Harper outside the House of Commons in June 2007 and said:

There's no excuse for him not to keep his promise . . . I just want him to keep his promise.

So do all Canadians.

It has been almost four years since then and elderly veterans and their spouses are still asking when Prime Minister Harper will keep his word. A promise clearly made, but, unfortunately, clearly not kept.

Then there is the case of the Veterans Health Services Review. In 2005, Stephen Harper promised he would undertake a "complete review of veterans' health care services to ensure they meet the needs of our veterans." Once in office, the government boasted that it represented "one of the most extensive health services reviews ever undertaken at Veterans Affairs." Such promises could not help but raise the hopes of veterans and their families.

On March 5, 2008, then Minister of Veterans Affairs Greg Thompson appeared before the Senate Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs and described the review as "pretty well completed." That occasion, three years ago, was the last time a Minister of Veterans Affairs, or anyone in the government, has commented publicly about the Veterans Health Services Review. Three years later, the review has all but disappeared from the Veterans Affairs Canada website. If one asks the government whatever became of it, one is told that it is "protected information." Not only can we not find any information about the review, we cannot even ask about it. Worse still, our veterans are still being denied the improved benefits from the review.

Honourable senators, this is another troubling example of the government refusing to follow the advice of Veterans Affairs employees to improve benefits for veterans and their families. A promise clearly made, but, unfortunately, clearly not kept.

Even more troubling is the record of this government when it comes to the unfulfilled commitment to address the discrepancy between the $3,600-limit for veterans' funerals and the $12,700-limit for funeral and burial expenses for Canadian Forces members.

In response to a written request I tabled in the Senate dated March 2010, the Minister of Veterans Affairs stated:

The Veterans Affairs Canada Funeral and Burial program is currently being reviewed to ensure the level of support provided continues to allow a dignified funeral and burial.

Eight months later, at a meeting the Senate Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, I questioned the lack of progress in resolving the issue and the minister had this to say:

You said that I had talked about that in March and that this matter has yet to be resolved. You are right. This brief was even drawn to my attention approximately a month ago, and I am the one who said that this was not the time to talk about this matter. . .

Honourable senators, now is most certainly the time for this government to accept the advice of Veterans Affairs Canada employees and increase the funeral expenses of our Canadian veterans.

Some Hon. Senators: Hear, hear.

Senator Downe: Not surprisingly, honourable senators, the Royal Canadian Legion has voiced long-standing concern about the slow pace of reforming this government's policy with repeated resolutions at their conventions calling upon the government to "take necessary action to increase the Veterans Funeral and Burial program" to a level that is the same as that of Canadian Forces members.

Indeed, in 2010, the President of the Legion declared that her organization is "extremely concerned that this important issue being swept under the rug." Unfortunately, the Legion's concerns are justified, as the government has decided that it does not want to address this problem. This government owes Canadians an explanation as to when they think would be the time to talk about this matter. Veterans and their families cannot afford and should not have to wait any longer. A promise clearly made, but, unfortunately, clearly not kept.

Honourable senators, the worst example of this government's failing to live up to its promises to veterans must be on the issue of Agent Orange. Prime Minister Harper made a promise to "stand up for full compensation for persons exposed to defoliant spraying during the period from 1956 to 1984."

Senator LeBreton would be well aware of this promise because she was in the room in New Brunswick when Mr. Harper said those words. However, this government, led by Prime Minister Harper, announced a disappointing compensation package for those affected by the spraying of Agent Orange, offering payment only to those who served between 1966 and 1967.

In order to force the Prime Minister to honour his promise, these deserving Canadian veterans and their families have had to undertake a class action lawsuit at their own expense against the full resources of the Government of Canada. Quite literally, to add insult to injury, it was disclosed last year that the federal government has spent $7.8 million fighting veterans and their families in opposition to this lawsuit. The costly legal and delaying tactics of Prime Minister Harper's government has so far prevented this case from seeing the inside of a courtroom. A promise clearly made, but, unfortunately, clearly not kept.

Honourable senators, our veterans have done their jobs and met their responsibilities. It is the duty and responsibility of all Canadians to do our part in reminding this federal government that it must keep the promises made to the most deserving: the men and women who were willing to sacrifice their lives in service to Canada.

There is nothing stopping this government from keeping those many promises. Such measures would no doubt enjoy universal support in Parliament. Many of them do not even require the approval of Parliament. All that is required is the will to do so.

Canadians wonder when Prime Minister Harper will keep his promises to veterans and their families.

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