Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
National

Veterans deserve special constitutional rights like aboriginals, lawyer argues

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 04 Dec, 2014 04:03 PM

    VANCOUVER — A lawyer representing six soldiers disabled while fighting for Canada in Afghanistan says veterans deserve special treatment under the constitution in the same way aboriginals are given unique rights.

    Don Sorochan (Su-rock-can) told a panel of B.C. Appeal Court judges that soldiers are the only citizens in Canada who can be ordered by the government to enter a situation where it's anticipated they may die.

    Sorochan was responding to an attempt by the federal government to block the certification of a class-action lawsuit for soldiers injured after April 2006, an application already given the green light by the B.C. Supreme Court.

    The current and former Canadian Forces members argue changes to the compensation regime are inadequate for supporting their families and substantially reduced from what is granted to other veterans.

    The New Veterans Charter was established by an all-party vote in Parliament, changes Sorochan says that the politicians at the time believed would be beneficial for veterans.

    The Attorney General of Canada wants the legal action tossed out and its lawyers have argued that the government's special duty of care only applies as a legal principle in the context of aboriginals.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Social security tribunal backlog could have been avoided, critics say

    Social security tribunal backlog could have been avoided, critics say
    OTTAWA — Why has the backlog plaguing the Conservative government's social security tribunal grown so large as ailing, injured and debt-addled Canadians denied Canada Pension Plan disability benefits wait years for appeal hearings?

    Social security tribunal backlog could have been avoided, critics say

    Trudeau to decide if he'll pursue misconduct investigation into MP

    Trudeau to decide if he'll pursue misconduct investigation into MP
    ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau says he'll have more to say soon on whether he'll pursue an independent investigation into the allegations of personal misconduct facing Liberal MP Scott Andrews.

    Trudeau to decide if he'll pursue misconduct investigation into MP

    Manitoba premier dogged by leave-of-absence issue as important meeting looms

    Manitoba premier dogged by leave-of-absence issue as important meeting looms
    WINNIPEG — Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger faced increasing pressure Thursday to step down while he faces a leadership challenge that will culminate in a vote at the party's annual convention in March.

    Manitoba premier dogged by leave-of-absence issue as important meeting looms

    Man Accused Of Shooting Kamloops Mountie Injured As Second Officer Fired Back

    Man Accused Of Shooting Kamloops Mountie Injured As Second Officer Fired Back
    British Columbia's police watchdog says a man accused of shooting a Mountie in Kamloops, B.C., sustained a gunshot injury to his arm during an exchange of gunfire with a second officer.

    Man Accused Of Shooting Kamloops Mountie Injured As Second Officer Fired Back

    Young B.C. Football Player Paralyzed From Neck Down By Enterovirus D68

    Young B.C. Football Player Paralyzed From Neck Down By Enterovirus D68
    KAMLOOPS, B.C. — Within six days, Evan Mutrie went from being a football player for the Kamloops Broncos to being on life support, paralyzed from the neck down after contracting a rare virus.

    Young B.C. Football Player Paralyzed From Neck Down By Enterovirus D68

    RCMP Arrest Suspect In Shooting That Critically Injured B.C. Mountie

    RCMP Arrest Suspect In Shooting That Critically Injured B.C. Mountie
    VICTORIA — A 36-year-old man who is known to police has been arrested by members of an emergency-response team in Kamloops, B.C., just hours after an RCMP officer was shot and critically wounded.

    RCMP Arrest Suspect In Shooting That Critically Injured B.C. Mountie