Close X
Thursday, November 14, 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

    RCMP charge Montreal boy, 15, with terror-related charges

    RCMP charge Montreal boy, 15, with terror-related charges
    The RCMP alleges the teenager had committed a robbery at the direction of and for the benefit of an unspecified terrorist organization.

    RCMP charge Montreal boy, 15, with terror-related charges

    Court dismisses government's appeal to scrap 60s scoop class action, suit to proceed

    Court dismisses government's appeal to scrap 60s scoop class action, suit to proceed
    TORONTO — An Ontario court has dismissed an appeal by the federal government that sought to quash a class action lawsuit which claims a devastating loss of cultural identity was suffered by Ontario children caught in the so-called "60s scoop."

    Court dismisses government's appeal to scrap 60s scoop class action, suit to proceed

    Baloney Meter: Was government really blindsided by tribunal backlog?

    Baloney Meter: Was government really blindsided by tribunal backlog?
    The Conservative government has been under fire in recent weeks for a growing backlog of 11,000 social security cases, most involving ailing or injured Canadians denied Canada Pension Plan disability benefits and waiting for their appeals to be heard.

    Baloney Meter: Was government really blindsided by tribunal backlog?

    Senators challenge name, need for Tories' new bill on cultural practices

    Senators challenge name, need for Tories' new bill on cultural practices
    OTTAWA — The need for and even the name of a new Conservative bill aimed at barring polygamous and forced marriages came under criticism Thursday in the Senate.

    Senators challenge name, need for Tories' new bill on cultural practices

    Today on the Hill: Melnyk patches things up with Alfie by hiring him

    Today on the Hill: Melnyk patches things up with Alfie by hiring him
    Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk and Daniel Alfredsson are expected to sit down to a news conference — together — along with Sens general manager Bryan Murray.

    Today on the Hill: Melnyk patches things up with Alfie by hiring him

    Evidence completed at Luka Rocco Magnotta's first-degree murder trial

    Evidence completed at Luka Rocco Magnotta's first-degree murder trial
    The case has been adjourned until next Wednesday, when the defence and Crown will give their closing arguments, followed by the judge's instructions to the jury.

    Evidence completed at Luka Rocco Magnotta's first-degree murder trial