Singh urges Liberal government to ‘roll over’ unspent money for veterans
Posted November 5, 2018 9:15 am.
Last Updated November 5, 2018 10:03 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – With Remembrance Day around the corner, the federal NDP is calling on the Trudeau government to put its money where its mouth is on veterans services.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is asking the Liberal government to spend millions of dollars that have been earmarked to help veterans that have been left unspent.
The New Democrats will use an opposition-day motion, when they get a chance to push business in the House of Commons, to pressure the governing Liberals to spend $372 million that’s been promised for veterans but that’s been left on the table.
“This is a disrespect to people who have given so much,” Singh said. “When it comes to accessing benefits, disability, support services, the wait times are far too long.”
So-called lapsed spending is an issue Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised to fix in the last election campaign.
“Veterans are then robbed of finances and resources for the services they need. This has to end,” Singh said.
But when asked how the New Democrats’ plan for veterans is any different from the Liberals’ or the Conservatives’, he says the NDP’s job is to shed light on the issue and repeats that it’s not acceptable.
A motion isn’t binding, unlike a bill, but Singh hopes to put some pressure on the Liberals in advance of Remembrance Day.