Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan is defending leaving hundreds of millions of dollars earmarked for veterans unspent, comparing the decision to prepaying for gas and then getting a credit back.
In an interview with The West Block’s Mercedes Stephenson, O’Regan reacted to a report last week by Global News that found the Liberals have left $372 million set aside in federal fiscal estimates for veterans unspent despite criticizing the Conservatives for doing the same thing in 2015.
EXCLUSIVE: Trudeau Liberals leave $372M meant to help veterans unspent since taking office
“When you prepay at the pump, you put in 80 bucks, you don’t fill it up, you get that credit back,” O’Reagan said, before noting that the overall investments by the government in veterans’ care speak for themselves.
“Within the context of us spending $10 billion, absolutely I defend that.”
WATCH BELOW: Liberals fail to meet own target on caseworkers for veterans
O’Regan said the situation with the Liberals leaving money unspent differs from the situation the party criticized during the last campaign because they have been making other investments for veterans.
“We did accuse Conservatives of holding back money,” O’Regan said. “That’s because they were cutting everywhere else. They cut benefits. They closed offices. They fired staff. And somehow, that’s supposed to improve the lives of veterans?”
READ MORE: Justin Trudeau’s town hall in Edmonton sees him field questions on pipelines, veterans and racism
When asked why the money was being left unspent, given that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a veteran in a town hall seven months ago that veterans were asking for more than the government could give, O’Regan said the government is focused on making sure what it does spend has a positive impact.
“Actions speak louder than words with this prime minister and this government,” O’Regan said.
“Ten billion dollars is a lot of money and I won’t be satisfied until we get it out the door and veterans feel it.”
WATCH BELOW: Trudeau slams Harper for unspent funding on veterans during 2015 campaign
The minister was also asked about the controversial case of Christopher Garnier, who was convicted this summer in the brutal murder of a female Halifax police officer.
Garnier claimed committing the murder gave him PTSD.
Veterans Affairs agreed to pay for his treatment, despite him never having served in the Canadian Forces, and Conservatives called last week for the minister to intervene and reverse the decision to pay for his treatments.
WATCH BELOW: Christopher Garnier case continues to dominate Question Period
That decision is a result of a federal policy that allows for benefits to be provided to the family members of a veteran.
Garnier’s father, Vince Garnier, is a veteran who also suffers from PTSD. He has claimed getting treatment for his son helps them both.
READ MORE: Murderer Christopher Garnier’s PTSD treatment being paid for by Veterans Affairs
Trudeau accused the Conservatives this week of playing “disgusting political games” by questioning the decision by officials to pay in the case.
O’Regan said he was “outraged” when he learned of the decision and has asked his officials to look into it.
READ MORE: This is why Canadian veterans feel betrayed by their country
“This is perhaps one of the most frustrating cases you can imagine as a veterans affairs minister,” he said.
He continued, noting the case is an “extreme example” of the policy intended to help veterans’ families.
“This is not exactly where I intended it to go but we’ll look at the case once we get it,” he said.
“Again, I won’t apologize for looking after a veteran’s family members … but I do know that we have to take a look at this.”
Watch an extended interview with Veterans Affairs Minister Seamus O’Regan below
Comments