I would just like to clarify what is meant by a veteran. The government recognizes as veterans all those who fought in the Boer War, the First World War, and the Second World War. Since 2003, it also recognizes those who fought in the Korean war. All other members of the armed forces are not necessarily and automatically recognized as veterans. It is determined on a case-by-case basis. The governor in council decides whether an individual is a veteran. That is why it takes such a long time before a person becomes eligible as a veteran. There's no recognition.
Members of the forces returning from Afghanistan may have an opportunity to be considered veterans, because that is a theatre of operations, just as Korea was. Since people who fought in the Korean war are recognized as veterans, there will surely be automatic recognition for people who fought in Afghanistan. However, members of the military who went to Bosnia or who were peacekeepers are not officially Canadian veterans.