It's a political game. They want to show people that they are giving a lot by spending little money. That's politics. They say they are giving a big cake when in reality it is just a small May West.
When they are making announcements, everything seems great. Not all the information is provided. I understand that, in a press conference, you are not supposed to give all the details. We don't say that the disability has to be 100%, that it takes this or that, because then people will say that they aren't giving anything.
I am not criticizing their contributions, but I think it’s not enough. As for introducing a bill and amending it, that should have been done using common sense, by removing the lump sum and continuing with the old system, with pensions and with qualifications. That is quite normal. We know the money comes from the government. We are not asking the government to provide veterans with a living. If they can support themselves, that's great.
I got a law degree and I have practised for 38 years with my infirmities. I would drag myself in. When I was not able to go, I would not go and make up for it with my pension. That's what pension plans are for. Pensions are there to help veterans, not to have them stay home and stare at the moon. The goal is to make up for the deficiencies in their lives, the parts they cannot make up for themselves. But a pittance will not cut it, because there are too many conditions and very few people will receive the money. That's just the way things are.
There are two amounts. There is the $1,609 and a conditional amount. Even if a guy receives the $1,609, that does not mean he will get the other $1,000 in full. Once again, other special and very strict conditions apply to qualify for the $1,000.
When they are announcing it, they say he will receive $1,609 and an extra $1,000 for life. There’s no mention of the conditions for receiving the $1,000.
That is what we are fighting for. In my case, I am entitled to a full pension. I'm not expecting anything else from the government, but I am doing this for my other colleagues who are broke or for the young people who might be homeless in the future if the situation stays the same. They will be like the people living on welfare.