Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government's treatment of many Canadian veterans is simply appalling.
On November 24, 1998 in the House of Commons I asked the Minister of Veterans Affairs to finally commit to a just settlement with Canada's merchant marine. I had hoped he would make some commitment to act. I had expected that he might indicate a willingness to do something. Instead the response of the minister was simply that he would listen.
It is not the time to listen. It is the time to act and to make a commitment to these Canadians deprived of justice by this government. I have become thoroughly appalled at the Liberal government's handling of this matter and of the matter of Canadian veterans who were prisoners of war at the Buchenwald concentration camp.
These brave Canadians played a central role in Canada's war effort. Many lost their lives and their health for our country. Families suffered. Communities suffered. As a result our country was poorer for the loss of so many merchant mariners, yet so much richer for the role they played in bringing victory to all of us.
This government has seen fit to provide an ex gratia payment of $23,940 each to Hong Kong veterans who were Japanese prisoners of war. This payment was promised just last December and strikes me as at least an effort to achieve a just settlement.
It is simply a disgrace that this government has betrayed Canada's merchant mariners by refusing to compensate them for the discrimination the merchant mariners faced upon their return home from serving Canada's war effort.
This issue is to be raised tomorrow at the House of Commons veterans affairs committee on which I sit. It is disgraceful that this government has abjectly refused to negotiate a settlement with these Canadians. While I am glad that the committee may make some headway where the government has failed, it is unacceptable that this government has repeatedly rejected calls for negotiation on compensation.
Assuming that the committee comes forth with a recommendation, I worry that this government will then take its time to respond and make an announcement.
How many more honourable Canadian merchant mariners must die before this Liberal government does the right thing and provides just compensation? How many? It has been estimated that merchant mariners are dying at the rate of about 12 per month. From where my New Democratic colleagues and I sit, one more death before proper compensation is provided is far too much.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to encourage the government to move to improve the health care package available to all veterans, especially those whose advanced years make them particularly vulnerable.
As I conclude, I am pleased to take a moment to pay tribute to Gordon Olmstead, a man who fought for his country and then continued to fight for what was right for the merchant mariners. The efforts of Gordon Olmstead and others like him helped bring about Bill C-61 and helped restore for the merchant mariners their rightful place in history.
Canada's veterans deserve nothing but the best.