Bill to grant wartime service recognition to Afghan, Gulf veterans wins support
OTTAWA - Members of Parliament indicate all-party backing to expedite legislation granting wartime service recognition to veterans from recent conflicts, including Afghanistan. The proposed $5.77 per week benefit, increasing to $19.95 after a year, targets new and qualified returning subscribers. Prime Minister's Office has not officially classified any period as wartime service since the Korean War, despite military deployments to combat regions.
Independent Senator Hassan Yussuff proposed Bill S-246 in April, and it is now undergoing its initial parliamentary debate in the House of Commons. The legislation aims to create a national framework for recognizing wartime service and requires the government to publicly justify its decisions on recognition. Veterans' associations have long advocated for the bill, emphasizing its overdue recognition, though it does not impact pensions or benefits.
Defence Minister David McGuinty and Veterans Affairs Minister Jill McKnight promised this week to consult with veterans and military experts on reviewing the classifications of past operations.
Written by urgent.news from Winnipeg Free Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
