Liberals’ second budget leaves big questions on vets’ pensions, defence spending
OTTAWA — The Liberals checked off many of their remaining promises to veterans in Wednesday’s federal budget, but left one big priority marked incomplete: giving injured ex-soldiers pensions for life.
And anyone who was hoping to see more money committed to the Canadian military was left disappointed as the government did precisely the opposite, delaying billions of dollars in planned spending for new equipment.
Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s new fiscal plan did include new spending for veterans and their families, which would cost the government $624 million over five years if everyone who was eligible accessed the services right away.
Those include up to $80,000 for long-serving veterans who leave the military and want to go back to school, as well as a new program that will offer job-coaching and other assistance obtaining a civilian job.