By Nigel Maxwell

Local veterans join fight with Ottawa

Feb 5, 2013 | 4:57 AM

Canada's veterans are demanding the Federal Government make changes to the Last Post Fund. A national letter writing campaign has been started with the local legion branch joining the efforts.

“It's insulting and so degrading,” said Ed Laird, service officer for Branch #2.

The fund provides money to veterans' families to cover the cost of their funeral, but there is a very tight restriction. The veteran can make no more than $12,010, after tax breaks, a year and if they do qualify, the amount given is only $3,600.

“I'd be embarrassed to go and ask a funeral home for that much,” Laird said. “That might have been alright in 1940, but it is out of shape now.”

Of the more than 29,000 requests for compensation, more than 20,000 have been rejected.

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The Legion also wants the Federal Government to open up the program to more veterans. It is only offered now to veterans of the Second World War, the Korean War and those who are receiving a full veteran’s disability.

“So few of us impoverished veterans are left that most of us don’t pay much attention to what’s happening, but when you do see what's happening, it's really disgusting,” Laird said.

The legion is calling on members of the public to write to their members of parliament, and demand change.

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell