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Yukon urges Canada to do more for veterans

Yukon urges Canada to do more for veterans Members of the Yukon legislative assembly last week unanimously agreed to urge the Government of Canada to work towards improve services for veterans.

Members of the Yukon legislative assembly last week unanimously agreed to urge the Government of Canada to work towards improve services for veterans.

The motion reads, “That this House urges the Government of Canada to respect the service and sacrifices of Canada’s veterans by working with organizations representing veterans to enhance services and improve service delivery to Canadian veterans.”

They could not agree to urge Canada to keep nine veterans’ affairs open across the country. These are set to close in February.

NDP MLA Kate White proposed that amendment to the original motion, but it was shut down by Yukon Party members.

“We won’t be supporting this amendment to the motion because what we feel this is really doing is making this issue political,” said Premier Darrell Pasloski. “We believe on the government’s side that we want to show the Government of Canada our concern for this issue, but not make it a partisan statement.”

Why single out the closure of the veterans’ affairs office in the motion, when there are so many pressing issues facing veterans? asked Yukon Party MLA Darius Elias, who brought forward the original motion.

“There are a multitude of gaps and issues around this country and we wanted to send a united message - not just picking one and being prescriptive to the nine offices that were closed; we wanted to leave it open.”

(Jacqueline Ronson)