Veterans Affairs minister promises Afghan war memorial, but won’t say when

News that the federal Liberals are reconsidering the plan for a memorial to Canada's Afghan war effort is a disappointing sign of petty politics.

The Liberals have come to power with a very evident goal of undoing much of Stephen Harper's legislative agenda.

But some things should transcend politics. Among them needs to be Canada's commitment to honouring the sacrifice of our fighting men and women.

Canada lost 158 soldiers during the Afghan war as they fought to help reclaim a nation devastated by the Taliban. Many more soldiers were injured. A journalist was among those killed.

All these men and women deserve our solemn remembrance and a memorial in the capital is entirely fitting.

The Conservative government had already chosen an appropriate spot. All the Liberals seemingly need to do is to stay the course and get it built.

Deliberations are apparently still underway and we are hopeful they will do just that.

But there are signs that give cause for concern.

Already this government has scrapped a $5-million fund meant to help communities create their own cenotaphs to honour this country's soldiers.

It has likewise abandoned the Mother Canada statue proposed for Cape Breton Island, another tribute to the troops.

There is no compunction for the Liberals to follow through on every project put forward by the previous government, which was certainly on a monument spree.

But acting like a child with a pencil eraser is no way to redraw the government's priorities.

There is a middle ground between left and right we can and should find, where the Liberals can pay respect to the undeniable sacrifices made by our armed forces.

Surely these are principles Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan, decorated for his own service in Afghanistan, and MP Andrew Leslie, a retired lieutenant general, can speak up for.

Our new generation of veterans has complained of feeling tossed aside.

The Liberals won an election while promising to address those concerns.

We hope they keep their promises to our veterans but also that they do not undo what the previous government had so clearly done right -- enhancing the public respect given to the Canadian military.

It's the stuff that must be above political revisionism.

http://www.torontosun.com/2016/03/06/dont-let-politics-insult-our-troops