Assorted Merged Stored Topics

Ron Clarke’s hometown has always been North Sydney; however, he had a varied, tumultuous and interesting military career in the Canadian Army.



As a retiree, he championed the cause of the veterans, especially when the veterans’ offices closed in Sydney and across the country.

It is important to list all of his postings, to show the reader where Ron worked, and how interesting, yet devastating at times, it was.

In 1956, he joined the Canadian Army as a member of the Black Watch, and began his basic training in the town of Sussex, New Brunswick. He spent 10 years with the Black Watch, then transferred to the Postal Trade Corps (now called Postal Trade 881) in 1966.

He was with the 2nd Battalion in Gagetown, and later with the 1st Battalion there; he ended up with “C” Company as a “Sigs NCO” (Signals NCO).

In 1967, he was transferred to Germany for four years as a corporal.

In 1971, he returned to Canada and was sent to Vietnam in 1973: more later.

In 1973, he returned home and went to Greenwood for three years as master corporal.

In 1976, he was posted back to Germany.

In 1980, he came back to Canada.

In 1983, he went to Cyprus.

In 1984, he was posted to Alert in the North West Territories. Then he came home from Alert, and was sent again to Germany.

In 1987, he returned to Gagetown.

In 1989, he went to Namibia in South West Africa to protect the Africans from apartheid.

In 1990, he came home and was posted to Germany for the fourth time.

In 1991, he came home to Canada to be inducted in the Canadian Boxing Hall of Fame.

In 1992, he retired.

While in Vietnam, he developed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD); yes, he was traumatized, devastated and shocked by what he saw there; what he saw there is unmentionable.

I asked Ron what were the highlights of his career. He responded, “Looking back on my career, I was able to go to so many places in the world; that was the highlight for me.”

He added that he was promoted to sergeant in 1978, and was chief instructor at the Postal Unit in Trenton, Ontario, from 1980 to 1982.

Since he retired, he was commodore of the Georges River Boat Club, twice president of the United Nations Peacekeepers, General Mackenzie Chapter, in Sydney, and president of the mixed dart league, KOC.

He helped get the Georges River Boat Club off the ground with Gerry Lemoine and Donnie Jessome and others through grants, and so forth. He was secretary until 2013, then took over as commodore. They brought the membership up to 53.

Concerning the Veterans’ Office in Sydney, he found out it was to close on February 25, 2014.  At that time, Ron promised the employees there that he would fight to keep the office open, as well as the other offices across Canada.

When that didn’t happen, he said he would fight to bring the Conservative Government down, and formed the ABC (Anything But Conservative) group and began the ABC campaign.

He made three trips to Ottawa, talking to parliamentarians and senators there. The first trip highlighted a video on Parliament Hill at a news conference. The second and third trips were to engage further with the opposition parties. The ABC was a registered party.

Now that the Liberals are in, he hopes they will honour their promise; Ron believes they will.

Campaign funds raised were given to needy individuals and organizations: $2,000 to the vets at Harbourview Hospital in Sydney Mines; $2,000 to the Veterans Benevolent Fund; $2,000 to the Glace Bay General’s Veterans Wing; $1,500 to the Army, Navy and Airforce Club in Florence; $1,500 to the U N Peacekeepers organization, $500 to a needy veteran in the Pictou area and $3,000 to a very needy veteran in B.C.

Gordon Sampson is a retired teacher who lives in his hometown of North Sydney. His column will appear weekly in the Cape Breton Post. He writes a separate column in the Cape Breton Community Post. Anyone with community news can contact him at gh.sampson@ns.sympatico.ca.

http://www.capebretonpost.com/Opinion/Columnists/2016-01-17/article-4406523/Clarke-had-long-career-in-military/1

Premier Greg Selinger and his NDP horde neither understand or even care about the personal finances of Manitoba residents. Many Manitobans are already living paycheck-to-paycheck. Giving even more money to the province so it can be wasted is not an option. While taxpayers can avoid the sales tax to a degree by curtailing their spending, there's nothing they can do to avoid skyrocketing utilities and insurance. Despite the fact that residents are hurting, the incredibly obtuse Selinger would increase taxes even more. Manitoba has had enough and they are demanding that the government live within its means and cut out the waste like more than 100 staff just to serve the Premier. I am beginning to wonder if he has become unhinged with the stress of operating with unsustainable debt and ongoing deficits. The best cure for stress is an extended holiday and that's what the NDP are going to get on election day when they get booted out of office.

Barry Banek

The NDP aren't stressed by overspending since it's "best for Manitoba."

Bad word

Hey Mr. Wyatt! A more appropriate term for the Winnipeg police new toy is armoured vehicle. Not a "gunship." A "gunship" is more appropriately used for a helicopter or an aerial platform armed with rockets and machine guns. Look up AC130 Gunship or AH1 Venom and see if it's similar to the plain looking armoured vehicle.

Ed Bustarde

We believe Wyatt was making a analogy to support his point that the vehicle is overkill.

JUNKYARD DOGGED

Brian Musuronchan, I think it's you who should stop following the junk scientists. You are no doubt a Suzuki sycophant.

Eric Ezaki

Sadly, he's not alone with the doom and gloom brigade.

SAD STATE OF AFFAIRS

When I read the articles, "VETERANS OF HARDSHIP" and "HOMES FOR VETS CAN'T BE A DREAM", it brought tears to my eyes. How is it possible that our veterans, who have proudly dedicated their time and risked their lives serving our country, be neglected. Our government is bringing in 50,000 refugees who will be given shelter, food, clothing, medical attention, etc.; therefore, without question, that same government should be doing the very same for our veterans so not one left homeless. Let our Veterans be given access to all the help they require - give them priority. They were there with pride ready to serve our country when called upon. Let us now be there for them when they need help.

Marie Quillan

The numbers released recently by The Canadian Press have sparked a very good and very overdue conversation.

UNREAL CHANGE

Justin Trudeau's agenda of "real change" has brought to the fore a seriously questionable tact in reference to his refusal to hold a referendum to change the present first past the post electoral parliamentary rule. His steadfast stance simply proves he's very much willing to win and stay in power no matter the cost or obstacles that may result. Always a workaround to counter ethics, or perceived anti-democratic processes deployed to keep one's self in perpetual power. Sure didn't take long for Justin to disenfranchise that 39.5% of people that voted him in, eh?

Rupert Cameron

The irony is that Trudeau claims to be reforming the electoral system to make it more democratic based on a mandate he received from fewer than four in 10 voters.

http://www.winnipegsun.com/2016/01/12/letters-january-13-2016

Sunny days are here again! Roll out the barrel! The red tide is sweeping away the decade of slash and burn at Vac! The force is with us!

Case workers, client service agents, disability benefits officers among those being hired

The hundreds of Veterans Affairs Canada workers cut under the previous Conservative government are in the process of being replaced.

Case managers, client service agents and disability benefits officers are among the positions currently being filled according to Carl Gannon, the national president of the Union of Veterans Affairs Employees.

At least 2,250 veterans are homeless, analysis shows
"We've seen cuts of close to a 1,000, with a vast majority of those front-line staff, so we need to beef up the front line again," said Gannon. "Because the reality is, where the department is right now, we're not in a position to uphold that mandate.

In his mandate letter to Veterans' Affairs Minister Kent Hehr, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said a priority will be to "re-open the nine Veterans Affairs service offices recently closed, hire more service delivery staff, and fully implement all of the Auditor General's recommendations on enhancing mental health service delivery to veterans."

In a statement sent to CBC Tuesday, the department wrote, "The Government of Canada is committed to hiring as many new staff as needed to ensure veterans and their families can access the benefits and services they need when and where they need them."

Gannon said at this stage, between 80 to 100 workers have already been hired and are in the process of being trained.

Hire veterans: advocacy group

Gannon said Veterans Affairs Canada has been able to move ahead with hiring quickly because the previous Conservative government committed to hiring 300 workers just before the election campaign got underway.

But Gannon said the Liberals have promised to hire hundreds more workers to make up for the years of cuts to the department, including the reopening of those Veterans Affairs offices.

"Hopefully by June we'll see those offices actually opened. We're pushing hard, being the union and representing front- line staff," said Gannon. "The department has started looking at the locations and all of those things."

Michael Blais, a veteran who heads a veterans advocacy group, said he hopes that Canadian Forces veterans themselves are hired into some of the vacant positions.

"It was difficult under the last administration for veterans to gain federal employment due to the reality of mass civil servant cutbacks," Blais told CBC News in an email. "As we enter the 'sunny ways,' I am hopeful that many qualified veterans will be able to find gainful employment at the federal level."

We're pushing hard, being the union and representing front-line staff.'
Union leader Carl Gannon

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/veterans-affairs-canada-hires-hundreds-of-new-workers-1.3390858

Despite a record on national defence that was, on the whole, above average, the previous Conservative government’s legacy for veterans was well below par.

That’s why the Liberal government’s decision to reopen the nine veterans affairs offices, that the Tories closed, should be applauded.

The Conservatives procured much needed equipment and reinstated the three separate services of navy, army and air force while calling it — in a homage to a well-known credit card commercial — “priceless.”

But equipment and uniforms are one thing: Those who used the equipment and wore the uniform are another.

Unfortunately, as much as former Prime Minister Stephen Harper appreciated the military, he did not pay as much respect for its members — often treating veterans like they were an annoying subclass that had to be appeased and forgotten: Give them their lump-sum payment and hope they go away.

If you survive an overseas deployment these days (what used to be called “going to war”) you may come back without an arm or a leg or with a post traumatic stress that leaves you paralyzed in mind and spirit.

These injured are worthy of more than a “thank you” cheque from the state, sort of a pay-off for services rendered.

The Liberal decision to reopen the vet offices is not just another spending measure — it is symbolic of a government’s commitment to deal with veterans as human beings who have evolving issues arising from their service to Canada.

It sounds like a simple thing but for a veteran who just wants to talk to a real person and not just phone a government help-line and stay on hold for hours, it is a big deal indeed.

Canada, like most responsible democracies, has always had a social contract with its veterans.

Governments, regardless of political ideology, have recognized that people who put on a uniform and volunteer to put their lives in jeopardy for the long-term democratic ideals and short-term foreign policies of Canada are different. They deserve special treatment when they come home injured. They had faith in this country and this country cannot let its faith lapse.

Unfortunately the last federal government often saw veterans as just another noisy gang who wanted a larger share of the social services pie.

They weren’t and they aren’t.

People who risk life and limb for their country have no moral congruence with the many cranks in this country who demand that the government underwrite their perverse schemes and half-baked notions because the private sector refuses to do so.

The current government needs to do even more for veterans, aside from reopening veterans’ offices.

It must ensure that our returning heroes have access to jobs and availability to help.

It is fine for Department of National Defence (DND) to run its retiring members through the Second Career Assistance Network (SCAN).

Many disabled veterans cannot imagine anyone hiring them for a second career and require more direct intervention.

Let’s find them jobs with at least as much enthusiasm as Corrections Canada tries to reincorporate ex-cons into the economy.

We also need to ensure that veterans who have turned to alcohol or drugs to alleviate the pain of their physical or psychological scars have access to the addiction treatment that might save their lives.

Furthermore, let’s make the line between serving members within DND and retired members within Veterans Affairs Canada a little less dividing.

So many veterans (and I am one) have told me that as soon as they took off the uniform it is as if they had relinquished their identity and their service to Canada was forgotten.

Let’s stop trying to make a few nickels off the backs of the men and women who had the burden of defending Canada on their backs.

We really can do no less and continue to claim that we truly possess the necessary gratitude for the work they did.

— David Krayden is a former Air Force public affairs officer and Parliament Hill communications manager who has worked in print, radio and television journalism. He writes and speaks about Canadian politics.

http://www.ottawasun.com/2016/01/02/new-liberal-government-offering-more-for-canadas-vets-than-conservatives-did

bigrex - I often wonder how many TPI vets there are out there? Or TPI # that where approved for the last several yrs. The numbers for approved too denied for TPI/PIA also seem to be hard to find. VVV,,,

from 2002 to 2011 less than 650 wounded and less than 1500 non combat injuries total for afgan conflict so that don't add up actual total injuries probably same as normal injuries per training year most of the increase going in to services which means pockets other than veterans. Would like to know where every penny is spent must be recorded some where. VA, VRAB, Study's,disability claims etc etc all this stuff has to be recorded on an yearly expense audit some where.

Yes, the fact that he stated that he knew, and Canadians knew, that the Tories had balance the budget by lowballing Veterans before the others he mentioned, without being prompted, bodes well for us. Especially considering all the attention the First nations have received over the last week, what with the truth and reconciliation report coming out, the funding announcement about building a road for that one Reserve and the inquiry into murdered and missing women being discussed again, after finding that young ones remains. We just need to see some movement from his Minister, and I'm hoping to hear some updates early in the new year, even if it's a confirmation that the promises will be included in the first budget.

news channel today said inflation rate is really up 3.4 %

Did anyone else hear under funding 1.veterans 2. indigenous people ? Try living it.

Well this isn't what I expected him to say about a veterans update (near the end of the story)

http://globalnews.ca/news/2410464/thats-probably-the-election-right-there-trudeau-reveals-turning-point-in-liberal-campaign/

Wild thing, the increase only makes sense due to the NVC. Just look at the the math. they say that VAC approves roughly 5000 claims per year, because of the fallout from Afghanistan, and the ongoing conflicts. Lets say that the average claim is 15%. Under the PA, that would be close to a maximum $35.34million ($7068/yr each, if they were all married with 2 children). That means that the budget should increase every year by roughly the same amount with any additional claims plus the COLA. But under the NVC, those same 5000 claims have cost the government $230 million this year, which will be increased by the cost living to 233 million in 2016. Then add on the costs for the new benefits like the PIA and ELB, and the budget keeps rising. They knew that the NVC would cost them more up front, because they are basically paying out 10 years worth of pensions all at once, but they were hoping that after Afghanistan vets received their claims, that the number of new claims would drastically reduce. Add on the rise in operating costs, such as salaries for VAC staff, and utilities for all the remaining offices, and their budget increases become clear.

http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/news/info-graphics/expenditures#shr-pg-pnlSiteShare
We need some good reserchers with computer skills to find complete expenditures me thinks BS

Yes, when the costs for utilities and groceries have almost doubled in recent years, it is impossible to believe that the inflation rate is a low as they claim. In the last ten years, just gas had risen as much as 60 cents higher per litre, depending on your location.

Unfortunately, this country uses the figures from StatsCan for inflation. The way they calculate it is so far from reality that it makes it virtually meaningless. If one goes back about 20 years, the inflation rate given by StatsCan and therefore the one used to increase our pensions indicates a rate of about 45%. Well, most here can attest to the fact that there isn't a hair on a hare's ass chance that the rate is that. It is at least 100% plus.