Justin Trudeau promises lifelong pensions for injured veterans

Liberal LeaderJustinTrudeau promised to "reinstate" lifelong pensions for Canada'sinjured veterans during a campaignannouncement in Belleville, Ont. that pledged $300 million annuallyto expand and create military support programs if elected on Oct. 19.

Trudeau said that after "10 years of neglect" under the Conservative government, he would implement changes immediately, includinga new fund to cover post-secondary education costs for veterans,two new veterans' care centres andmore support for the families of veterans.

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"For 10 years, Stephen Harper has been nickle-and-diming our veterans, lacking the respect and the support that Canadians have earned through service to country and that's something that we have to fix as a priority," Trudeau told supporters in the southern Ontario riding Bay of Quinte, which is home to CFB Trenton.

"This is about doing right by people who have offered everything in service of our country."

Trudeau said a "fully costed platform" would be released in coming weeks to show how the Liberal plan would be funded should he form government.

The planincludes:

• $20 million to create two new veterans' care centres.
• $100 million annually toexpand support for families of veterans, includingeducation andcounseling.
• $25 million to expand the Permanent Impairment Allowance for the most seriously wounded.
• $40 million to increase the Earnings Loss Benefit from 75 per centto90 per centof a soldier's pre-release salary.
• Increase theveteran survivor's pension amount to 70 per cent from 50 per cent.
• Double funding to the Last Post Fund for theburial of veterans.

Harper defends record

Asked about Trudeau's plan during his own campaign stop in Drummondville, Que., Monday morning, Harper defended the Conservative record with veterans under his leadership.He said his government has increased benefits for veterans by 35 per cent.

"Veterans are big supporters of our party and have been for a long time," he said in French.

"Evidently, it's not a unanimous opinion, but I think veterans understand, really, the support the Conservative government has for them."

Retired air force officerErinO'Tooletook over as minister of Veteran Affairsfrom JulianFantinoin January amid criticism over thedecision to close regional offices and what veterans described asa lack of mental health support. O'Toole has since made several announcements to increase support and benefits for veterans.

Retired generalAndrew Leslie, who isrunningas the Liberal candidate in the Ottawa riding ofOrlans, spoke ahead ofTrudeau, accusing"Harper's spin machine"of spending "a fortune" toconvinceCanadians that his government supports veterans when it does not.

"The whole attitude of Mr.Trudeauis, 'Let's fix it,'" Leslie said.

Trudeaualso vowed to reopen the nineVeterans Affairs service offices closed under theConservative government, and further promised to hire400 new frontline service workers, including Veterans Affairscase managers.

NDP Leader TomMulcairsaid at a campaign event in Toronto Monday thathis party will have its own detailed announcement about veterans during the campaign but also vowed to reopen the nine offices that were closed.

"We think that our veterans deserve to be recognized and respected 365 days a year not just on November 11th," he said.

Liberal plan considers 'future generations'

Trudeau said that while 158 members of the Canadian Forces died during the mission inAfghanistan, 170 committed suicide since 2004 and that many more suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Hepromised toimplement all of the Auditor General's recommendations on improvingmental healthserviceto veterans.

"Future generations of brave women and men should know that they will be looked after when they finish their service to Canada. There should never be any doubt in their minds," he said.

When asked about how he will convince Canadians he is ready to lead given the"lack ofexperience"he and some Liberal candidates have on the federal scene, Trudeau said he has demonstrated leadership through his ideas and his team.

He pointed specifically to two candidates at the announcement: Leslie and Harjit Sajjan, a former police officer and lieutenant-colonel running in Vancouver South.

"One of thethings I learned from my father is,you gather around you extraordinary people to serve, to bring forward solutions, to be strong voices for their communities in Ottawa," he said.

"And, I have to say, sir,you're a fairly brave man to stand there and question the life experience of folks likeHarjit Sajjanand generalAndrew Leslie."