Canadian soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan will finally be treated with the same dignity as fallen RCMP officers when it comes to their funerals.
The Defence Department quietly tucked their tales between their collective legs and admitted their mistakes by more than doubling the burial money given to the families of soldiers killed in the line of duty, bringing the military in line with support the Mounties offer members.
The new rate of $12,700 came into effect amid a torrent of disbelief over unpaid funeral expenses. Better still, the money will be available to all service members killed since Canada began its involvement in Afghanistan on Oct. 7, 2001.
The old rate of $4,675 had been the same for almost a decade and was no where near enough the $8,500 the average funeral costs today. Many financially strapped families
of soldiers killed in Afghanistan and elsewhere were forced to borrow to make up the difference.
One of those families where the parents of fallen soldier, Corporal Matthew Dinning, who came forward at a news conference on Parliament Hill to outline how they had asked for reimbursement twice in the year since their son had been killed only to receive the brush-off by Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor.
The new benefits package also pays for items not previously covered, such as obituary notices, flowers and receptions following the service. Comfort to the families of fifty-seven Canadian soldiers who have been killed in Afghanistan and a handful of others have died in training accidents.
Even if O'Conner won't show he has class and speak to these families and make amends at least Chief of Defence Staff General Rick Hillier showed what kind of man he is when he phoned the Dinning family to apologize for not dealing with their concerns sooner.
Finally justice served even if it took embarrassing the Conservative Government and exposing just how deplorable they are.
Peace, to all those who have sacrificed.
Kenaz
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