Charlottetown Senator Percy E. Downe has written Prime Minister Harper in the attached letter urging him to strike up a stand-alone Veterans Affairs Committee in the Senate.

In 2006, the Prime Minister made arrangements to establish a separate standing committee on Veterans Affairs for the House of Commons, but unfortunately, the same arrangements were not made to institute a separate committee in the Senate.

“Given the small number of Conservative Senators in the Senate, it would have made it difficult to fulfill time commitments to already existing standing committees. However, your recent appointment of 18 new senators has, for the first time in years, restored the Senate to the full compliment of 105,” wrote Downe in his letter to Harper.

The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee is currently a sub-committee under the Senate Standing Committee on National Security and Defence, but with the growing number of young veterans coming home as a result of our overseas commitments, Downe strongly believes that more attention needs to be given to our veterans, their families and dependants. Canada has a responsibility to provide the best care available after service in the Canadian Forces. The Government must assist with any possible health issues or problems that arise resulting from their service to our country.

“I would hope that you would now take the opportunity to instruct the Government Leadership in the Senate to propose a separate stand alone Veterans Affairs Committee to deal with the many concerns of our Canadian Veterans,” concluded Downe.

Attachment: Letter to Prime Minister Harper, dated January 28, 2009

For further information:
Senator Percy Downe: 613-943-8107
www.sen.parl.gc.ca/pdowne