- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 60
http://www.canada.com/news/Afghan+vets+reject+Anders+apology/6243972/story.html
Calgary Conservative MP Rob Anders has apologized for describing two Afghan war veterans, who volunteer their time to help homeless former soldiers, as "NDP hacks" and supporters of Russian strongman Vladimir Putin.
Anders made the comments about Jim Lowther and David MacLeod, both former members of the Canadian Forces.
But when contacted Friday night and told of Anders' apology, the two men said they didn't accept it and called on him to resign from the Commons veterans affairs committee.
On Thursday, the two had voiced their anger that Anders fell asleep during their presentation earlier this week at a Commons veterans affairs meeting in Halifax. The men were detailing how their volunteer group, Veterans Emergency Transition Services, also known as VETS, was trying to deal with the homeless problem affecting former soldiers. In the last year the group has helped 13 veterans get off the streets and find shelter.
Anders said he never fell asleep and accused the men of being NDP supporters who had praised Putin.
However, both men are card-carrying Conservatives who have put aside partisanship to help veterans. Lowther has served in Bosnia and Afghanistan. MacLeod served in Cyprus, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan.
As for any connection to Putin, MacLeod pointed out that he had mentioned during the presentation that even the Russians took care of their former soldiers, offering them housing and setting up a hospital to offer post traumatic stress counselling to Afghan war veterans.
After Anders' comments were published, the two men issued an open letter to the MP.
"Mr. Anders, if you had a shred of integrity, you would provide both Jim and I with apologies and resign from the Standing Committee on Veteran Affairs," wrote MacLeod. "Veterans need people that are motivated, dedicated, are willing to communicate, and understand how a democracy works."
Emails were also circulating Friday afternoon among veterans calling on Anders to resign.
On Friday night, Anders issued a statement apologizing for his comments, but not naming the men.
"I have enormous respect for the men and women who have sacrificed in service of their country," the Conservative MP said in a written statement. "I apologize for my comments and any offence they may have caused. I will continue to work on behalf of Canada's veterans through the committee."
Anders did not contact the two Canadian Forces veterans who did not learn of the apology until contacted by the Ottawa Citizen on Friday night.
"Not good enough," MacLeod said. "On behalf of Veterans Emergency Transition Services (VETS), Jim Lowther and I do not accept Mr. Anders's apology. VETS is concerned that Mr. Anders is remaining on the Standing Committee of Veterans Affairs. We doubt that Mr. Anders has the best interests of veterans at heart. VETS and those veterans we have contacted demand Mr. Anders's resignation from the Standing Committee of Veterans Affairs."
Both Lowther, president of Veterans Emergency Transition Services, and MacLeod, who handles policy for the group, said they felt insulted by Anders sleeping during an important topic such as homelessness among veterans.
Liberal MP Sean Casey, who was at the meeting, also said that Anders fell asleep.
Anders said that Casey was making his comments based on partisanship and that Lowther was being controlled by NDP veterans affairs critic Peter Stoffer. "It's totally a smear job," said Anders in his earlier interview with the Citizen. "He's obviously in the pocket of Peter Stoffer."
Lowther and MacLeod called Anders' claims ludicrous.
In their open letter to Anders, the men noted they are Conservatives but added that, "We support all politicians that are able to put partisan politics aside to get to the heart of issues. It's called a fully functioning democracy — something we fought for."
"It was difficult not to be insulted when you fell asleep," they added. "We were very focused on making the best of an opportunity to positively affect the lives of veterans. We want to help our brothers and sisters who have served but fallen on hard times or made bad decisions."
Last fall a YouTube video of Anders nodding off in the House of Commons became a hit with viewers. His office later told a constituent the reason he feel asleep was because he had been in a recent car accident, although no details about where or when that happened were provided, according to news reports.