The recent move to boot Julian Fantino out and replace him with Erin O'Toole as Veterans Affairs Minister has some advocates doubtful he will be enough of an improvement.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #260-100 Mile House president Bob Wangensteen says O'Toole will have to prove himself.
So far, Wangensteen agrees with the stance taken by the Canadian Veterans Advocacy (CVA) and other veterans advocate groups.
"They are not happy with [O'Toole for] not recognizing some veteran's groups again. We'll have to see how it plays out."
Wangensteen notes advocate groups must be on an approved list of registered lobbyists in order to voice concerns to a federal government ear.
"I think it is more of a Conservative thing to not give [the veterans] anything. It doesn't really make a difference who is in charge, the government has decided it is not going to stand by its promise and look after these guys. That is what is happening."
Wangensteen says the Conservative government’s approach to veterans is "don't call us, we'll call you" and "don't let the door hit your [butt] on the way out."
An example of this is the changes it made in the New Veteran's Charter that gives today's young veterans with serious injuries or mental illness a lump-sum payment under an expectation they make it last the rest of their life, he adds.
"Veterans are told government will look after you, but they are not [being looked after]."
O'Toole is a veteran who flew as a tactical navigator on a Sea King helicopter with the Royal Canadian Air Force until 2000, when he joined the reserve.
Before becoming minister, O'Toole helped start a foundation that raises money in support of veterans' programming, and organized a mental-health awareness event last spring.
"Now that he's in power, everything changes," says Wangensteen.
"There was a lot of hope first off when Fantino was dumped and they got a veteran in there, but this guy is following basically the same program as Fantino was. It's just more of the same."