Merry Christmas Troops! - Love, Ottawa
Update - 16 Jan 07
Our man is back in Canada so I'll get some answers and let you all know how it turned out. MTF
-KS
Update - 3 Jan 07
All,
I appreciate the efforts by everybody who has seen and commented on this post. I am not giving out the name of the author but can tell you this isn't some disgruntled Private making up stories. The author holds a prominent position over there and I'm sure is working the system to get resolution. I just wanted to get the word out that this sort of thing has happened in the past and unfortunately is happening again. I am hoping to hear from the author soon to find how things are shaping up. More to follow.
-KS
This is an extract from an e-mail I was forwarded from a guy on deployment in Africa. Some stuff has been edited to protect the author from the "system". If you get pissed off reading this, you're not alone.
"Well, guys. I just want to add another injustice to how the CF are being treated. As you know, I am at Addis Ababa with TFAA, supporting the African Union in Sudan. This month, someone in Ottawa has decided that our mission should have the Risk Level down graded from Level 2 to Level 1 and have our danger pay reduced. In addition, with Risk level reduced, the tax exemption was gone. This is retroactive to June 2006. Well, the pay system took all the taxes owed in one shot and for my Dec pay, I owed the Feds $11000.00. This is just bloody insane. I have lost 25 lbs in the last four months and got intestinal amoebic infection twice and is constanly on Anti-biotic which leaves this metallic taste in your mouth. At any given time, 60 to 70% percent of the TFAA members are down with something. In october, all members had dystentery, amoeba infection, and one repatriated member had malaria. A replacement MCPL for the clerk who was away on HLTA got Amoeba in the three weekd she was there. Now, that is not including the other aspects of hazzards and isolation typical of a tour. If that is not risk, I don't know what is Risk, in the matter of CF interpretation. I went to Africa with the hope that my efforts can make a difference and gave it 100% of myself to my job and I expected my country will look after my welfare while I leave my family and my home to further the interest oif Canada. I certainly did not expect the treatment, without prior notice, handed out just before Xmas. One of our sergeants had already spent the money and he now is wondering where in hell he will get the money to pay the Gov back. Ours is a small mission and therefore, attracts little attention, but the risk and hardship in my opinion is just as tough as in Afghanistan. When I was in Kingston for my pre deployment training, I was told specifically by a member of the Treasury Board that my mission is tax free. To have them now clawing back our benefits is just unacceptable. That is my opinion of the day."
Well, how do you like that!?
posted by KS @ 11:35 AM
20 comments
20 Comments:
I like it so much I'm going to forward this link to my MP, an ex-RCAF who is currently visiting the troops in Afghanistan. Hopefully he will raise some hell with his colleague & get this fixed.
How absolutely retarded.
As a member of the Conservative party and an ardent supporter of Rona Ambrose and the Prime Minister, it really makes me angry to see something like this happen. We cannot treat our troops like this, no matter where they are in the world. Theirs is a dangerous job everywhere and we must support them in all ways, like not letting the bureaucracy make decisions like this, as I cannot perceive of our Conservative Government supporting this, or even knowing about it.
The above note and a copy of the blog was sent to Laurie Hawn, Rona Ambrose, Gordon O'Connor, and the Prime Minister
I think you'll discover the decision was not made by the Govt but a high ranking and over paid desk jockey, arm chair quarterback of a civil servant that was raised to their posting during a time of entitlement
...probably a 'left over' (excuse the pun) Liberal just doing his job...screwing the CAF.
Oh wait, till we get the new 777's and transports, we're aren't much "A" in the CAF.
I've linked to you; and have emailed O'Connor and my local MP.
Did I tell you, I so detest faceless bureaucrats who screw with people's lives but never have their shit stick to them. They thrive in government bureaucracy; ... they should all be flushed.
This is not surprising at all to me--its pretty typical---however, I did dare to hope that it would not happen to deployed troops.
This happened so many times to me in my time in. It sounds like a classic "Redress of Grievance" case to me. Did the person who "told you" it would be tax free put it in writing? Did you purchase anything, like a house or a car based on the promise? These are important questions....and provide good ammo.
Get advice from your supervisors. They will likely be on your side since they are in the same boat. I once even had to engage a civilian lawyer to get what I was owed...which pissed off a lot of people, so before you go that route, get written replies as much as possible to your questions, and make sure all the internal doors really ARE slammed in your face. Maybe some are open.
And keep a record of every conversation. In a notebook. On your person. Fail to do this little thing, you fail.
Bill
stag@cyberus.ca
Let us know how things work out. A number of blogs are carrying this, including SDA, so it's being read by a hell of a lot of people. It sounds like a lot of MP's have been contacted, so let's hope that some faceless pencil-neck in the system gets the call and this is all worked out.
Do not stop do not pass go, do not collect 200$. Call the CF Omudsman - he is the only one with the power to sort this out in a timely manner.
http://www.ombudsman.forces.gc.ca/main_e.asp
The Ombudsman has no power. He makes recommendations... the CF can implement them or reject them.
Hey KS,
I know what the email author is talking about. I went with the 'surge' into Addis last summer. No matter what happened, riots, shooting, etc. no change in the pay. That's a strong bit of belt fed c**k for the troops to claw back their tax status. I wasn't tax free but at least I knew about it before I went.
As for all the parasites etc. I don't know what they're doing but my tour was full of rosy Melfoquine dreams and bottled water that smelled like gasoline. I think someone isn't eating their steak cooked well at the Texas BBQ!
The above poster is absolutely correct. The conditions on some deployments have to be seen to be believed. The bean counters in Ottawa will do anything to save a buck at the expense of the troops, and the public has no idea, as all the photo ops and news articles are "managed" and filtered before they are ever seen. The fact that some of the missions are nothing more than hastily organised PR exercises with no prior thought given to how to supply and look after those on the ground before they are sent doesn't help...
The clowns who come up with assinine rulings like this should spend 6 1/2 months living in a canvas tent in dust and 40 degree heat, p***ssing out their ***SS from bad food, filthy conditions, and questionable water. They should try functioning in work areas that hit 127 degrees at noon. Maybe it might wake them up. I cant believe Gen Hillier, who seems to take a real interest in our welfare, and seeing what really goes on in theatre, hasn't intervened on this...
I have friends who have had dengue fever, malaria, skin parasites, etc, and I have stomach problems to this day from my service in Rwanda 1994, and in Eritrea with UNMEE. On the UNMEE tour, we were paid less than troops that were sunning themselves, leaving camp every day, and drinking like madmen in Golan Heights.
I can only hope that this faceless jackass responsible for this gets whats coming to him, preferably from a pissed off troopie, in a dark alley, with a heavy blunt object...
"I HAVE made for you a song,
And it may be right or wrong,
But only you can tell me if it's true.
I have tried for to explain
Both your pleasure and your pain,
And, Thomas, here's my best respects to you!
O there'll surely come a day
When they'll give you all your pay,
And treat you as a Christian ought to do;
So, until that day comes round,
Heaven keep you safe and sound,
And, Thomas, here's my best respects to you! "
Kipling
Some things never change !
Hey, I forwarded this to Bob Layton of 630 CHED here in Edmonton, and he said as far as they can tell, they can't attribute this to anyone in particular. He said if the actual soldier can be contacted, they'll investigate further. If it's true, that would be a great help in getting the word out. Send Mr. Layton the unedited e-mail and return address if you can.
Hi there,
We have checked this out, and so far found it to be baloney. If you can
give me the name of a soldier it actually happened to (which no one can
seem to) I will investigate further.
Bob Layton
Bob.Layton@corusent.com
Sorry, to clarify, I pasted Mr. L:ayton's coment there myself, that is not a comment on the blog from him.
did this prominent member ask you to post a portion of his or her email to you on the net?
No, the guy doesn't know. I posted it in rage.
I've done a bit of digging, and have posted the results here. If the soldier in question feels I've missed anything or screwed up any of the details, I'd invite him or her to drop me a line and let me know.
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