Afghanistan war vets file class-action suit against federal government

VANCOUVER – A group of Afghanistan war veterans has filed a class-action lawsuit against the federal government, saying the new lump-sum disability payments aren’t enough to support them.

The B.C. Supreme Court lawsuit filed today claims the rules for disability payments in the New Veterans Charter violate their constitutional rights.

Among the soldiers suing the Attorney General of Canada is Maj. Mark Douglas Campbell, who lost both of his legs in a bomb attack in June 2008, and Cpl. Bradley Darren Quast, who was severely injured in a December 2009 blast that killed four soldiers and a Canadian journalist.

Lawyer Don Sorochan says soldiers who go to war expect to be taken care of by the country they serve, and that is not happening.

The lawsuit says the new charter is a breach of the duty of care owed to injured soldiers, and it seeks damages as well as a declaration that the charter is discriminatory.

Earlier this month, Veterans Affairs ended a policy of clawing back benefit payments of disabled veterans after a Federal Court rejected the practice.