Wounded ex-soldiers to be first in line for federal government jobs

OTTAWA – The Harper government has tabled legislation to ensure that soldiers released from the military for medical reasons get top priority for other federal jobs.

It is a move designed to draw the sting from accusations that troops are being dumped before they can qualify for pensions.

Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino says when the law is enacted, it will move qualified veterans to the front of the line ahead of civil servants displaced — or laid-off — by a cascading series of budget cuts.

He says they will still need to qualify for the jobs.

Soldiers let go for medical reasons have had access to federal jobs since 2005, but there was no guarantee in law and they could only take jobs turned down by other federal employees.

The Conservatives, who make much of their support for vets, have been under fire recently about the increasing number of wounded soldiers discharged before they have the 10 years service that gives them a pension.