Opposition critical of GD donation to CAF mental health

[McG]

I can see how the optics are bad, but money has to come from somewhere.

Would be interesting to know where the money actually came from.  Was it GD Canada, GDLS Canada, GD-OTS Canada, or some other branch of GD?

Critics question General Dynamics' $500K contribution to military mental health research centre
CTVNews.ca Staff
11 Dec 2014

Opposition MPs are questioning whether a weapons manufacturer’s $500,000 contribution to a military mental health research centre represents a conflict of interest.

General Dynamics, one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of weapons and combat vehicles, is contributing the money over five years to support the recently established Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research.

The money will fund research into diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and operational stress injuries. Officials say General Dynamics is the first non-government, non-university partner of the military health research institute.

But critics are wondering whether that partnership represents a conflict because General Dynamics is competing for Canadian military contracts.

The company has been awarded more than $5 billion in government defence contracts in the past decade, including nearly $300 million just last month to upgrade a fleet of light armoured vehicles.

“In their rush for a good news announcement, does the government really not see the conflict of interest created by General Dynamics’ contracts with DND?” Liberal veterans affairs critic Frank Valeriote asked during question period.

Government officials are dismissing any suggestions of a conflict, saying that corporate Canada should donate more money to similar initiatives.

The opposition has been slamming Veterans Affairs and its minister, Julian Fantino, saying the department has misguided priorities and is not providing adequate services and benefits for veterans.

Veterans have been demanding more support for those with PTSD and other mental health issues -- a growing problem among younger men and women who have returned home from Afghanistan.

A rash of military suicides in late 2013 and earlier this year highlighted many veterans’ struggles with PTSD.

... 

http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/critics-question-general-dynamics-500k-contribution-to-military-mental-health-research-centre-1.2144469

 

[The Bread Guy]

I guess it's not quite as bad as if a pharmaceutical company sponsored it.

I can see how the optics are bad, but money has to come from somewhere.

Since it's not enough of a priority for the government, true. 

Maybe we can do like the Ukrainians do, and set up a system where people can text money to the program?  So far, it's raised more than $11 million (links to Ukrainian MoD, in Ukrainian).

 

[a_majoor]

I would think more of the opposition if they were to sponsor a bill to match these contributions rather than just whining about it. After all, if they were in power do you really think the Young Dauphin or Tom Mulcair would be contributing a penny to CF mental health (or anything related to the CF, for that matter)?

 

[The Bread Guy]

I would think more of the opposition if they were to sponsor a bill to match these contributions rather than just whining about it.

1)  What do you think are the odds of such a bill passing with a Conservative majority, even if both (OK, all three if we count the Greens) other parties agreed?
2)  If you think the government would vote FOR such a bill, based on the need, why doesn't the government sponsor it now?

 

[TCBF]

Given the fact that the LAV UP program is going to drive a lot of soldiers crazy over the next ten years, I think that their donation is a good idea.

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

Given the fact that the LAV UP program is going to drive a lot of soldiers crazy over the next ten years, I think that their donation is a good idea.

???

 

[Fishbone Jones]

GD in London, has a lot of local soldiers working there. They encompass, nearly, all ranks. Many have deployed.

GD cares for each of them. They want what's best for their employees and all soldiers. As was said, "who cares where the money comes from?"

And if you think it's given in hopes of favouritism, every party that has governed has dealt hugely with GD. They are, literally, the only game in town Canada, for what they do.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

???

New courses for every crew position, maintainer training, new stock numbers and codes. Logistics of having two or more 'similar' vehicles in a Regiment, the list goes on. and trying to fit it all in with Train the Trainers, student load, etc, while operating well under strength and with no cash.

Pretty sure I'd be crazy myself, especially with the unattainable and fantastical timelines some guy in the Puzzle Palace invokes, even though he's never ridden in a green military vehicle in his life.

 

[Scoobie Newbie]

I wasn't aware the vehicles were that different.

 

[ballz]

On a lighter note, if the LAV UPs remain grounded I'll be pretty stress free as a LAV Capt :facepalm:

 

[TCBF]

On a lighter note, if the LAV UPs remain grounded I'll be pretty stress free as a LAV Capt :facepalm:

- When I was SSM Recce Sqn in Edmonton 2013, we did ten weeks in the field on the "Road to high Readiness" and then five days chasing high water down south ("After years of Southern Albertan aggression and provocation, The Army of Northern Alberta..."). My LAV 3 was great.
When I was posted to 3 CDTC Wainwright summer 13, my replacement ended up with a LAV UP hangar queen.

 

[Gunner98]

I think it is important that people (especially the media and politicians) acknowledge that CIMVHR does more than look at mental health issues.  CIMVHR is a unique consortium of over 36 Canadian universities "dedicated to researching the health needs of military personnel, Veterans and their families."

 

[TCBF]

I think it is important that people (especially the media and politicians) acknowledge that CIMVHR does more than look at mental health issues.  CIMVHR is a unique consortium of over 36 Canadian universities "dedicated to researching the health needs of military personnel, Veterans and their families."

- This whole "... and their families." is another scam where the provinces want DND to fund civ health care for dependants in semi-isolated areas where CF base populations provide a large part of the local community.

- Just another way of de-militarizing the defence budget.

 

[Gunner98]

- This whole "... and their families." is another scam where the provinces want DND to fund civ health care for dependants in semi-isolated areas where CF base populations provide a large part of the local community.

- Just another way of de-militarizing the defence budget.

I disagree, it is also for DND to research and fund families to attend therapy sessions with their soldiers who are spouses/parents.  I know of no intent to expand funding of civilian health care at semi-isolated bases, that ended for the most part in the 1990s.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

I disagree, it is also for DND to research and fund families to attend therapy sessions with their soldiers who are spouses/parents.  I know of no intent to expand funding of civilian health care at semi-isolated bases, that ended for the most part in the 1990s.

So long as it's identified as having to do with the mental condition of the soldier, that's fair, and typically, part and parcel of the soldiers recovery.

I think what TCBF is saying is don't try push someone who is bipolar (eg) most of their life, into our system, because they are married to a serviceperson with PTSD.

 

[TCBF]

- Exactly. We fund Veterans care for the veterans. If their dependants then want our funding because the veteran's issues are triggering dependant's psych issues, or just general coping, too bad. That is the responsibility of provincial health care - not VAC or SISIP.

 

[TCBF]

- By the way, my intro to this was at a Wainwright military 'Town Hall' meeting where some servicemen wanted to discuss the availability of military specialists to see their wives/kids because the Alberta health care system would not provide. My take on it was Too Bad. You pay prov taxes for a reason - get involved in prov politics and get it sorted out. Wainwright isn't CFE.
- What I DID recommend was similar to what we did for CFE: DAG the member AND his/her family. If the special needs of the family cannot be met in Wainwright/Cold Lake/Pembroke/Goose Bay, then he/she does not go. Career results? Attach the promotion to the posting - not vice versa. You don't DAG Green because of family issues then you don't get the posting and the promotion att to that load station.

 

[Kat Stevens]

Just to clarify, you'd withhold a promotion from a qualified and deserving soldier because he has a special needs child who couldn't live in an isolated posting?  Sounds like the old reserve system, be willing to show up and get promoted, quality of troop be buggered.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

How can you promote someone if they cannot or will not go to where the job actually is at that rank level?

 

[Kat Stevens]

I suppose.