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Harper government: Billions for stealth jets - cuts for suicidal soldiers
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Unknown
May 5, 2012, 7:54:19 PM5/5/12
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May 3, 2012
As soldier suicides rise, National Defence slashes suicide prevention staff
The Department of National Defence is cutting the jobs of medical professionals involved in
suicide prevention and monitoring post-traumatic stress disorders — despite claims by DND and
the Canadian Forces that dealing with such health issues is a priority.
The move comes on the heels of a new report indicating that suicides have increased in the
Canadian Forces. At the same time, the issue of suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) in the military is also under scrutiny at a military police complaints hearing in
Ottawa. That hearing is examining how the Canadian Forces dealt with the case of Cpl. Stuart
Langridge, an Afghanistan veteran who killed himself.
The unions representing the health workers have been notified that 15 of the 25 jobs in that
area will be cut. The workers perform key roles, union officials say.
They have been told that the DND's Deployment Health Section is being shut down, cutting four
jobs, including those of suicide prevention specialists. The employees also monitor PTSD rates
and traumatic brain injury.
Eight of the 18 jobs in DND's epidemiology section also will be cut. Those include
epidemiologists and researchers who analyze mental health issues such as depression, PTSD, and
suicide.
The unions say a trial program on injury prevention at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier also
will be closed because of the budget cuts. They note that the injury rate among Canadian Forces
members is twice that of the general Canadian population.
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada and the Canadian Association of
Professional Employees, the unions representing the workers, are calling on the Conservative
government to reverse the cuts.
"At a time when there is increasing awareness of mental health problems among our veterans
returning from conflict and concerns that PTSD, depression and suicide are serious issues for
the Canadian Forces, the government's decision to withdraw from this area of work is quite
simply irresponsible," said PIPSC president Gary Corbett.
The unions say that one of the team members in the deployment health section to be shut down is
also the co-chair of the Canadian Forces Expert Panel on Suicide Prevention.
The unions also warn that eliminating the jobs of epidemiologists and researchers will cripple
DND's capability to monitor the health of military personnel.
Claude Poirier, president of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees, pointed out
that monitoring the health of Canadian Forces members "is not merely optional" for DND.
"Because Canadian Forces members are generally excluded from health surveys conducted by
Statistics Canada, DND studies are essential to identify health issues affecting military
personnel, and to target areas for intervention," he noted in a statement.
DND did not comment on the job cuts.
Statistics released Monday by DND show that the number of suicides among Canadian Forces
personnel increased last year. Twenty soldiers died of suicide in 2011 — 19 men and one woman,
the department reported. Just 12 soldiers took their lives in 2010, all of them male.
But union members say the move to eliminate such key health jobs undercuts claims by the
Conservative government that only "back-office operations" not affecting front-line services
would be hit by the budget cuts. Overall, DND will see the jobs of between 900 to 1,000
civilian employees eliminated.
Other front-line service jobs are also being eliminated. Documents leaked to the Ottawa Citizen
show that Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is taking a significant share of the
government's cuts at DND; its budget has been slashed by 13 per cent and its workforce will be
reduced by 15 per cent, or 242 full-time jobs.
The defence researchers and scientists are credited with saving soldiers' lives in Afghanistan
by coming up with innovative technology and protective systems.
As a result of the layoffs, the defence science organization is stopping work on a bomb
detection project at its Suffield, Alta., site. The Counter Terrorism Technology Centre at
Suffield, which conducts research into chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and
explosive incidents, also will be scaled back. Some robotics work will be cut and commitments
to research for public security programs will be reviewed.
Other jobs being eliminated at DND range from clerks and secretaries to food services and
kitchen staff. In addition, the positions of radiation safety personnel, weapons technicians,
ammunition technicians, English-language teachers, heavy truck mechanics, laboratory
assistants, drivers and dental hygienists will be eliminated.
********************************************************************************
We hang the petty thieves and elect the greatest ones to public office.
As soldier suicides rise, National Defence slashes suicide prevention staff
The Department of National Defence is cutting the jobs of medical professionals involved in
suicide prevention and monitoring post-traumatic stress disorders — despite claims by DND and
the Canadian Forces that dealing with such health issues is a priority.
The move comes on the heels of a new report indicating that suicides have increased in the
Canadian Forces. At the same time, the issue of suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) in the military is also under scrutiny at a military police complaints hearing in
Ottawa. That hearing is examining how the Canadian Forces dealt with the case of Cpl. Stuart
Langridge, an Afghanistan veteran who killed himself.
The unions representing the health workers have been notified that 15 of the 25 jobs in that
area will be cut. The workers perform key roles, union officials say.
They have been told that the DND's Deployment Health Section is being shut down, cutting four
jobs, including those of suicide prevention specialists. The employees also monitor PTSD rates
and traumatic brain injury.
Eight of the 18 jobs in DND's epidemiology section also will be cut. Those include
epidemiologists and researchers who analyze mental health issues such as depression, PTSD, and
suicide.
The unions say a trial program on injury prevention at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier also
will be closed because of the budget cuts. They note that the injury rate among Canadian Forces
members is twice that of the general Canadian population.
The Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada and the Canadian Association of
Professional Employees, the unions representing the workers, are calling on the Conservative
government to reverse the cuts.
"At a time when there is increasing awareness of mental health problems among our veterans
returning from conflict and concerns that PTSD, depression and suicide are serious issues for
the Canadian Forces, the government's decision to withdraw from this area of work is quite
simply irresponsible," said PIPSC president Gary Corbett.
The unions say that one of the team members in the deployment health section to be shut down is
also the co-chair of the Canadian Forces Expert Panel on Suicide Prevention.
The unions also warn that eliminating the jobs of epidemiologists and researchers will cripple
DND's capability to monitor the health of military personnel.
Claude Poirier, president of the Canadian Association of Professional Employees, pointed out
that monitoring the health of Canadian Forces members "is not merely optional" for DND.
"Because Canadian Forces members are generally excluded from health surveys conducted by
Statistics Canada, DND studies are essential to identify health issues affecting military
personnel, and to target areas for intervention," he noted in a statement.
DND did not comment on the job cuts.
Statistics released Monday by DND show that the number of suicides among Canadian Forces
personnel increased last year. Twenty soldiers died of suicide in 2011 — 19 men and one woman,
the department reported. Just 12 soldiers took their lives in 2010, all of them male.
But union members say the move to eliminate such key health jobs undercuts claims by the
Conservative government that only "back-office operations" not affecting front-line services
would be hit by the budget cuts. Overall, DND will see the jobs of between 900 to 1,000
civilian employees eliminated.
Other front-line service jobs are also being eliminated. Documents leaked to the Ottawa Citizen
show that Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC) is taking a significant share of the
government's cuts at DND; its budget has been slashed by 13 per cent and its workforce will be
reduced by 15 per cent, or 242 full-time jobs.
The defence researchers and scientists are credited with saving soldiers' lives in Afghanistan
by coming up with innovative technology and protective systems.
As a result of the layoffs, the defence science organization is stopping work on a bomb
detection project at its Suffield, Alta., site. The Counter Terrorism Technology Centre at
Suffield, which conducts research into chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and
explosive incidents, also will be scaled back. Some robotics work will be cut and commitments
to research for public security programs will be reviewed.
Other jobs being eliminated at DND range from clerks and secretaries to food services and
kitchen staff. In addition, the positions of radiation safety personnel, weapons technicians,
ammunition technicians, English-language teachers, heavy truck mechanics, laboratory
assistants, drivers and dental hygienists will be eliminated.
********************************************************************************
We hang the petty thieves and elect the greatest ones to public office.
Liberals are VERMIN
May 6, 2012, 1:27:19 PM5/6/12
to
People who commit suicide die of their own choice, people who die in
antiquated military equipment aren't given the choice.
antiquated military equipment aren't given the choice.
Canuck57
May 6, 2012, 2:33:50 PM5/6/12
to
On 06/05/2012 11:27 AM, Liberals are VERMIN wrote:
> People who commit suicide die of their own choice, people who die in
> antiquated military equipment aren't given the choice.
Joining the CF is Russian roulette.
> People who commit suicide die of their own choice, people who die in
> antiquated military equipment aren't given the choice.
It isn't the equipment, it is the politicians and top CF staff to fear
the most.
--
Liberal-socialism is a great idea so long as the credit is good and
other people pay for it. When the credit runs out and those that pay
for it leave, they can all share having nothing but debt and discontentment.
Nexus
May 8, 2012, 10:53:15 PM5/8/12
to
On May 5, 4:54 pm, "Co...@minority.gov" <ConsR@minority,gov> wrote:
> ********************************************************************************
I like the quote at the end.
It reminds me of one by the brilliant 18th century French diplomat
Talleyrand (brilliant because he flourished successively and wealthily
and keeping his head under Louis, the Revoluton, Napoloen, the
Restoration, and all despite leaving the Church as soon as he was
ordained!)
After watching a pompous medal ceremony at the Academie, he commented
"They used to hang thieves on crosses. Now they hang crosses on
thieves."
> ********************************************************************************
> We hang the petty thieves and elect the greatest ones to public office.
I agree with your opposition to those unwanted F-35's but best of all
I like the quote at the end.
It reminds me of one by the brilliant 18th century French diplomat
Talleyrand (brilliant because he flourished successively and wealthily
and keeping his head under Louis, the Revoluton, Napoloen, the
Restoration, and all despite leaving the Church as soon as he was
ordained!)
After watching a pompous medal ceremony at the Academie, he commented
"They used to hang thieves on crosses. Now they hang crosses on
thieves."
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