Deaths of three Afghan vets raise new concerns
Military has yet to conclude inquiries into suicides of 70 Canadian soldiers
The military is under fire for its failure to conclude 70 inquiries into soldier suicides, after three veterans of the war in Afghanistan were found dead in separate incidents this week.
National Defence identified the soldiers late Thursday as Warrant Officer Michael McNeil, a 19-year veteran with the Royal Canadian Regiment at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa in Ontario; Master Cpl. William Elliott, a decorated veteran with the Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry out of CFB Shilo, Man.; and Master Bombardier Travis Halmrast from the 20th Independent Field Battery in Lethbridge, Alta.
All three served at least one tour in Afghanistan.
The military confirmed McNeil died Wednesday while Elliott and Halmrast died Monday, though it would not reveal how the soldiers died as investigations are ongoing.
Early media reports have linked the deaths to possible suicide.
“The loss of a soldier, in any circumstance, is tragic and we mourn with the family and friends of the deceased while the Canadian Army endeavours to support them in their loss,” Canadian Army commander Lt.-Gen. Marquis Hainse said in a statement.
“I am disturbed by the loss of three of our soldiers. The Canadian Army cares deeply for each and every member. It goes without saying that we take every death seriously and as such we will explore all facets of these situations to try to learn from them and reduce future occurrences while also providing the best support to the army family whenever a death does occur.”
Defence Minister Rob Nicholson offered his condolences following a parliamentary committee meeting Thursday, describing the deaths as “tragedies.”
The government recently promised a further $11.4 million for mental health services for Canadian Forces members, which is in addition to the $38.6 million already spent each year.
Nicholson indicated his openness to further improvements, saying: “I look forward to what the surgeon general and what the Armed Forces indicate to me.”
“I look forward to any recommendations or findings.”
But NDP defence critic Jack Harris questioned how National Defence can have any real handle on the issue when dozens of inquiries into military suicides remain unfinished, some going back to 2008.
Seventy-four military personnel killed themselves from 2008 to 2012, but the government said in May that 50 inquiries were still in progress.
On Thursday, National Defence said the number of outstanding inquiries had risen to 70, including four that were outstanding from 2008 and seven from 2009.
“If the military is not conducting a proper investigation and getting reports prepared and finished into how this happened, why this happened, I don’t have confidence that we’re finding out what’s going on, and putting the measures in place to try to put a stop to it,” Harris said.
“We’ve had soldiers who’ve stood up for Canada when we asked them to do that,” Harris said.
“We should be standing up for them. And I don’t think we’re doing that enough.”