Just get it done

Forty years after a deadly grenade explosion at a camp for military cadets, the Canadian Armed Forces still doesn’t give its youth-inuniform the same health and disability benefits as regular personnel. Talk about sclerotic bureaucracy.

Now, as the Star’s Allan Woods reports, a new report from Armed Forces ombudsman Gary Walbourne is calling on the government to improve the compensation for cadets who are injured or killed on duty.

Canada should take heed — however belatedly — and provide today’s cadets with supports similar to members of the Canadian Armed Forces and Department of National Defence.

That much was obvious back in 1974, after the explosion in the Valcartier camp north of Quebec City killed six cadets and left 54 badly injured and maimed. Inequities in government supports quickly became clear.

Cadet teachers were automatically compensated with insurance benefits and had access to government support programs while their young charges had a stingy insurance plan, relied on the provincial health care system or paid privately.

Only those whose parents took the government to court were compensated.

With treatment like that, it’s a wonder that Canada still has 52,000 cadets.

The programs are loaded with adventure: sea cadets focus on sailing or power boat handling, army cadets go on survival camping trips, and air cadets get trained in power flying.

These are great opportunities — but they are also accompanied by risk.

In his report, ombudsman Walbourne noted that today, cadets with minor injuries like a cut or sprain are properly cared for but those who experience a serious injury, such as loss of a limb or paralysis, would not get the same supports as their instructors or military personnel.

The current system, notes Walbourne, remains “just as it was in 1974.” How many more years of prodding does the government need? Just get it done.

Canada should provide today’s cadets with supports similar to members of the Canadian Armed Forces