Military watchdog calls on DND to ‘do the right thing’ for Afghan-Canadians denied benefits

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A civilian watchdog is taking Defence Minister Bill Blair and military leaders to task for abandoning Afghan-Canadians who served during the Afghanistan war.

A small number of language and cultural advisors wore Canadian Armed Forces uniforms, operated outside the wire and came under fire. Some spent up to two years in Afghanistan as advisors to the Canadian army.

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But, because they were civilians on temporary contracts, the Department of National Defence (DND) and the military has denied them help or benefits.

Some of the Language and Cultural Advisors or LCAs were wounded, while others are dealing with post traumatic stress disorder.

“There is a moral obligation to do the right thing and to take care of these Canadians who served side by side with our military in Afghanistan,” interim military watchdog Robyn Hynes noted in a statement to the Ottawa Citizen. “Our office has been constantly engaged on this important file since 2017, and are currently dealing with 18 individual former LCAs.”

Instead of helping the LCAs, the military has referred them to organizations such as the Ontario Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. But many of the injury claims from the LCAs are being rejected.

Simon Lafortune, Defence Minister Bill Blair’s spokesperson, noted in an email that the minister “has met with the former ombudsperson to discuss the challenges experienced by former language and cultural advisers who served in Afghanistan and the minister’s team continues to work with the Office of the Ombudsperson and the department on this file.”

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The office of the National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces Ombud has made representations over the years to Blair and his predecessors, Harjit Sajjan and Anita Anand.

Hynes wrote to Blair on Aug. 28 informing him that her office would soon complete a review into the treatment and care of the former LCAs.

Asked why the investigation was launched this year rather than earlier, Hynes noted that previous attempts to get help for the LCAs have failed.

“We really thought we could get these individuals what they need and deserve through face-to-face engagements and letters with senior leadership of the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces, including the minister,” she said. “We even suggested mechanisms and previous programs stood up to address gaps in care and compensation for other constituents.”

Hynes noted she and her predecessor, Gregory Lick, exhausted different methods to convince the military and DND to do the right thing for the LCAs.

“At this point, we have very few tools left in the toolbox to encourage action,” she said. “The report we will release in December will hopefully achieve that aim”.

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In a previous letter to Blair, Hynes noted that LCAs made a decisive impact on Canadian military operations. “Since they returned to Canada, many have suffered significantly from injuries resulting from their service and have been unable to secure the care and support they need,” she told the minister.

This year, officials with the ombud’s office met with DND officials and members of Blair’s office to identify potential ways to make sure the LCAs can access the care and benefits they need. Lick also provided options to move forward in a March 2024 letter to the minister.

The Afghan-Canadians were proactively recruited during the war, mainly by the Canadian army. The military was desperate for those who could speak the local languages as well as understand Afghan culture.

Canadian army cultural advisor Mohammad Amin told CBC News in 2019 that contractor workers like himself were being treated differently even though they experienced the same hardships and dangers that Canadian troops endured.

“We were ready to die for the country, all of us. And, when we come back, why is there a difference?” Amin told CBC News. “If you want to use civilians in a war zone, you’ve got to be able to help them.”

Amin served as a civilian contractor for seven deployments with the Canadian military in Afghanistan.

David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe

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