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August, 2007

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Liberals Hear From Military Experts About Needs of Families



DIEPPE, N.B. - A Liberal government would continue its long history of
providing support services to the families of our men and women in uniform, Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion pledged today.

"Today's roundtable provided an opportunity for us to hear about the impact Canada's presence abroad is having back here at home," Mr. Dion said following a roundtable discussion on the welfare of military families in Dieppe, New Brunswick.

"It allowed me to listen to valuable advice about the social and economic
impacts of war on families and what support services they need, such as
health benefits for injured veterans and services for spouses."

The roundtable was organized by the Liberal Caucus Committee on Canada and the World, and many Liberal MPs and Senators participated.  Liberal MP Bryon Wilfert, who chairs the committee, noted that the Conservative government's record on helping military families falls short.

"Over the past several months, there have been reports of soldiers who have had to buy their own boots, families facing significant funeral expenses for loved ones who have died in combat and widows of war veterans who are still being denied benefits because of Mr. Harper's broken election promise around the Veterans Independence Program," said Mr. Wilfert.

"Our men and women in uniform deserve better -they deserve a government that will respect and take care of their families while they serve on our country's behalf."

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