Feds issues apology, financial settlement to Second World War Veterans

The Federal Government issued an apology and financial settlement to Veterans who risked their lives to fight injustice in World War II, and faced discrimination when they returned home.

Mets soldiers were denied Veterans benefits when they returned home from the Second World War. For 80 years, the Veterans and their families have fought for the benefits they were entitled to.

Each living Metis World War II Veteran, or their estate, will receive a payout of $20,000. Leftover funds will be allocated to a legacy fund.

“They went [to war] as brothers and sisters, it didn’t matter what race or colour you were,” David Chartrand with the Metis National Council said. “When they got home they realized how hard it is to be who you are. The Metis’ were told ‘Go back to your trap line, your fishing, to the community you come from. Why do you think you deserve eye glasses? Dental?”

Only about a dozen Metis Veterans are known to still be alive, and the majority of the money will go to the legacy fund.

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  David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Metis Federation, right, and Clement Chartier, Head of Metis National Council, are pictured in Ottawa on Friday March 8, 2013. Senior leaders at Canada's largest Metis organization are vowing to keep up their fight in order to get the same tax-free treatment on their expense allowances as other people elected to public office. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick