OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper is pledging to provide help to Canadian war veterans fighting a deadly disease after Global News reported this week on the plight of former soldiers afflicted with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) but who are blocked from receiving medical benefits. “We’re aware of some concerns on how veterans who have ALS may be handled and I’ve certainly been insisting our officials look into how we can fix some people’s problems,” Harper said.
“So you’re going to see some action on that in the not-too-distant future.”
Harper has instructed Veterans Affairs to address the difficulties for veterans with ALS. While it is unclear exactly what that means, it is understood the goal is to eliminate the lengthy court battles caused by this case-by-case rule.
Harper was responding to the plight of veterans such as 42-year-old Brian Dyck, whose disease has progressed so rapidly he’s not sure how much longer he’ll live. “During the quiet times, I definitely shed a few tears,” Dyck said. “It’s hard.” His claim to Veterans Affairs was denied even though research in the United States has found soldiers are 60 per cent more likely to die of ALS than civilians, and those who served in the first Gulf War — as Dyck did — increase their chances even more.
For the past two years, U.S. veterans have been covered by a regulation that presumes a link between the disease and military service.
In Canada, assessments are done on a case-by-case basis.
Dyck appealed last week and is expecting another ruling soon.
Dyck and his wife, Natali, were overjoyed by news of the prime minister’s pledge.
“We were overwhelmed with emotion and both started to cry,” said Natali.