Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

Policy alert

by Aaron Wherry on Monday, April 4, 2011 2:18pm - 13 Comments

Michael Ignatieff promises education for veterans.

Canadian soldiers can expect four years of government-paid education or technical training after they leave the military under a Liberal government, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said Monday … The program would cost about $60 million a year going forward, with retroactivity for soldiers who served in Afghanistan.

Tags: Afghanistan, education, election, Election 2011, Michael Ignatieff, military, veterans

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Mike T.

Seeing as we pay for education beforehand with the reserves, I am amazed we didn't already have this!
OriginalEmily1

Now this is a good idea.
dave

Thing I like about this is that there's no particular occupational caveat to it. It feels like there's a certain stereotypical mindset towards soldiers attached to the Conservative "educational plan" that channels them into Construction trades and Construction trades only.

Andrew (not PorC)

There's lots of really sharp people in the military. I've met a few at conferences.
Thwim

No, I think what it is is a certain stereotypical mindset toward post-secondary education.

The last thing the CPC wants are people who have been trained to think critically.

DBM

Michael Ignatieff’s plan is obviously to transform our rough and tumble soldiers into tea swilling liberal elites.

Freda

Pathetic remark DBM.

Holly Stick

Looked like humour to me. Anyway, aren't liberals latte swillers as opposed to rightwing tea partiers? What is really in those rightwing teacups?

Patchouli

Bile. Bitter bitter bile.
DBM

Yep, sarcasm.

Anon

There's a few reasons why "The greatest generation" became "the greatest generation." One of them is the GI Bill which allowed many men (it was mostly men at the time) to attend post-secondary institutions and receive an excellent education.

This set the stage for much of the economic growth that happened after that. If only we could get that now without the stultifying societal atmosphere, brought on in part because of the emotional damage many of these men suffered from witnessing the horrors of war and which they could only talk about at the Legion.

Richard_S_Argent

Yep, I remember my 1st yr Poli Sci prof talking about all the former soldiers camping out on the grounds of the University of Manitoba because there wasn't enough residence space to house them all.

Impressive, inspiring stuff really.