Afghan war vets reject Anders' apology

Calgary West MP Rob Anders falls asleep in the House of Commons during Question Period in late 2011. Witnesses say he did it again at a committee hearing this week.

Edmonton Journal:

Calgary Conservative MP Rob Anders has apologized for describing two Afghan war veterans, who volunteer their time to help homeless former soldiers, as "NDP hacks" and supporters of Russian strongman Vladimir Putin.

Anders made the comments about Jim Lowther and David MacLeod, both former members of the Canadian Forces.

But when contacted Friday night and told of Anders' apology, the two men said they didn't accept it and called on him to resign from the Commons veterans affairs committee.

On Thursday, the two had voiced their anger that Anders fell asleep during their presentation earlier this week at a Commons veterans affairs meeting in Halifax. The men were detailing how their volunteer group, Veterans Emergency Transition Services, also known as VETS, was trying to deal with the homeless problem affecting former soldiers. In the last year the group has helped 13 veterans get off the streets and find shelter.

Anders said he never fell asleep and accused the men of being NDP supporters who had praised Putin.

However, both men are card-carrying Conservatives who have put aside partisanship to help veterans. Lowther has served in Bosnia and Afghanistan. MacLeod served in Cyprus, Bosnia, Kosovo and Afghanistan.

As for any connection to Putin, MacLeod pointed out that he had mentioned during the presentation that even the Russians took care of their former soldiers, offering them housing and setting up a hospital to offer post traumatic stress counselling to Afghan war veterans.

After Anders' comments were published, the two men issued an open letter to the MP.

"Mr. Anders, if you had a shred of integrity, you would provide both Jim and I with apologies and resign from the Standing Committee on Veteran Affairs," wrote MacLeod. "Veterans need people that are motivated, dedicated, are willing to communicate, and understand how a democracy works."

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