Opposition MPs are questioning whether a weapons manufacturer’s $500,000 contribution to a military mental health research centre represents a conflict of interest.

General Dynamics, one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of weapons and combat vehicles, is contributing the money over five years to support the recently established Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research.

The money will fund research into diagnosis and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and operational stress injuries. Officials say General Dynamics is the first non-government, non-university partner of the military health research institute.

But critics are wondering whether that partnership represents a conflict because General Dynamics is competing for Canadian military contracts.

The company has been awarded more than $5 billion in government defence contracts in the past decade, including nearly $300 million just last month to upgrade a fleet of light armoured vehicles.

“In their rush for a good news announcement, does the government really not see the conflict of interest created by General Dynamics’ contracts with DND?” Liberal veterans affairs critic Frank Valeriote asked during question period.

Government officials are dismissing any suggestions of a conflict, saying that corporate Canada should donate more money to similar initiatives.

The opposition has been slamming Veterans Affairs and its minister, Julian Fantino, saying the department has misguided priorities and is not providing adequate services and benefits for veterans.

Veterans have been demanding more support for those with PTSD and other mental health issues -- a growing problem among younger men and women who have returned home from Afghanistan.

A rash of military suicides in late 2013 and earlier this year highlighted many veterans’ struggles with PTSD.

CTV News has learned that another Afghan veteran died by suicide Wednesday night. Cpl. Scott Smith, a father of two, took his own life after returning home from a holiday dinner with his CFB Gagetown colleagues.

“This was somebody who was well respected, somebody who will be greatly missed,” said Phil Ralph of the Wounded Warriors group.

Smith is believed to have suffered from PTSD. His death is the 16th military suicide this year.

With a report from CTV’s Richard Madan