A veterans advocate says the Canadian government is not showing the same dignity to the country's injured soldiers as it once did.
Michael Blais, founder of the Canadian Veterans Advocacy, says injured soldiers should be able to continue to serve in the military, even if they're not fit for deployment.
His comments come after two highly-publicized cases that saw soldiers who were injured in Afghanistan discharged from the military shortly before they qualified for a pension.
"I'm a walking example of how the old system used to work," Blais told CTV's Question Period.
The retired soldier suffered a back injury while in Cyprus on a UN peacekeeping operation in the 1980s and was medically reassigned to the Canadian Forces Dental Services.
"My government took care of me," he said. "The obligation was met. It's a sacred obligation. These men are not accorded the same level of dignity."
Veterans advocacy groups have condemned a decision by the federal government to medically discharge London, Ont., reservist Cpl. David Hawkins, who was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress following a mission in Afghanistan.
Hawkins pleaded to stay in the military until he hit the 10-year service mark, making him eligible for a fully indexed pension.
However, he was discharged under the universality of service rule that requires Canadian Forces members to be fit to deploy at all times.
Roughly 200 troops are medically discharged each year before they're able to reach the threshold of service that makes them eligible for a pension.
"I tried to find avenues to stay in the military," Hawkins said. "But I was still kicked out in the end.
"At least I got the word out that there are military members that are trying to stay in and they're being kicked out."
Another soldier, Cpl. Glen Kirkland, told a parliamentary committee in June that he was being pushed out of the military before he could collect a pension.
Kirkland’s medical discharge was eventually reversed and the government said the same would not happen to other soldiers. But Kirkland later said he’s quitting the military in solidarity with Hawkins.
Blais said there's no reason why soldiers who are medically unfit to serve overseas shouldn't be able to serve in Canada.
"These men fought. They have suffered in our name, and they want to continue to serve," he said. "They should have that right."
The federal government, meanwhile, has defended the decision to discharge some soldiers.
Answering a question from Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau during daily question period last week, Defence Minister Rob Nicholson said the department makes "every accommodation to keep soldiers."
And in a statement to CTV News, Minister of Veterans Affairs Julian Fantino said Sunday that the government is committed to supporting veterans.
He said since 2006, the Conservatives have invested nearly $5 billion in new funding to enhance veterans’ benefits.
"Put simply, the Government of Canada has substantially increased its support to veterans," he said.
However, Blais didn’t mince words when expressing disappointment with government's treatment of injured soldiers.
"They're saying: 'We're putting money into the system.' Well you bloody well should be. Look at all the people who have been injured under your watch."
With files from The Canadian Press
