NATO Veterans Organization of CanadaOrganisation canadienne des vétérans de L’OTAN

19 May 2010The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, P.C., M.P.Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State ( Agriculture)Veterans Affairs Canada66 Slater StreetOttawa, OntarioK1A 0P4Dear Minister Blackburn,I am most pleased to congratulate you on your recent appointment as Minister of VeteransAffairs and welcome your efforts on behalf of Canada’s veterans. In respect of our members andas National President of the “NATO Veterans Organization of Canada”, I share your concern for our veterans and am committed to their welfare and support.The NATO Veterans Organization of Canada was formally established and registered on 17February, 2007 with the primary intent to commemorate the sacrifice of all Canadian veteranswho have served in NATO operations and to advocate to the government on their behalf as wellas to progress the interests of all other Canadian veterans. Our membership has quickly grownand now stands in excess of 1000 members – larger than either of the Peacekeeping associations.It also has the potential to grow significantly as we are presently involved in extending our mandate with doors open to all who have served in Canada’s military. As an example, I wasrecently pleased to welcome BGen (Retired) Duane Daly , former Dominion Secretary of TheRoyal Canadian Legion, as a Director and Advisor to our association.As an established and growing organization of veterans, I am concerned that Veterans AffairsCanada has not formally recognized the “NATO Veterans Organization of Canada” and has notincluded it along with other veteran organizations in meetings concerning the development of the New Veterans Charter, in commemorative activities in Canada, or as members of commemorative delegations abroad. It is requested that this oversight be corrected and that the“NATO Veterans Organization of Canada” be accorded full recognition and involvement as withthe Peacekeeping veteran organizations in Canada.