Hillier to look at policy of cutting soldiers' danger pay

Last Updated: Friday, October 6, 2006 | 12:01 PM ET

CBC News


The head of Canada's military said Friday he's going to do something about the current practice of taking away the danger pay of wounded soldiers.
Gen. Rick Hillier said he heard about the problem last week, and has some "big-brained people" working on the issue.
The effects of the policy are being felt keenly now that Canada has soldiers getting wounded on a regular basis in Afghanistan
Trooper Jeffrey Hunter got the news his danger pay was being stopped shortly after he arrived at a military hospital in Germany, where he's on painkillers for a shattered leg.
Hunter, 23, was seriously wounded on Tuesday in a Taliban attack in Afghanistan that killed two other Canadian soldiers. He faces months of rehabilitation.
Under current military rules, if soldiers are injured and moved from Afghanistan, they lose their tax-free danger pay of $2,100 a month.
Military officials told the Toronto Star that the Department of Defence has the option of extending a solider's danger pay for an extra 25 days. The military usually exercises that option to extend the benefit.
The solider's father, Bill Hunter, of Aurora, Ont., is angry and upset.
"They said they'd pay up to 25 days after leaving Afghanistan. Is the prime minister telling me I can sit my son down in 25 days and say, 'Listen, son, you're no longer in danger.' I don't think so."
It is not known when the soldier will return to Canada for further treatment.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2006/...dangerpay.html