Article content continued

The drive-time host, Cosmo Grant, invited the CHEZ Nation to air its views on the “flat earth society government” that requires veterans to verify their lost limbs because it thinks they are “like tadpoles — if they lose an appendage, it might grow back.”

“I’m laughing but I shouldn’t be. It’s horrendous,” he said.

Listener reaction, from a demographic that should be as onside with the Conservatives as the veterans, was blistering.

“I think we should test the ministers for their IQ every 10 minutes,” said one caller.

“It makes me sick and I think I’m voting Liberal,” said another.

How did things get so bad? Mr. O’Toole is a smart, decent man, but he’s trying to patch up an edifice that is teetering. In real estate parlance, the new minister bought the line that this department is a “handyman’s special.”

The truth is it needs to be rebuilt from the foundations to cater to a new generation of veterans. But reconstruction has to take place while parts of the building are still ablaze.

The minister has decided to take the high road, after the disastrous experiences of his predecessor, Julian Fantino. Rather than challenging veterans, by questioning the seriousness of their injuries or political affiliations, he is offering conciliation.

He has said that no one should ever have to verify a limb loss.

The letter Mr. Franklin received was clumsy and bureaucratic, he admits. Together with Walt Natynczk, the former chief of the defence staff who joined the department recently as deputy minister, he has set in motion a review of all correspondence to veterans.