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By David Pugliese

Angry veterans’ advocates say a Conservative MP on the House of Commons veterans affairs committee slept through their presentation about efforts to help homeless former soldiers.

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But Calgary MP Rob Anders, who is the target of the veterans’ animosity, said he never fell asleep and instead suggested they are NDP “hacks” who praised Russian strongman Vladimir Putin during the meeting.

Jim Lowther, president of Veterans Emergency Transition Services, said he couldn’t believe it when Anders slept through the group’s presentation at the Commons veterans affairs committee on Tuesday in Halifax.

Lowther said Anders came into the meeting 10 minutes late. “He was putting his arms up and rubbing his face,” said Lowther. “Then he started texting and then just slept for the rest.”

“He almost smashed his head on the table, he was that out of it.”

Liberal MP Sean Casey and Veterans Emergency Transition Services official David MacLeod also said Anders fell asleep. Casey said Anders has fallen asleep before at committee meetings.