The parents of a Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan last year came forward on Wednesday, claiming the Canadian Forces has failed to pay the full cost of the funeral for their son.
Lincoln and Laurie Dinning contradicted a claim from Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor, who said that the military had paid the full cost of each funeral service for troops killed during his term.
"We stand here telling you today we have not been fully reimbursed for the costs of Matthew's funeral costs," Lincoln said during a Parliament Hill news conference.
He said the funeral for Cpl. Matthew Dinning cost more than $12,000, but the military only contributed $5,600.
The Defence Department says it compensated one family whose funeral expenses outstripped the military's $4,675 burial stipend.
O'Connor told the House of Commons on Tuesday that since he became minister in early 2006, he has ensured that the full cost of each funeral has been covered.
Ninety minutes before the Dinning family publicly claimed they had been denied their rightful benefits, O'Connor and the chief of defence staff, Gen. Rick Hillier, said the department will cover more expenses linked with military funerals.
"Our support is unconditional," Hillier said. "Whatever the challenge -- be it financial or any other challenge -- we will do what has to be done.''
Liberals attack
"We saw a government holding a press conference at the last minute to try and justify their lack of support. How did the prime minister let this happen?" asked Liberal Leader Stephane Dion in Parliament's question period on Wednesday afternoon.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said O'Connor told the department upon taking office that the government would pay "all reasonable funeral costs, even if they exceeded the limits established by the previous government.
"I understand that the chief of defence staff have confirmed that is the case."
Harper said he understands there have been discussions between the Dinning family and the department, "and obviously it's not appropriate for me to discuss the details here in the House of Commons."
Dion said it took these "courageous parents to get the government to act."
Deputy Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said if the government's claims of discussions were true, "then why did the Dinning family have to hold a press conference in the first place?"
The Dinning family had to listen to the minister of defence question their integrity in the House of Commons, he said.
"Will the prime minister ensure that no mother, no family suffers this again, and will he take the first step and fire that minister of defence?" Ignatieff asked.
"It may have happened that for some reason, a few of the families may not have received the proper compensation," O'Connor said.
The department has been instructed to contact the families to make sure they have received reasonable death benefits, he said.
The Dinning couple told the news conference they still have not been reimbursed the difference between the allowance and the final bill, despite having filed two written requests to National Defence last year.
The Dinnings said they decided to go public after reading O'Connor's statement that all funerals had been paid for.
"After reading these comments my wife and I were offended and felt that our family's integrity was being called into question by Mr. O'Connor," Lincoln said.
"We stand here today telling you that we have not been fully reimbursed for Matthew's funeral costs, despite the fact Mr. O'Connor stood up in the House of Commons and told the Canadian people the exact opposite."
Laurie said she is an extremely private person, but came forward because she believes no other Canadian family should have experience the same circumstances.
"Some people may ask what benefit it is for us to be here today," she said.
"We don't benefit at all by coming here and putting ourselves in the public and governmental eyes. We stand here today praying that no other family should ever have to do this because their son was killed serving their country."
The limits on funeral funding for soldiers, sailors and aircrew have not been revised in nearly a decade. The military has put a submission before the federal Treasury Board for an increase. The request will be considered Thursday.
Another family
Another family of a member of the military who died a few years ago during a training incident told CP they paid more than $5,000 of their own money to bury their relative.
However, the family is reluctant to be identified because of the pain and frustrations they've already experienced.
O'Connor said he instructed his staff to update the payment system soon after he took office. However, he did not explain publicly why it has taken over 16 months to formally request the revision.
The average funeral in Canada costs about $7,500, CP reports, but that doesn't include the cost of a cemetery plot and monument, according to figures compiled by the Board of Funeral Services.
National Defence covers the cost of plots or cremation urns, as well as transportation of some relatives.
But it does not provide funding for flowers, donations, photos, register books, death notices in newspapers, church seating attendant fees and the reception after the funeral service.
With files from The Canadian Press
