Honour the Contract: A Canadian Veteran's Wake-Up Call from Washington
America Has a $16 Billion Advocacy Machine for Veterans. Canada Has Nothing.
I spent 6 days in Washington DC to learn how America advocates for its veterans. What I learned is that Canada is one hundred years behind and desperately needs to catch up.
You may be wondering how I ended up in the nation’s capital. Long story short - Crown Royal. Yes, that delicious, Canadian rye whiskey that everyone loves. Five years ago my battle buddy Mike decided to send a bottle to the boys and girls of the Gruntstyle Foundation that were sleeping on the steps of the capitol to get the PACT Act passed.
A few months passed and we serendipitously bumped into each other at the Military Influencer Conference and the rest is history. Since that moment, it’s been full steam ahead in creating a better world for Canadian veterans with the help of our American pals at Gruntstyle.
They get it.
To paraphrase Tim Jensen, the Chief Brand Officer of Gruntstyle and CEO of the Foundation, after touring his San Antonio HQ,
“If WE don’t remember what we did over there, who will?”
Why America?
I don't like reinventing the wheel. I like finding the best people in whatever game I’m trying to play and learn from them. In the game of veteran advocacy, the Americans are the best of the best. To put things in perspective, they’re the only nation on earth that has a dedicated health service just for veterans. There are obviously issues with its service but the fact remains that it’s still there and well-funded.
I created my company to help veterans. The Hard To Kill Podcast, Harden The F*ck Up book and the Veterans Getting Fit AF community are all part of an ecosystem to get veterans healthy and thriving. I fundamentally believe that we’re the next greatest generation and our countries need us healthy to solve the existential problems we’re facing.
It’s only logical that I get involved in the advocacy side of the house. So, last year I created a veterans walk after being encouraged to do something by Tim. I was pissed that nothing is being done about MAiD being offered to veterans by VAC. So messaged my network, got some free coffees and created “Veterans On The Canal” which is now an official 'Silkie Hike’ with Irreverent Warriors (the first in Canada, nbd)
Also last year, I headed to MCON and met up with Rob from the Veterans of Foreign Wars. I wasn’t sure what this organization was all about but after a few bottles of wine and some exquisite steaks at Gordon Ramsay’s Steakhouse, Rob convinced me that this was an organization I needed to pay attention to. So a few months later, I land in DC with my battle buddies, Mike and Jon, on an exploratory mission to learn as much as possible from the VFW.
A Side-by-Side Comparison
Unfortunately, Canada can’t compare itself to the United States when it comes to advocacy because we don’t have a single advocacy organization for veterans in Canada. The Royal Canadian Legion is a joke, primarily run by civilian weirdos and old men. When Rob asked me who he could collaborate with in Canada, I said he was looking at “it”. I’m done hoping that there’ll be an organization that will spring up and fight back against blatant government overreach. I guess it’s up to the good ‘ol fashioned senior NCO get ‘er done attitude to make this a reality.
Here’s a side-by-side numbers comparison between Canada and the U.S. veteran populations:
Number of U.S. Veterans - 16 million
Number of Canadian Veterans - 461k
Number of U.S. Veterans receiving medical care - 7.4 million
Number of Canadian Veterans receiving medical care - unknown
Number of U.S. Veterans deaths by suicide - 150k+
Number of Canadian Veterans deaths by suicide - unknown
Total dollar amount of claims recovered for U.S. veterans by the VFW - $16.2B
Total dollar amount of claims recovered for Can veterans by the RCL - unknown
I think these numbers alone speak for themselves. Canada doesn’t keep statistics on veterans because they don’t care about veterans. They don’t care about veterans because nobody is there to force them to care.
The Cost Of War
I think the most powerful statement that was made during the entire trip was by Commander in Chief of the VFW, Carol Whitmore.
“When some suggest that veterans’ benefits are too expensive, let us be clear … this is the cost of war.”
There is a movement afoot in the U.S. and Canada to muddy the waters regarding veterans’ benefits. Figures like Matt Walsh have gone on to say, “How can someone who is 100% disabled…possibly serve as a U.S. Senator?”
In Canada there’s not subtlety in the argument. Veterans Affairs Canada is just going to cut $4B over the next four years from veterans’ benefits without any discussion or a psyop to do it. Another hard-hitting quote from Carol Whitmore that sums this up well.
“Veterans should never have to fight their way through red tape just to receive the care they earned.”
She concluded by reminding every politician that service members sign a contract to protect their nation from threats, foreign and domestic and when they return home, battered and beaten from the years of war and hardship, they are to be taken care of by a grateful nation. As she stated so well.
“Veterans have fulfilled their obligation. Now the country must Honor the Contract,” Whitmore said. “Not partially, not eventually, not someday, but today, fully and faithfully.”
Canada must do the same.
The VFW Proposed Legislation
When I say Canada is 100 years behind compared to the Americans with respect to veteran advocacy, this is why. Take a look at what they’re able to propose in terms of legislation; not talk, actual legislation that gets voted on in the House and Senate.
The Major Richard Star Act - A bill to prevent an “injury tax” for wounded warriors. When an American service member receives disability cash, it gets clawed back from their actual pension. This act wants to remove that. Side note - this was voted down by Senator Ron Johnson.
Fully fund the DPAA - The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency that recovers the remains of fallen soldiers in foreign lands. They’re advocating to keep the funding at current levels due to proposed budget cuts.
“Service members are taught to leave no one behind. That commitment never ends,” Whitmore said.
The TAP Promotion Act - With nearly 200,000 service members leaving active duty annually, Whitmore raised concerns about inadequate Transition Assistance Program implementation – particularly for troops separating overseas. She called for the passage of the TAP Promotion Act to ensure seamless continuity of care and compensation.
“When Americans raise their right hand and volunteer to serve, this nation makes a solemn promise: if they are wounded, become ill or die in service, America will care for them and their families,” Whitmore said. “That promise is not charity. It is the binding contract between service members and the country they defend.” - Carol Whitmore
Innovative Therapies Centers of Excellence Act - Whitmore emphasized the need for cutting-edge treatment for traumatic brain injury and PTSD, sharing the story of Afghanistan veteran Joshua Starks, who found healing outside the VA only after a devastating personal loss.
“Veterans should not have to leave the VA to find healing,” Whitmore said.
Veteran Suicide Prevention Act - She called for written, informed consent for VA-prescribed psychiatric medications. This one is HUGE. And there’s a crazy story about it that involves Mike and I that I’ll share in another article.
Veterans’ ACCESS Act of 2025 - She called for clear benchmarks on wait times and travel standards.
“Veterans should never have to fight their way through red tape just to receive the care they earned,” Whitmore said.
The PACT Act - Warned that implementation must match intent.
“Passage alone does not fulfill the promise,” Whitmore said.
She urged Congress to ensure the VA aggressively applies its authorities to address unrecognized toxic exposures, including Vietnam-era burn pits, K2 veterans, submariners and others exposed in hazardous conditions.
The Takeaway
Canada needs to step up its advocacy game for veterans. I’d argue this is a massive national security risk if it’s not addressed. Canada wants to dramatically overhaul its military and spend a fortune on recruiting, training and modernizing. Yet, nowhere in this massive plan does it mention leveraging all of us who actually know how to fight wars.
All that aside, building an advocacy organization like the VFW can’t be done overnight. Canadian veterans are fractured, disorganized and demoralized. We’re going to need leadership like Walter W. Walters, who commanded the “Bonus Army” of 1932, to get this done.
What I’ve taken away from our DC experience:
Advocating for veterans is a moral obligation;
Power in numbers. Politicians don’t fear individuals without a posse;
Professionalism and clear messaging compel people to listen; and
Hammer your politicians with letters, emails and phone calls - it actually works
Honour the contract
THFE
Dave
A HARD TO KILL EVENT
Join us March 20th and 21st for The Biology Of Service Symposium - Service changed your body, learn how to fix your physiology.
Join our exclusive Veterans Getting Fit AF coaching community to help you put the pieces of your fitness puzzle together with live weekly coaching and programs made for you.
Or reading my latest, bestselling book,
As always, you can find out more by listening to the Hard To Kill Podcast on your favourite podcast player
Dave. Will send msg sepcor. Time to get involved. Time to get into the faces of MPs and bureaucrats for the sake of our brothers and sisters. I may be turning 60, I may be busted and broken, but my service never ends
Great work Dave. Check out my Substack. We should collaborate.