VIA offers free travel to CF members and veterans this July

Source: Viarail.ca

But not all people are happy about this offer. A lot of negative comments were left on the CBC news story. The third comment got a lot of people riled up.

For a limited time only, VIA is offering one qualifying adult passenger complimentary travel within Canada on any VIA Rail train. You can even book up to five immediate family members for travel on the same trip – and save 50% on their tickets as well. Travel must be completed between July 1 and 31, 2008.

To buy your tickets, please call 1 888 VIA-RAIL (1 888 842-7245), or TTY 1 800 268-9503 (hearing impaired).

Bill Savary:

Since when is it VIA's mandate to expend funds to support DND employees? They are not a gifting organization. They are a rail service; a Crown Corporation that benefits from federal programs and probably federal funding as well. I hope the Auditor General slams VIA and everyone along the line who had a part in this decision. It's a misappropriation of funs [sic].

For those of you hanging your hat on the tired "oh it's because our soldiers are fighting for our freedom" excuse, the VIA freebie extends to people who have never worn a uniform and who have no stake at all in any military or humanitarian actions or work whatsoever. It's ridiculous!

It would make far more sense to offer a freebie to seniors on a fixed income, or unemployed people traveling to attend a job interview, or parents of sick kids who are in remote hospitals, etc. DND personnel are general very well paid with all sorts of perks already, compared to a great many non-DND employees.

The Harper government with their American style 'patriotism' in the interests of supporting conservatism in all its forms has mobilized a great huge PR machine and plays with the sympathies and emotions of Canadians. I have no doubt this is part of the program.

Phil F:

Wow, we're truly turning into another America. Harper's conservatives are trying to turn us into a military state where members of the military machine are treated with special favours.

I do have respect for the men that risk their lives at our government's choice. But come on, I've worked plenty of jobs that are statistically more dangerous than the military. And why do National Defense employees get special privileges compared to other civil servants? Aren't all civil servants working for a common a goal?
I hope these "free" trips at the taxpayer's expense will at least be considered a taxable perk. Seems to me like the government is seeking ways to increase spending on its military without actually having it show on the budget. Because Via Rail is a crown corporation, its finances aren't part of the government's regular budget. But every person (non-military) that uses Via Rail is now going to pay for this military spending.

I'm totally disgusted by this promotion by our crown corporation.

Bobaubery:

What the heck, Hillier, Mackay and their gang are bilking us for billions with their payoffs to military contractors, why not a few bucks more for train tickets. I pray though that I don't have to sit next to one of those military goons on a Via trip