A military watchdog calls for compensation for Afghan interpreters suffering from mental health issues after serving with Canadian forces
OTTAWA: So, there’s this report that just came out saying Ottawa really needs to step up for Afghan interpreters. These folks helped our Canadian troops in Afghanistan and now they’re dealing with some serious mental health issues.
The ombudsperson for the Department of National Defence, Robyn Hynes, is saying that the government totally dropped the ball on this. She’s pushing for independent assessments to see who needs compensation for things like PTSD.
Between 2006 and 2014, Canada hired 81 interpreters to work in some pretty dangerous spots. But when it came time for them to get help, they found it tough to access benefits. They’re not covered like regular military members, which is just unfair.
Even though Defence Minister Bill Blair has promised support, the federal government hasn’t really done much to help these interpreters yet. It’s a tough situation, and they deserve better.
This whole story was first reported by The Canadian Press on January 22, 2025. It’s definitely something to keep an eye on.
