Stephen Harper defends Minister Fantino amid calls for his resignation

You had a feel a little bad for the Stephen Harper during Question Period, today, when opposition leaders railed against him for the actions of Veterans Affairs Minster Julian Fantino.

He was in a no-win situation trying the defend the indefensible.

On Tuesday, Fantino arrived late to a meeting with several 'military heroes' who were in Ottawa to protest the shuttering of nine veterans' service centres.

As explained by CBC News, the meeting ended with a "testy exchange."

"There are a few things [Fantino] should be told," WWII veteran Roy Lamore said at a post-meeting press conference, while calling on Fantino to resign.

"Taught manners is number 1, number 2 to respect the veterans, and number 3, it's time that he better wake up and give us a break on these things."

Fantino has since apologized, but the damage has been done.

Both NDP leader Thomas Mulcair and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau are now calling on the prime minister to fire Fantino.

"When the veterans complained that the minister had missed their meeting, he said 'I'm not going to stand here and listen to that' and he stormed out. How is that acceptable to the prime minister. Will the prime minister do the right thing, apologize himself and fire that incompetent?," Mulcair asked in the House, on Wednesday.

In turn, Harper defended his minister and the record of the department.

"The minister has apologized for the events of yesterday," he replied.

"But the fact of the matter is that this government and this minister have increased services for our veterans without precedent. This an important for our government, it always has been to protect those who wear the uniform and who once wore the uniform."

[ Related: Minister Fantino sorry for behaviour at meeting with aggrieved veterans ]

Certainly, closing the centres might be justified: The Tories are saying the move will save taxpayers $3.78 million a year and won’t hurt services at all; that veterans can access many of the services online or visit one of the 600 Service Canada offices across the country.

But picking a fight with veterans?

The issue, and the way they've handled it, opens them up for attacks like this one from former Liberal MP Dan McTeague

"[The Conservative government is] more interested in bean counting than they are in the affairs of the people that stood up and fought for this country," McTeague told Yahoo Canada News.

"It goes hand and hand with their absolute negligence in treating Canadians with disabilities, wounded soldiers. It is a very callous and calculated move in which money trumps heroes."

Certainly harsh words from at admittedly partisan politico. But, on an issue like this, it's too easy. It's also easy to chide the savings of a 'measly' $3.78 million —relative to what else this government has spent.

"This decision rests with Mr. Harper, the economist, the bean counter, the guy who has no qualms about sending 200 people on international vacations while at the same time leaving our veterans...to fend for themselves," McTeague added referencing Harper's delegation to Israel.

Ekos Research pollster Frank Graves, said that this issues like this "could" have a "corrosive effect" on the Harper government brand.

"The real question is whether this episode will take on symbolic significance and become a flash point for public disaffection for the perception of the government's hard hearted style in many areas," Graves told Yahoo in an email exchange.

"So the image of the government as black hearted accountant impervious to the tears of veterans may become a potent symbol . It also could amount to little.

"We know that sympathy for the military has risen over the past decade and that there are huge problems affecting veterans . We also know that our recent polling shows that the public lean to the view that government cuts have tipped to the point where they are causing serious strains in society."

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Regardless — the Tories should have expected this. What were they thinking?

Is there a worse 'demographic' to pick a fight with?

Single moms? Centenarians? Babies?

This is a battle they can't win.

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