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Date Posted: May 12, 12:13:pm GMT-5
Author: Mister Eeeeeeee........
Subject:

MP shuns vet's plea: `You didn't vote for me'

The last thing war veteran Jim Baxter expected when he turned to his Liberal MP for help was a scolding for voting Canadian Alliance in the last election.

Jim Baxter 81

``How is it,'' wrote Tom Wappel, MP for Scarborough Southwest, ``that you are writing me for help if you did not think enough of my abilities to justify voting for me?''

Tom Wappel MP Scarbourough Southwest
(and completely arrogent dickhead)

The April 25 letter shocked Baxter, 81, and his 75-year-old wife Mary, who live in a small flat above a used-goods store on an unassuming stretch of Kingston Rd.

``I couldn't believe it. I had to have Mary read it to me a couple of times before it sunk in,'' said Baxter, who served during World War II in the navy and then later in the merchant navy. He is legally blind, partially deaf and had sought Wappel's help for a veteran's benefit he has been denied.

``I was surprised he knew how I voted,'' Baxter said. ``It really threw me.''

At first Wappel declined to comment on the matter, telling The Star through assistant Linda McNaughton to ``be careful what you write.''

Reached at a hotel in Halifax yesterday, where he is at work with the fisheries and oceans committee, the MP fiercely defended the letter, calling it ``not unusual.''

He said it was proper for a member of Parliament to send such a letter: ``I see nothing improper in asking people what their positions are and why they're not consistent in these positions.''

Wappel said it was ``his business'' how he determined that Baxter voted Canadian Alliance.

``It's like he fought for nothing,'' said Baxter's son, Jim, 54. ``My father fought for democracy and finds out now it depends on who you voted for.''

Elections Canada said Wappel's information didn't come from them.

``There are many ways I can get that information,'' Wappel said. ``It can be gleaned by anybody if they know what they're doing.''

He gave a few examples. For instance, taking note of who has a sign on his lawn. Or who is hosting coffee parties. Or who has sent a nasty letter to a member's office. Wappel said he'd tell Baxter how he knew if Baxter called him.

Baxter had written to Wappel in a last-ditch plea for help after Veterans Affairs Canada twice refused to grant him the special benefit which compensates merchant navy mariners not eligible for the same post-war benefits as armed-forces personnel.

He was turned down because he served in the regular armed forces for more than a year during the war. He felt this was unfair ``for a person who served his country not once, but twice.''

Baxter was discharged from the navy in 1943 after he was injured, thrown into a railing as a violent storm rocked his ship.

The next year he joined the merchant navy - which transported desperately needed fuel, equipment and other goods to Allied forces around the world - as a steam engineer. Again he was injured falling down a cargo hold. The war ended while he was still in hospital.

In writing to Wappel, Baxter wasn't interested in last November's federal election, just the benefit.

Baxter said he isn't politically minded. There was no party sign on the couple's second-storey window. He never signed a nomination form for anyone, and if any parties asked during the campaign, ``I told them I haven't made my mind up yet.''

Baxter confirmed he voted for Wappel in 1997. He voted for Alliance candidate Nabil El-Khazen in November ``because he was a young-looking fellow. They were a new party, I thought I'd give them a try.''

Wappel, who has held the seat since 1988, won easily last November.

``I look forward to going back to Ottawa to represent my constituents and raise their issues,'' he said after his victory.

``It leaves a very empty feeling in the pit of my stomach,'' said Mary, who last visited Wappel's office to pick up Canada pins to take on vacation. ``Darn it,'' she said, ``I've lived here all my life, and in the back of your mind you know (your MP) is there for you.

``We don't know that now.''

Wappel said it's not the first time he's written this kind of letter to constituents, inquiring why they'd ask for his assistance if they supported someone else.

Does their response help determine whether he'll help them or not?

``Very much so,'' he said. ``I can decide who to help or not to help.''

When contacted by The Star's Kelly Toughill last night, Wappel denied that he turned down Baxter's request for help and had only asked the senior to explain why he had changed his political support.

Asked if he was willing to help Baxter, Wappel said the senior should call him to find out. ``I'll talk to anyone, even you,'' Wappel said. ``Perhaps he should ask The Toronto Star for help.''

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Replies:

MP faces fresh trouble for second letter -- Mister Eeeeeeee......., May 12, 12:22:pm GMT-5
- Re: Wappel goes to the head of the classless -- Jim Coyle : Toronto Star Columnist, May 12, 12:28:pm GMT-5
  - demo-crazy... -- Cat, May 13, 07:33:pm GMT-5