Former Soldier on Hunger Strike at Veterans Affairs

Fabien Melanson is hoping his protest will lead to changes to Canada's veteran support system.

A former Canadian Forces member is on a hunger strike outside the headquarters of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Charlottetown, hoping that his plight will reform how veterans are treated in Canada. Fabien Melanson is on the 10th day of his hunger strike, which he started over a long-simmering dispute with Veterans Affairs over mistakes made regarding his pension when he was discharged in 2004. Melanson, who served in Bosnia and Croatia and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, says that while his strike was originally over five months of unpaid pension cheques, he's broadened his focus to the entire veteran-care system after hearing similar stories from former service members.