Stepping up for Afghan-Canadian language and cultural advisers and their families

Since LCAs are considered contractors, they aren’t eligible for mental health services from Veterans Affairs Canada, unlike the soldiers they accompanied in Afghanistan.

Liberal MP Marie-France Lalonde, left, Defence Minister Bill Blair, and Veterans Affairs Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor speak to reporters in the West Block on Dec. 5, 2023. Baseline awareness and understanding of the needs of language and cultural advisers are crucial for meaningful action, write Fardous Hosseiny and Brian McKenna. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Opinion

BY FARDOUS HOSSEINY, BRIAN MCKENNA

July 15, 2024

A small group of civilians, known as language and cultural advisers (LCAs for short), were a critical—yet largely unknown—part of Canada’s more than decade-long presence in Afghanistan. As recent immigrants to Canada, they were recruited to return to Afghanistan and su...

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