Congratulations to Afton Maisonneuve, this year’s recipient of the Sword & Scale Essay Contest run by the Military Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association. The prize is presented annually for the best scholarly paper in Canadian military law or justice, public policy or public affairs related to Canadian military law and regulation touching on military law or national security.

Her essay “Neither Charity nor Special Treatment: Amendments to Sustainably Modernize the Canadian Forces Members and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Act” provides a chronological overview of important amendments to the Veteran’s Charter and a discussion of future proposed amendments as well as a commentary on the practical challenges surrounding Veteran benefits.

Afton currently serves as an Infantry Reservist with the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa.  She will be completing her articling year in June and will be joining the firm as an Associate practicing in Real Estate, Estate Planning and Corporate law.  Afton will receive her award certificate on May 24 at the annual military law conference, and her paper will be published on the CBA Military Law Section webpage.