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Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino stands in the House of Commons during question period at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Monday December 1, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Fred Chartrand

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By Murray Brewster, The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - Julian Fantino was greeted Monday in the House of Commons by opposition demands that he step down but how much of a political liability the veterans affairs minister may be for the Conservative government remains to be seen.

Smelling blood in the water, the third-party Liberals have launched slick online ads to capitalize on the outrage that followed the auditor general's critical assessment of how Veterans Affairs has been treating mentally ill ex-soldiers.

One such ad, which features the ex-soldier who successfully fought the government over disability pension clawbacks, says: "Veterans fought for us. They shouldn't have to fight their own government."

Both the opposition New Democrats and the Liberals piled on during question period Monday Fantino's first since auditor general Michael Ferguson tore a strip off the government for making soldiers with post-traumatic stress wait up to eight months to find out if they're eligible for treatment.

Fantino, who was in Italy last week attending commemorative Second World War events while controversy raged at home, brushed aside the criticism.

Opposition Leader Tom Mulcair called Fantino's recent absence from the Commons an act of "cowardice," and wondered aloud why he continues to have the confidence of Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

"He showed dereliction of duty by fleeing the country," Mulcair said during question period. "Will the minister for once do the honourable thing and resign?"

See the article here:
NDP, Liberals call for Fantino's ouster