An Afghanistan veteran from Windsor is crying foul over the news that the federal government will provide funding for military mental health.

Bruce Moncur says he's forever grateful for the chance to serve his country, but he's skeptical of the efforts made by the Harper government to help him and his fellow soldiers after they return home.

“I guess I'm just kind of weary because I've been burned so many times before," he says. "What I saw in Afghanistan and the bureaucratic red tape that I've had to deal with.”

On Sunday, the federal government announced $200 million over six years to support mental health needs of military members, veterans and their families. The Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces also announced an additional $16.7 million in ongoing funds that will be available.

Moncur claims upon returning home from war, he got a lump sum pension of $22,000 to retire on. After three years of recovery, with two separate brain surgeries, he says he never thought it would be as difficult to return to a normal life.

"I honestly believe the way I was treated when I came home plays about 50 per cent factor into the issues I face today," Moncur says. "I honestly wouldn't have signed up for the tour of Afghanistan."

Essex MP Jeff Watson is defending the new funding, saying it compliments programs already in place to make mental health assessments more available for veterans.

"All of this should be seen in the context of being good news,” says Watson. “We’ve made great strides before the new veterans charter came along, these programs didn’t exist.”

In the meantime, Moncur is currently seeking the federal NDP nomination to replace outgoing representative Joe Comartin. 

He says he’s been heavily involved in current veteran’s issues and awaits the riding nomination meeting.

Watson tells CTV Windsor, that the government is in the process of digitizing veteran’s health records in an effort to speed up the review process for certain health care programs.

With files from The Canadian Press.