The Conservative government laid on special military transport flights on three occasions to take Second World War veterans, their caregivers and cabinet ministers to commemoration events in Europe.
National Defence was asked to swallow the cost within its budget and some veterans advocates want to know why.
Documents obtained by The Canadian Press under access to information show Veterans Affairs requested the special airlift for anniversary celebrations in Italy last November and the Netherlands last spring.
Separately, the veterans department confirms a military Airbus was also used to take veterans to the 70th anniversary of the Normandy D-Day landings in June 2014.
Spokeswoman Janice Summerby says Veterans Affairs did not cover any of the costs associated with the flights, nor were ex-soldiers asked to contribute.
The federal government routinely sends official delegations to milestone anniversaries, but the minister, senior staff, veterans, and their caregivers fly commercial under arrangements paid for out of the Veterans Affairs Department's commemoration budget.
A memo prepared for former defence minister Rob Nicholson shows the cost of two of the flights was expected to be between $134,000 and $813,000, depending on whether the trips could be counted within the aircraft's regular flying budget.
The briefing warned the two flights had the potential of costing $1.3 million, if they fell outside the air force's annual budget.
National Defence was asked on Tuesday to disclose the final costs for all three trips, but did not respond to repeated requests.
Mike Blais, president of Canadian veterans advocacy, said the public deserves to know and questions why Veterans Affairs off-loaded the cost on an already cash-strapped military when its overall commemoration budget only saw minor reductions during the deficit-cutting drive.
"I have a problem with that," said Blais. "Veterans Affairs should have swallowed the cost. The Department of National Defence has been ravaged to the bone on resources."
He said few people would question giving elderly soldiers a final trip to the battlefields of their youth, but the department responsible for keeping the memories alive should have paid.
Federal departments routinely reimburse each other for expenses.
National Defence has its own budget for commemoration, known as Operation Distinction. But the memos show the airlift request last July from an assistant deputy minister of veterans affairs fell outside their plans. The two departments had previously agreed on the anniversary events and who would pay for what.
The justification in asking for military flights rested on the fact many of the old soldiers taking part were in their late 80s — or early 90s and it was "one last opportunity to appropriately honour and recognize" their sacrifices.
"Given the age of the veteran delegation, the use of Canadian Armed Forces air transport dramatically lessens travel stress and fatigue on the veterans," said letter to National Defence, written by senior veterans official Anne-Marie Smart on July 29, 2014.
Nicholson agreed and approved the airlift, as long as it could be done "through the reallocation of existing resources," according a Nov. 3 memo to the country's top military commander.
Blais said he's dealt with many veterans who wanted to attend 70th anniversary celebrations in Europe, but were unable to afford commercial flights for themselves and a caregiver, even with federal help to defray the cost.
This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.