Opening VAC offices

Justin Trudeau to officially reopen Sydney Veterans Affairs office

Office was one of 10 shut down by the federal Conservatives in 2014

CBC News Posted: Nov 10, 2016 6:15 AM AT Last Updated: Nov 10, 2016 6:45 AM AT


Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will also be meeting with veterans at a branch of the Royal Canadian Legion during his visit to Sydney, N.S.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be in Sydney, N.S., Thursday to officially reopen a Veterans Affairs office that was shuttered by the Conservative government in 2014.

The new office opened on Monday and is located in the former courthouse near Wentworth Park.

Veteran Ron Clarke led the fight to have the office reopened, after it and nine others across the country were closed in 2014.

He launched the Anyone But Conservative campaign before the 2015 federal election as part of an effort to oust the Harper government over changes to services for vets.

'It's very relaxing'

Clarke said veterans are happy with the new location.

"It's a wonderful spot for the office," he said. "We're right on the park. And there's a balcony that goes outside and you can see the ducks on the water. And it's very relaxing."

The reopening ceremony will take place at 11:30 a.m. AT.

Later in the day, Trudeau and Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr will meet with veterans at the Wesley Street branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.


Veteran Ron Clarke launched the Anyone But Conservative campaign before the 2015 federal election as part of an effort to oust the Stephen Harper government over changes to services for vets.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/sydney-veterans-affairs-office-justin-trudeau-reopening-1.3844332[/b]

Trudeau to meet with veterans in Nova Scotia, open Veterans Affairs office

by THE CANADIAN PRESS
Posted Nov 10, 2016 2:00 am MST Last Updated Nov 10, 2016 at 2:40 am MST

SYDNEY, N.S. – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be in Nova Scotia today to meet with veterans and to reopen a Veteran Affairs office.

Trudeau is expected to be in Sydney at 11:30 a.m. for the opening of the Veteran Affairs office in the Cape Breton city.

The former Veteran Affairs office was closed under the Harper government, along with several others across the country, as a cost-saving measure.

In Sydney, protests were held to try to convince the Conservatives to reconsider the closure.

Ottawa says the new office is located on Crescent Street and will employ 15 staff who will serve approximately 2,200 veterans.

At about 12:30 p.m., Trudeau will meet with veterans at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 128 in Sydney.

http://www.660news.com/2016/11/10/trudeau-to-meet-with-veterans-in-nova-scotia-open-veterans-affairs-office/

Veterans Affairs Canada office reopens in Kelowna

Queensway Avenue location will serve approximately 3,500 Veterans

November 8, 2016 — Kelowna (British Columbia) — Veterans Affairs Canada

Veterans, their families and local officials today joined Stephen Fuhr, Member of Parliament for Kelowna–Lake Country, on behalf of the Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, for the reopening of the Veterans Affairs Canada office in Kelowna, British Columbia.

The office is located on the 1st floor of 471 Queensway Avenue, Kelowna, BC. The Kelowna office will employ approximately nine staff who will serve approximately 3,500 Veterans in the area. Staff at the office will answer questions about VAC services and benefits; arrange pension medical examinations; and, assist Veterans to complete and submit applications and receipts. Case-managed Veterans will also be able to meet with their case manager.

In August, Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr visited the Kelowna office while it was still under construction. The Kelowna office is the third of nine Veterans Affairs offices to be reopened across the country by May 2017.

“I am extremely proud to be reopening doors that were previously closed to Veterans and their families here in Kelowna. They have selflessly answered the call to serve our country, and now we are answering their call by enhancing financial benefits, restoring and expanding access to critical services, expanding service in British Columbia and the territories, and hiring more frontline staff. This was part of our commitment to Canadians, and we stand by this promise.”

The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

“I am pleased to officially reopen Veterans Affairs Canada doors here in Kelowna so that approximately 3,500 Veterans in this area, as well as their families, will once again receive important in-person services and care from Veterans Affairs Canada.”

Stephen Fuhr, Member of Parliament for Kelowna-Lake Country

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1150179

Veterans Affairs Canada office reopens in Brandon.

Princess Avenue location will serve approximately 2,400 Veterans.

October 21, 2016 — Brandon — Veterans Affairs Canada

Veterans, their families and local officials today joined Doug Eyolfson, Member of Parliament for Charleswood–St. James–Assiniboia–Headingley, on behalf of the Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, for the reopening of the Veterans Affairs Canada office in Brandon, Manitoba.

The office is located on the 1st floor of the Brandon Federal Building at 1039 Princess Avenue. The Brandon office will employ approximately nine staff who will serve approximately 2,400 Veterans in the area. Staff at the office will answer questions about VAC services and benefits; arrange pension medical examinations; and, assist Veterans to complete and submit applications and receipts. Case-managed Veterans will also be able to meet with their case manager.

During the summer months, Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr visited the Brandon office while it was still under construction. The Brandon office is the second of nine Veterans Affairs offices to be reopened across the country by May 2017.

“I am extremely proud to be reopening doors that were previously closed to Veterans and their families here in Brandon. They have selflessly answered the call to serve our country, and now we are answering their call by enhancing financial benefits, restoring and enhancing access to critical services, expanding service in British Columbia and the territories, and hiring more frontline staff. This was part of our commitment to Canadians, and we stand by this promise.”

The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

“It’s my pleasure to be here in Brandon today to officially reopen the Veterans Affairs Canada office. This office is important to Veterans and their families, and providing access to the services Veterans and their families need, when and where they need them, is a priority for the Government of Canada.”

Doug Eyolfson, Member of Parliament for Charleswood–St. James–Assiniboia–Headingley

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1141159

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/veterans-affairs-offices-open-may-2017-1.3742862


CBC closed comments on the story after only 5 submissions. Probably a good idea, because the first one was someone on a rant.

Hear Hear!

I think that speach is the only one the MVA knows how to say. Over and Over and Over again. The offices are great, but move on and tell us how the other mandated promises are coming along..VVV..

Veterans Affairs Canada office in Prince George to reopen by May 2017.

Aug. 29, 2016

Government of Canada committed to doing more for Veterans

PRINCE GEORGE, BC, Aug. 29, 2016 /CNW/ - The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, joined Veterans and their families in Prince George, British Columbia, today to announce that the previously closed Veterans Affairs Canada office will reopen by May 2017.

The new Prince George office will be located on the 4th floor at 299 Victoria Street, and once opened, will employ approximately five staff who will serve approximately 1,200 Veterans. Staff at the Prince George office will answer questions about VAC services and benefits; arrange pension medical examinations; and assist Veterans to complete and submit applications and receipts. Case-managed Veterans will also be able to meet with their case manager.

The Department is continuing to hire up to 400 new employees to help ensure that Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members, RCMP personnel, and their families are provided with the best possible services when and where they need them. Hiring new employees will permit the Department to reduce case managers' caseloads to a maximum of 25 Veterans.

As part of today's announcement, Minister Hehr reaffirmed the Government of Canada's commitment to do more for Veterans. Budget 2016 committed $5.6 billion to improve Veterans' benefits and services, including increased payments under the Disability Award and the Earnings Loss Benefit, and expanded access to the Permanent Impairment Allowance. Veterans Affairs Canada has also expanded its Commemorative Partnership Program to allow funding for the building of new war memorials, and increased the survivor estate cash exemption under the Funeral and Burial Program.

"I am extremely proud to be reopening doors that were previously closed to Veterans and their families here in Prince George. They have selflessly answered the call to serve our country, and now we are answering their call by enhancing financial benefits, restoring and expanding access to critical services, expanding service in British Columbia and the territories, and hiring more frontline staff. This was part of our commitment to Canadians, and we stand by this promise."
The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

http://www.montrealgazette.com/business/cnw/release.html?rkey=20160829C6255&filter=5611

The system is improving .... It improved under the conservatives somewhat and it continues as we speak ...the disabled vets "life road " isn't painted in silver & gold ... But we must keep up the bitching,calling out the issues and before we die life will be better for those that follow us ... Hopefully !

Nope teen I'm pissed at this also I've just been sitting back and watching the gong show our MVA is putting on with these announcements I truly believe they think this will keep us all happy NOT

And the money wasting, photo op, useless tour continues.

Am I the only one getting somewhat pissed off at this?

Veterans Affairs Canada office in Kelowna to reopen November 2016
Government of Canada committed to doing more for Veterans

August 16, 2016 — Kelowna, BC

The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, joined Veterans and their families in Kelowna, British Columbia, today to announce that the previously closed Veterans Affairs Canada office will reopen in November 2016.

The new Kelowna office will be located at 1st floor, 471 Queensway Avenue, Kelowna, BC, and once opened, will employ approximately nine staff who will serve approximately 3500 Veterans. Staff at the Kelowna office will answer questions about VAC services and benefits; arrange pension medical examinations; and, assist Veterans to complete and submit applications and receipts. Case-managed Veterans will also be able to meet with their case manager.

The Department is continuing to hire up to 400 new employees to help ensure that Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members, RCMP personnel, and their families are provided with the best possible services when and where they need them. Hiring new employees will permit the Department to reduce case managers’ caseloads to a maximum of 25 Veterans.

As part of today’s announcement, Minister Hehr reaffirmed the Government of Canada’s commitment to do more for Veterans. Budget 2016 committed $5.6 billion to improve Veterans’ benefits and services, including increased payments under the Disability Award and the Earnings Loss Benefit, and expanded access to the Permanent Impairment Allowance. Veterans Affairs Canada has also expanded its Commemorative Partnership Program to allow funding for the building of new war memorials, and increased the survivor estate cash exemption under the Funeral and Burial Program.

“I am extremely proud to be reopening doors that were previously closed to Veterans and their families here in Kelowna. They have selflessly answered the call to serve our country, and now we are answering their call by enhancing financial benefits, restoring and expanding access to critical services, expanding service in British Columbia and the territories, and hiring more frontline staff. This was part of our commitment to Canadians, and we stand by this promise.”

The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence.

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1111739

I'd really like to know why veterans think they have to go to VAC?  VAC comes to you.  Always has always will.  I have never gone to a VAC office to fill out paperwork or applications.  If I had a problem I called.  If the problem was too much I made them come to me and they did without hesitation.

The only thing I had to always go to VAC for was appeals. So why aren't we vets screaming for more BPA offices for appeal hearings? I know I sure as hell have because there is far more appeals then visits to VAC offices.

Military veterans applaud reopening of Windsor office.

August 12, 2016

While he never considers it a personal burden, Second World War veteran Larry Costello said he’s happy to soon no longer have to drive old soldiers to the nearest Veterans Affairs office in London.

“I’m still driving — I’ll be 92 on December 12,” he said Friday at an event announcing the reopening of the Windsor Veteran Affairs office. As a service officer for veterans, Costello said he would regularly drive others down the 401 to their London appointments nearly three hours away.

Next spring, a new office is opening on the sixth floor of 1 Riverside Dr. W. in downtown Windsor. It will have 17 staff and serve approximately 2,800 veterans, federal Veteran Affairs Minister Kent Hehr told a Windsor gathering.

“I think it’s a great day for us,” said Bob Kelly, one of a number of veterans at the announcement.

For those who have “done this nation proud,” said Hehr, it was important to restore local service levels. He said 400 new employees will be added to boost the number of staff serving veterans, including frontline workers at nine Veteran Affairs offices being reopened after they were shuttered by the Conservatives two years ago to much protest across Canada.

Hehr couldn’t provide an exact date for the reopening — “as quickly as we can” — or the anticipated cost of the new Windsor operation. The Liberals previously announced they were committing $78.1 million over five years nationally.

“The personal touch is important — when our veterans ask for help, they need help now,” said Theresa Charbonneau, who works with veterans. The mother of Windsor soldier Andrew Grenon, who was killed in Afghanistan, Charbonneau said many of the veterans who need help the most are elderly and either don’t have a computer or don’t know how to use one to access information and assistance.

“The new system wasn’t serving those people,” said MP Tracey Ramsey (NDP—Essex).

The three local NDP MPs attended the announcement, and their efforts were acknowledged by Hehr.

“A thank you goes to the community for fixing this … it’s positive we’re getting this done,” said Windsor West’s Brian Masse.

More than 4,000 Veterans Affairs service requests came out of the Windsor area last year, said Ramsey.

Closing local offices “clearly did not work,” Hehr told reporters. He said the complaints he heard on the election trail last year became louder and more numerous after he was appointed minister last fall.

Some of the problems encountered, said the minister, involved veterans and their families seeking help and support to get physical evaluations or for counselling, as well as with long waiting times encountered “for simple benefits.”

Costello, who served in the navy during the Battle of the Atlantic, the single-longest fighting engagement of the Second World War, said reopening the Windsor office is “a very important (sign) that they care enough.”

Hehr was in Brandon, Man., Saskatoon, Sask., and Thunder Bay in the days preceding his Windsor visit to share the same good news. He attended the official reopening of the Cornerbrook, N.L., office in July before visiting Charlottetown, P.E.I., and Sydney, N.S., to make similar announcements.

Next Tuesday, a staff member said, it’s Kelowna, B.C., and then Prince George, B.C., at the end of the month.

http://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/minister-announces-new-windsor-veterans-affairs-office

Veterans Affairs Canada office in Windsor to reopen spring 2017.

August 12, 2016

The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, joined Veterans and their families in Windsor, Ontario, today to announce that the previously closed Veterans Affairs Canada office will reopen by spring 2017.

The new Windsor office will be located on the 6th floor at 1 Riverside Drive West, Windsor, ON, and once opened, will employ approximately 17 staff who will serve approximately 2800 Veterans. Staff at the Windsor office will answer questions about VAC services and benefits; arrange pension medical examinations; and, assist Veterans to complete and submit applications and receipts. Case-managed Veterans will also be able to meet with their case manager.

The Department is continuing to hire up to 400 new employees to help ensure that Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members, RCMP personnel, and their families are provided with the best possible services when and where they need them. Hiring new employees will permit the Department to reduce case managers’ caseloads to a maximum of 25 Veterans.

As part of today’s announcement, Minister Hehr reaffirmed the Government of Canada’s commitment to do more for Veterans. Budget 2016 committed $5.6 billion to improve Veterans’ benefits and services, including increased payments under the Disability Award and the Earnings Loss Benefit, and expanded access to the Permanent Impairment Allowance. Veterans Affairs Canada has also expanded its Commemorative Partnership Program to allow funding for the building of new war memorials, and increased the survivor estate cash exemption under the Funeral and Burial Program.

“I am extremely proud to be reopening doors that were previously closed to Veterans and their families here in Windsor. They have selflessly answered the call to serve our country, and now we are answering their call by enhancing financial benefits, restoring and expanding access to critical services, expanding service in British Columbia and the territories, and hiring more frontline staff. This was part of our commitment to Canadians, and we stand by this promise.”

The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1110429