Liberals no longer promising to reopen Veterans Affairs office in Sydney

ya bigrex im sure that would be fine 2 -2/12 hour travel time for some aint that bad . bedeck is a little more central but anywhere on the island should be fine .

propat

ya I here that trooper haven't ever been to one some never do . but of those that get sent to the DVA doctor in st.johns as apposed to using there own doctor there seems to be a huge discrepancy in successful applications between the two. and it does seem that long distance correspondence often results in DVA paying your doctor for their services but face to face meetings with DVA staff seems to result in you seeing the DVA doctor .

but that's just my observation .

propat

Here in PEI, we have around 4,200 Veterans of all ages. Our DO was located in one of the 2 Vac HQ buildings. And it was closed. It could have remained with a smaller staff, and the folks could have just walked down the stairs to the first level where it was located.
And the ironey of it all, is now it is the CF recruiting office. Our one DVA lady they did place in Svc Canada ,which is also in the same building as DVA, and across the hall from the old DO, was truely overworked. And one would think that because we have the HQ you could just walk in there, and ask a ?. But you cannot even get past the door of the place.
Like you say teen even if they locate 2 client people, a CM, and the OSSIS coord into one smaller office that would work here. The folks we used to have in our old DO where awesome, before it went to shit. Alot of us suffer from mental wounds, and cannot stand in a line at Svc Canada, and like the one on one in a small office. We need all DO back..
As for the Legion on our second topic. I am not a fan. I joined it a few yrs ago. Then after I supported a Vandoo Comrade in front of DVA a few yrs ago for his 2 wk hunger strike, and not one person from our local legion came to say hi or show their support. I then threw there blazer in the gargabe can.
Have a great wknd all, and hopefully Sunny Ways are ahead for us Vets. VVV...

ya teen closing some of those offices was BS . if ya needed to reduce the staff fine I get that but closing the offices no way that should have happened in some of these cases .

I don't believe the last government were doing that because relocating employees to areas where they are needed while cutting reducing the total number of staff doesnt at all sound like that is what they were doing.

well been over 2 years im guessing 3 since I got a call may just be a trend all over the country buds who knows .

what I do believe is that putting a new office somewhere in Ontario that would be a half an hour drive from the next office when they could if possible increase the staffing at the existing office would make sense to me .

putting an office in Sydney where it is absolutely needed and would be used makes sense to me .

increasing staff in halifax 5-6 hours from places on that island to deal with those people makes no sense whatsoever .

propat

Here's the thing...the Liberals platform called to re - open nine service offices closed by the Harper government.

Mr. Hehr has came out publicly an said their going to do just that.
Mr. Hehr also said that the offices that were going to be re - opened may not necessarily be opened in the exact same locations as before.
This is what Mr. Hehr's explanation was in stating this ; we are going to look geographically to see where it will best ( SERVE VETERANS. )
In my own opinion I think Mr. Hehr is exactly correct in taking this approach , he is demonstrating that he actually cares about Veterans , he could have easily just re - opened those exact same offices in the same locations but instead is taking the time to look what's best for Veterans , I applaud him for that , an thank him for it.

Now with respect to re - opening offices in the first place it is obviously mixed opinions on rather to do so - or not with both sides holding their own valid reasons behind their own opinions.
Here's my opinion , I was always against the closing of those nine offices and I will tell you why , here is an example of an  experience I witnessed first hand , walked into a service office to speak with an officer to go through one of my conditions which I was getting ready for an appeal to have that condition increased , sitting in the waiting room with other Veterans waiting for my officer to call me in one Veteran started talking with me an told me that he was waiting also to see an officer , I told him it was my first time in a service office an he said don't worry about it this office has a contact with specialist for every condition related to Veterans Affairs , I was skeptical of what this guy was saying.....but once I was in with my officer towards the end he said OK follow me , we went into another office where a secretary was an he simply said to the secretary can you make an appointment with Dr.xxxxxx for Mr.xxxxxx an she said no problem , I asked who was this specialist , they both looked at me an said not to worry Mr.xxxxxx , this doctor is familiar with Veterans Affairs , an there is a summary of what is required embedded into the request.
So when it came time to see my specialist , I could tell that this specialist knew exactly what to write in his report an that report is what was used in my appeal which was increased substantially.

You won't find that kind of service in any service Canada center , that is one reason why I'm against the closing of any Veterans service offices.

Note: The specialist I saw an the specialist that service office used were all civilian specialist who all had civilian practices but that office did their homework in contacting those specialist to pass on the Veterans Affairs processes.

I saw that comment from the Minister, about the Sydney office. But that could mean that the office may not be at the same location. it might simply move to a smaller office, or one that has cheaper rent. the might even move it to one of the communities surrounding Sydney, like Sydney Mines, Glace bay or somewhere else completely, but still on Cape Breton Island

Well that is what happened propat the 9 offices were overstaffed so they were closed and a VAC employee was relocated to the Service Canada in the area. Looking back maybe a satellite office would have been a better choice.

Maybe that is what the Libs are going to do and go the satellite office way. Obviously the conversation was had or Hehr would have said we have not looked at opening the offices yet.

And I agree closing an office is BS. And staffing is the big issue and I hope the new hires are put in the proper DO's across Canada and in PEI.

When a phone call to me from CM every 2/3 years is considered making contact then yeah Mississauga is understaffed.

I like Rex's idea of putting VAC employees at every base. Most do have a VAC office that work with the JPSU/IPSC but a couple of VAC staff would really help.

staffing I think is the biggest issue . if there is too many staff in Sydney or Mississauga send some of them elsewhere as needed . if not enough staff bring some in from places they are not needed . it might be just me but that seems like structural organization 101 .

closing offices is BS !!!!!!

HEY if everyone is overstaffed fire some people ; understaffed higher some people .

propat

well lets see what the new leaders of this government does . hopefully things can improve . watching and waiting on that. the last closers were from people that thought the buyout was the greatest thing since sliced bread . sooo im thinkin they had a poor decision making paradigm unless it had nothing to do with giving vets proper service but just about cutting spending then they were right on the mark .

if the libs are different you WILL see the sydney office re-opened somewhere in the area with the appropriate staffing level . if not it would be one question answered about them at least for me . yep I like getting answers to questions in the form of words but answers in the form of actions thy are the ones I find the most telling.

propat

The 9 offices that were closed the people shouldn't get too upset. There is a great opportunity of a satelitte office opening in each area.

VAC DO's are and never were meant to be a "community center" for veterans. VAC is meant for the CM or CSA to come to the veteran to have that face to face time in the best place a veteran can be comfortable.....their home.

So as Rex said they can now put new offices where the concentration of veterans are. There isn't a dozen offices in Southern Ontario, all of Ontario maybe, but I can tell you a few more would really lessen the burden on my DO in Mississauga. Not to mention Montreal, Edmonton, Winnipeg.

So I am upset that a promise was broken but at the same time I am happy to see that the Liberals are going to use the 400 new hires where they are needed.

The problem most of us face propat is that we are ignorant....we don't know because we are there and we have to take someone else's word for it. If the vet population is there to support and justify it's existence.......well then that is a no brainer.

I guess the government knowing we are soldiers/ex-soldiers that we are fighters and as such we should fight for everything.......just not right.

There is lots of money to help veterans.......seniors.......homeless....hungry and sick children if only the government can prioritize.......but no.....they choose to spend billions by sending soldiers to fight to stupid assed war that is not even ours to fight just to show the world Canadians can be counted on to do anything.

I am sick and tired of our government giving your and mine money away to other countries when we have our own to look after and care for.

Riddick

well Riddick not all of the proper studies have been done for sure but something's are not hard to figure . talking to someone face to face instead of a phone call ore e-mail often results in a completely different tone to the conversation and a better understanding of the situation. some of the community leaders around that particular island have already touted some of the largest vet populations per capita in the country and if true I would say outside of large military bases the largest along with NFL . I visit these two places and they are the only places I go outside of large bases that I run into that large of a consternation of vets . not only ex military or ex infantry but its hard to go to these places and run into guys that were in my particular unit and even rifle section .

these guys just seem to want to go home to retire . of course the problem with these places is the overwhelming support for vets among the indigenous population and the inability to attract DVA workers to those areas that are not from there . this normally leaves you with a staff that has a great regard for vets that will try and get them the services and benefits they deserve . witch of course can get expensive.

personally  when it comes to getting vets what they deserve I don't really care about the budget a whole lot .

I do like bigrexes evaluation if you got one half hour away ok maybe not required but 5-6 hours not acceptable .

propat

I don't know why anyone be it JT, Mulcair....whomever would make promises that don't make sense (re-opening offices). Although you and I have not conducted feasibility and financial studies on these offices.......if there is a more economical way to do business then why not?? Why keep a gas station open that only has 5 vehicles stop in one day......it's a no brainer.....but put the funds into other programs or benefits for the vets! There are smarter ways of doing the same business...no??...... Although the MVA was not part of these decisions or campaign promises.....not really fair to him....guess he is part of them now.....baptism by fire!

It kills me how one government from the next calculates what their budget is, or what the deficit is, so differently from the next........again you and I are not the bean counters to confirm what is or what isn't.......The police have an independent office that polices the police........it is sad to say.....but we need an office to police our own government/Senate....pretty sad.

As for the Legion......ya........just a poster boy.......they need a backbone and call a spade a spade.......trying to be so politically correct and not hurt the VAC feelings by down-playing what is real and factual with regards to veterans. If they can't advocate on behalf of all veterans.....don't pretend........graciously back down and F-off

Riddick

well bigrex I here'd him in an interview on remembrance day where he was specifically asked about that office . he did say it some manner that it would not be good to state where they will open the offices at this time . he also said something to the effect that it would not be likely that the sydney office would be reopened in the same place it use to be . a vet interviewed afterwards didn't seem to mind as long as the office was reopened somewhere around the same area .

im thinking if any office is reopened in the same area it would be the Sydney office .

propat

Until they specifically say that they will not reopen the Sydney office, this is just more fear mongering. Some of the offices that were closed were relatively near other offices 30-60 minute drive. Not ideal, but certainly something that would not require an overnight trip. So they may not necessarily NEED those offices reopened. So instead of reopening offices in southern Ontario, where there are still a dozen offices between Toronto and Ottawa, they may open offices in Fredericton, NB, Corner Brook or Gander NFLD, Thunder Bay ON, Brandon MN, Saskatoon or Kamloops. Places that didn't have offices closed, but are large enough, close enough to a military base, or centralized enough, to warrant an office. I think another step that would be beneficial is having VAC staff at every CF base orderly room, because Veterans tend to retire close to military bases. That way Veterans could go to any Canadian Forces base for a face to face meeting, especially if there are no VAC offices nearby. This would also benefit those VAC clients who are still serving, and ease the transition out of the military.