The closure of Thunder Bay’s Veterans Affairs office is a disgrace, said the past president of the Royal Canadian Legion Port Arthur Branch 5.
“It’s a damn disgrace that they’re biting back at the veterans again,” said Roy Lamore, also a Canadian navy veteran.
Nine Veterans Affairs offices across the country will be shut down in the next couple of years, including the one in Thunder Bay. That will make the next closest district offices in North Bay and Winnipeg.
By closing the Red River Road office, Lamore said they are closing a main source for veterans, both young and old.
But it’s the younger veterans Lamore is most worried about.
“They are the ones that are going to suffer, not only the older veterans,” he said. “It’s really disgraceful how they are handling the veterans.”
On Wednesday Public Service Alliance of Canada regional representative Judith Monteith-Farrell said the VA office is where veterans go for guidance on their benefits. Once the closure happens, veterans will probably have to use a 1-800 number.
Lamore said it’s hard to explain reports and documents over the phone, especially to older veterans.
“You’ve got to be one-on-one no matter where you are. If you are a veteran, you’ve got to get some good advice from Veterans Affairs,” he said.
The Ministry of Veterans Affairs is assuring people they will have the right people in the right locations to assist their veterans and their families.
Some offices may get bigger while others may become smaller, said Jean-Christophe de le Rue, a spokesman for Minster Steven Blaney.
“Veterans will continue to receive services and home visits from Veterans Affairs staff. There will be no reductions in our case managers who provide care and support to veterans in greatest need,” he said in a statement released Thursday.
“We will continue to meet or exceed our service standard of one case manager for every 40 case-managed veterans. Our government will continue to ensure our nation’s heroes receive the best possible care,” de le Rue said.
Lamore said he hopes the government changes their mind and the local office remains open and they “bring it back to something we can depend on.”
“Every so often there is something in the paper about harming and disturbing the veterans. When are they going to stop?” he said.
On Twitter: @JodiL_reporter
