Updates

Resolutions must be forwarded to the office of the Regional Executive Vice-President by Wednesday, March 5, 2014. Please submit the resolutions in electronic format where possible to hladunm@psac.com. Resolutions may be submitted in either traditional or plain language format.

Ignoring widespread opposition across the country, on January 31, 2014 the federal government went ahead with plans to shut down Veterans Affairs offices in Corner Brook, Charlottetown, Sydney, Thunder Bay, Windsor, Brandon, Saskatoon and Kelowna. The office in Prince George closed last year.

Veterans mobilized and held protests and events across the country and PSAC was proud to be an ally and supporter of these events. Here is just some of the media coverage we received in the Prairies.

Coverage of Saskatoon media conference:

Despite the bitter cold––minus 25 with the windchill––more than 50 people gathered outside the Veterans Affairs Canada office in Brandon today to witness the closure of the office and the loss of face-to-face services to veterans. 

Veterans and their families have spoken out about why they need the face-to-face services these offices provide. These closures mean the loss of 90 front line workers including twenty-five Case Managers who work with high-risk veterans, and twenty-one Client Service Agents who have the expertise to help veterans access the programs and benefits for which they qualify. The offices also had administrative staff, local managers, pension officers, nurses and occupational therapists. None of these people are dispensable.

Veterans from Brandon and surrounding areas will gather outside the Veterans Affairs Canada office in Brandon this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. to witness the closure of the office and the loss of their face-to-face services.