Government of Canada committed to doing more for Veterans
CHARLOTTETOWN, July 28, 2016 /CNW/ - The Honourable Kent Hehr, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, joined Veterans and their families in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, today to announce that the previously closed Veterans Affairs Canada office will reopen in November, 2016.
The new Charlottetown office will be located at 1st floor, 191 Great George Street, Charlottetown, PE, and once opened, will employ approximately 10 staff who will serve approximately 2,000 Veterans. Staff at the Charlottetown 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 the building of new war memorials, and increased the survivor estate cash exemption under the Funeral and Burial Program.
Quote
"I am extremely proud to be reopening doors that were previously closed to Veterans and their families here in Charlottetown. They 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, 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
Quick Facts
- Reopening the nine Veterans Affairs offices that closed is a top priority in the Minister of Veterans Affairs' mandate letter.
- The office in Charlottetown will reopen November, 2016 at 1st floor, 191 Great George Street, Charlottetown, PE.
- Until the Charlottetown office is opened, Veterans and other clients can receive in-person services at the Service Canada location at the Jean Canfield Building, 191 Great George Street, and at the Charlottetown Access Center in the Daniel J. MacDonald building, 161 Grafton Street.
- The Veterans Affairs Office in Corner Brook reopened to Veterans on July 5, 2016.
- By May 2017, offices will reopen in Charlottetown, PE; Sydney, NS; Windsor and Thunder Bay, ON; Saskatoon, SK; Brandon, MB; and, Prince George and Kelowna, BC. A tenth office will open in Surrey, BC, and outreach will be expanded to Veterans in the territories.
- As of May 2016, more than 250 new frontline employees have been hired.
Associated Links
SOURCE Veterans Affairs Canada
Media Relations, Veterans Affairs Canada, Office: 902-626-2484, Cell: 902-314-1166; Sarah McMaster, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs, 613-996-4649
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