Veterans Affairs Canada office reopens in Saskatoon

22^nd Street East location will serve approximately 2,900 Veterans

SASKATOON, SK, Nov. 30, 2016 /CNW/ - Veterans, their families and local officials today gathered for the reopening of the Veterans Affairs Canada office in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

The office is located on the 5^th floor, 101-22^nd St. East, Saskatoon, SK. The Saskatoon office will employ approximately seven staff who will serve approximately 2,900 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 Saskatoon office while it was still under construction. The Saskatoon office is the fifth of nine Veterans Affairs offices to be reopened across the country by May 2017. 

Quotes

"I am extremely proud to be reopening doors that were previously closed to Veterans and their families here in Saskatoon. 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 Saskatchewan 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

Quick Facts

• Reopening the nine Veterans Affairs offices that closed is a top priority in the Minister of Veterans Affairs' mandate letter.
• Offices were reopened in Corner Brook, NL on July 5, 2016; Brandon, MB on October 21, 2016; Sydney, NS on October 31, 2016 and Kelowna, BC on November 8, 2016. Offices will also reopen in Charlottetown, PE in December 2016; Thunder Bay, ON in January 2017; and in Windsor, ON, and Prince George, BC in May 2017. A tenth office will open in Surrey, BC in May 2017.
• Veterans Affairs Canada is hiring 400 new employees to help ensure that Veterans, Canadian Armed Forces members, RCMP personnel, and their families are provided with the best possible services in their own communities. This includes new staff to ensure case managers have a caseload of an average of 25 Veterans.

Associated Links

• Office Openings
• Points of Service for Veterans and their Families (Infographic)
• Points of Service (Infographic)
• Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Mandate Letter

SOURCE Veterans Affairs Canada

For further information: Media Relations, Veterans Affairs Canada, 613-992-7468, [e-mail]; Sarah McMaster, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs, 613-996-4649