Veterans Affairs changes not working, say vets after 1st year

Cape Breton veterans are asking for the publics support, one year after the closure of Sydneys Veterans Affairs office.

Last year, thousands of people marched in Sydney to protest the planned closure of the Veterans Affairs office.

That effort failed and on Jan. 31, 2013 when the office shut down.

A group of veterans and supporters are planning the "We're Still Here" anniversary event.

"The people I talk to, they're missing the face to face person, the counsellor, the person that's trained to deal with their situations, the person that we have dealt with some of us for 10 years,"says veteran VinceRigby. "For the newer people that were coming in, they didn't know exactly what you were going through, but they had heard the story 100 times and they knew how to deal with it."

Rigby served for 22 years, including time in Croatia, Bosnia and Germany.

He says, vets have tried the new system dealing with the one councillor left in Sydney, or trying to get problems solved over the phone to Halifax.

Rigby says after one year of that system, its clear its not working.

"Vets coming in from Afghanistan, they've gone through a lot of ordeals. So when you come home with PTSD or mental issues, going to a telephone to try to describe to somebody how you feel and try to get help is just not feasible for someone," he says.

Veteransgroups responded angrily last fall to news that the federal department responsible for their care and benefits was unable to spend upwards of $1.1 billion of its budget over seven years, forcing that unspent money to be returned the the treasury.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper replaced embattled Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino with retired air force officer and first-time MP Erin O'Toole.

Fantinofaced much criticism from some veterans because of thedecision to close regional offices and for a lack of support for veterans with mental illness.

Neeta Kumar Britton is helping organize a demonstration at the end of this month. She says, they want to send Ottawa a message: Reopen the local office.

"Number one, most important is we support their needs. Our veterans did a lot for us and we really, really feel like we need to support them and make sure that they have what they need as they return to their lives," she says.