Veterans affairs minister says new Sydney office to open this November

Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehrconfirmed Wednesday that the new veterans affairs officein Sydney, N.S.,will be located at the former Silicon Island building on Wentworth Park.

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It will open in November. The official announcement wasmade Wednesdaymorning outside the new office, located at70 Crescent St.

The former veterans affairs office on George Streetis not available.It and several other departmentoffices across the country were closed by the previous government.

"The prime minister gave me an aggressive mandate to do more for Canada's veterans," Hehr told a crowd of veterans assembled for the announcement."Which means bringing improvement in areas that matter to them: financial security and independence, education and employment opportunities, mental and physical well-being."

Hehrsaid15 permanent staff members will be hired for the Sydney officetoprovide services to 2,200 local veterans and their families.

Each case manager will handle about 25 cases, he said.

"This is a real, substantial increase. We were seeing,when I first came in as minister, some case managers who had 40, even 50 [cases]," Hehr said.

It was a satisfying day for veteran Ron Clarke of North Sydney. He led an unsuccessfuleffort to prevent the closure of VA offices in 2014.

During the last federal election campaign, he was at the forefront of a movement by veterans to defeat the Conservative government of Stephen Harper.

Following Hehr'sannouncement, he said he felt as if he had won both the battle and the war.

"The war is over. We won," he said.

"However, you never, never think for one minute that there cannot be another war. This government is quite aware that if they don't keep their promises, they'll have another battle on their hands, which will turn into a war."

Clarke had high praise for the siteselected for the new office.

"This is an excellent location. Lookit: you're right near the park. It's nice and peaceful and guys like myself, with post-traumatic stress disorder,just to see that makes you feel great. It's just a wonderful feeling."