tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12120154256677444762024-03-14T01:04:28.151-04:00The Canadian Veterans AdvocacyCanadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.comBlogger472125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-67391440731155754332020-05-17T13:56:00.001-04:002020-05-17T13:56:32.910-04:00New announcement: Canadian Forces soldiers infected with COVID195 soldiers serving in Quebec, Ontario nursing homes test positive for COVID-19
<br><a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid19-soldiers-nursing-homes-1.5571607">https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid19-soldiers-nursing-homes-1.5571607</a>
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<br>COVID-19: 5 soldiers on duty in Quebec and Ontario
<br><a href="https://www.fr24news.com/a/2020/05/covid-19-5-soldiers-on-duty-in-quebec-and-ontario.html">https://www.fr24news.com/a/2020/05/covid-19-5-soldiers-on-duty-in-quebec-and-ontario.html</a>
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<br>Cinq militaires infect?s par la COVID-19 au Qu?bec et en Ontario
<br><a href="https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1703423/coronavirus-covid-19-militaires-infectes-quebec-ontario-chsld">https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1703423/coronavirus-covid-19-militaires-infectes-quebec-ontario-chsld</a>
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<br>COVID-19 cases in the Canadian Armed Forces
<br><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/campaigns/covid-19-military-response.html?utm_source=covid-campaign&utm_medium=heading&utm_campaign=covid19">https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/campaigns/covid-19-military-response.html?utm_source=covid-campaign&utm_medium=heading&utm_campaign=covid19</a>
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<br>You can view the full announcement by following this link:
<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17452.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17452.0</a>
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<br>Regards,
<br>The My Community Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-60696867334743942982019-02-21T23:05:00.001-05:002019-02-21T23:05:56.532-05:00New announcement: Canadian Armed Forces TG APPMy Transition Services by Canadian Defence Academy (Dept. of National Def.) <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/my-transition-services/id1439355659?mt=8">https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/my-transition-services/id1439355659?mt=8</a>
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<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17451.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17451.0</a>
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<br>Regards,
<br>The My Community Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-4313541923979759902018-09-08T22:31:00.001-04:002018-09-08T22:31:30.268-04:00New announcement: Canadian Veteran, much higher suicide rateDid you know that Canadian Veterans have a much higher suicide rate than civilians? - <a href="https://tgam.ca/2wKeBXF">https://tgam.ca/2wKeBXF</a><p>Over 30% of veterans report having difficulty adjusting back to normal life after service. - <a href="https://bit.ly/2hWHt7y">https://bit.ly/2hWHt7y</a><p>Veterans reported chronic conditions, including arthritis (29%), depression (21%), anxiety (15%), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (14%), at higher prevalences than Canadians of comparable age and sex. - <a href="https://bit.ly/2hWHt7y">https://bit.ly/2hWHt7y</a><p>These men and women put so much on the line to defend the freedoms we so freely enjoy. <p>They deserve our honour and support.<p>This week we have the honour of talking to one of Canada's best about some of the above issues. His name is Mike Blais, one of our vets. He is also the President and Founder of the Canadian Veterans Advocacy. <a href="http://www.canadianveteransadvocacy.com/">http://www.canadianveteransadvocacy.com/</a><p>We hope you can join us for this importan conversation for our nation.<p>AIR TIMES / DETAILS:<p>Topic: Canada's Veterans<br>Guest: Mike Blais, Canadian Veterans Advocacy, <a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/</a><p>We hope you can join us.<p>---> Vision at 9:30am EST (6:30am PST/7:30am MST/CST)<p>---> Daystar at 8:30pm (5:30pm PST/6:30pm MST/CST)<p>---> YES TV Edmonton and Calgary 9:00pm MST<p>---> YES TV Ontario 9:30pm EST<p>Daystar also **LIVE STREAMS** it. Daystar Canada @ 8:30 EST Live Stream - <a href="http://canada.daystar.com/">http://canada.daystar.com/</a>…/live-stream/<p>Once it airs on TV it will be posted on our site at <a href="http://www.faytene.tv/">http://www.faytene.tv/</a> so you can also watch it there.<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/faytenetv/videos/1889327824489611/">https://www.facebook.com/faytenetv/videos/1889327824489611/</a><p>To unsubscribe from these announcements, login to the forum and uncheck "Receive forum announcements and important notifications by email." in your profile.<p>You can view the full announcement by following this link:<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17415.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17415.0</a><p>Regards,<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-3120933035897006812018-04-01T15:02:00.001-04:002018-04-01T15:02:23.574-04:00New announcement: April 1st 2018: Veterans Emergency Fund / Fonds durgence pour les veterans CaApril 1st 2018: Veterans Emergency Fund / Fonds d'urgence pour les veterans – Caregiver Recognition Benefit / Allocation de reconnaissance pour aidant<p>Veterans Emergency Fund<p>Issuing Authority: Director General, Policy and Research Division<br>Effective Date: April 1, 2018<p><a href="http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/about-us/policy/document/2690">http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/about-us/policy/document/2690</a><p>Fonds d'urgence pour les vétérans<p>Autorité compétente : Directrice générale, Politique et recherche<br>Date d'entrée en vigueur : 1 avril 2018<p><a href="http://www.veterans.gc.ca/fra/about-us/policy/document/2690">http://www.veterans.gc.ca/fra/about-us/policy/document/2690</a><p>Caregiver Recognition Benefit<p>Issuing Authority: Director General, Policy and Research Division<br>Effective Date: April 1, 2018<p><a href="http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/about-us/policy/document/2692">http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/about-us/policy/document/2692</a><p>Overpayments – Caregiver Recognition Benefit<p>Issuing Authority: Director General, Policy and Research Division<br>Effective Date: April 1, 2018<p><a href="http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/about-us/policy/document/2691">http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/about-us/policy/document/2691</a><p>Allocation de reconnaissance pour aidant<p>Autorité compétente : Directeur général, Politiques et Recherche<br>Date d'entrée en vigueur : 1 avril 2018<p><a href="http://www.veterans.gc.ca/fra/about-us/policy/document/2692">http://www.veterans.gc.ca/fra/about-us/policy/document/2692</a><p>Trop-perçus – Allocation de reconnaissance pour aidant<p>Autorité compétente : Directrice générale, Politique et recherche<br>Date d'entrée en vigueur : 1 avril 2018<p><a href="http://www.veterans.gc.ca/fra/about-us/policy/document/2691">http://www.veterans.gc.ca/fra/about-us/policy/document/2691</a><p>To unsubscribe from these announcements, login to the forum and uncheck "Receive forum announcements and important notifications by email." in your profile.<p>You can view the full announcement by following this link:<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17314.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17314.0</a><p>Regards,<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-31199824458211278582018-03-05T21:16:00.001-05:002018-03-05T21:16:39.966-05:00New announcement: Lt (ret) Wolf Solkin on the Transfer of Ste Anne to the Prov of QuebecLt (ret) Wolf Solkin on the Transfer of Ste Anne to the Prov of Quebec
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<br>April 3rd Lt (ret) Solkin received his Quilt of Valor.
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<br>Please listen to Lt Solkin explain how Ste Anne is going down hill from its transfer to the provincial (Quebec)
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<br>Lt Solkin is an advocate for residents of Ste Anne for many years now. Please share and listen very carefully. Encourage Wolf in his advocacy by emailing him <a href="mailto:wolfsolkin@icloud.com">wolfsolkin@icloud.com</a>
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<br>Click on the link: <a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?board=198">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?board=198</a>
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<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17298.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17298.0</a>
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<br>Regards,
<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-36904376915159754292018-02-16T23:56:00.001-05:002018-02-16T23:56:35.504-05:00New announcement: FOCUS GROUP - Quebec City, Winnipeg, Halifax Groupes de DiscussionsFOCUS GROUP - Quebec City, Winnipeg, Halifax<br>Groupes de Discussions - Quebec City, Winnipeg, Halifax<br>(le français suit l'anglais)<br>Dear Stakeholder,<br>Veterans Affairs Canada is developing new print and online materials to help keep Veterans and their families informed about the Department's new services and benefits. As these products are being developed, VAC would like to ask for your assistance in engaging members of your organization to share their opinions at upcoming focus groups, to be held in Halifax, Winnipeg and Quebec City, beginning in late-February. <br>These focus groups will include up to 10 participants, mainly Canadian Veterans, but also some family members (spouses, children over 18) and caregivers, if possible. Participation in the focus groups is confidential and no personal details will be retained or shared. <br>Léger research firm is hosting the focus groups on behalf of VAC. Each session will be up to two hours. The locations being used for the sessions are accessible and free parking is available. <br>The results of these focus groups will become part of a public opinion research report. Veterans Affairs Canada is required to post the report to the Library and Archives Canada website within six months following the end of the focus group sessions.<br>I would be most grateful if you would share this opportunity with your membership in these cities. <br>Interested participants should contact Léger: Sylvie Dupuis, Director Qualitative Research, Email: <a href="mailto:sdupuis@leger360.com">sdupuis@leger360.com</a>, Telephone:<br>514-982-2464 (ext. 105) with any queries they may have or to find out more information or express interest in participating. <br>-----<br>Madame, Monsieur,<br>Anciens Combattants Canada travaille à l'élaboration de documents imprimés et en ligne pour tenir les vétérans et leur famille au courant des nouveaux services et avantages offerts par le Ministère. Pendant que l'on procède à la mise au point de ces produits, nous vous demandons votre aide afin que vous mobilisiez les membres de votre organisation pour qu'ils expriment leur opinion lors des prochains groupes de discussions qui auront lieu à Halifax, à Winnipeg et à Québec à compter de la mi-février. <br>Ces groupes de discussion compteront un maximum de dix participants, principalement des vétérans canadiens, mais également certains proches (conjoints, enfants de plus de 18 ans) et des aidants, dans la mesure du possible. La participation aux groupes de discussion est confidentielle et aucun renseignement personnel ne sera conservé ou partagé. <br>La firme de recherche Léger tiendra les groupes de discussion au nom d'ACC. Chaque séance durera environ deux heures. Les lieux utilisés pour les séances sont accessibles et il y du stationnement gratuit. <br>Les résultats de ces groupes de discussions seront intégrés à un rapport de recherche sur l'opinion publique. Anciens Combattants Canada doit afficher le rapport sur le site Web de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada dans les six mois suivant la fin des séances des groupes de discussion.<br>Je vous saurais gré de communiquer cette occasion à vos membres qui résident dans ces villes. <br>Les personnes qui aimeraient participer doivent communiquer avec Léger:<br>Sylvie Dupuis, directrice de la recherche qualitative, par courriel à <a href="mailto:sdupuis@leger360.com">sdupuis@leger360.com</a> ou par téléphone au 514-982-2464 (poste 105) pour toute question, pour en savoir davantage ou pour manifester leur intérêt.<p>To unsubscribe from these announcements, login to the forum and uncheck "Receive forum announcements and important notifications by email." in your profile.<p>You can view the full announcement by following this link:<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17287.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17287.0</a><p>Regards,<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-55164278359282608742018-01-29T01:41:00.001-05:002018-01-29T01:41:36.321-05:00New announcement: CAV FB Live: VAC Assistance , CAF Medical Release and VIPCanadian Veteran Advocacy FaceBook Live Episode No. 3<p>WED JAN 24th 21:00 EST (max 30 min)<p>**VETERANS INDEPENDANCE PROGRAM **<p>[1] Introduction<p>[2] Subject of the Day: VETERAN INDEPENDENCE PROGRAM<p>a. <a href="http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/health/veterans-independence-program">http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/health/veterans-independence-program</a><p>b. Assessments <a href="http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/about-us/policy/document/877">http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/about-us/policy/document/877</a><p>Main area of advocacy: 1. CAF Medical Release Exam 2. ResF, 3. VIP assessments and reassessments<p>Never a 100% guarantee in success when we intervene and service depends greatly on level of health.<p>Social Media<p>Main Web Page | Notre page internet <a href="http://www.canadianveteransadvocacy.com/index.html">http://www.canadianveteransadvocacy.com/index.html</a><p>FaceBook Group: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/CdnVetsAdvocacy/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/CdnVetsAdvocacy/</a><p>FaceBook Page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CanadianVeteransAdvocacy">https://www.facebook.com/CanadianVeteransAdvocacy</a><p>FaceBook Page FRANCHOPHONE: Groupe de défense des intérêts des anciens combattants canadiens<p>Information Repository | Repertoire d'information <a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php</a><p>Veterans Affairs Canada, CAF Services and Benefits | Services et avantages des FAC et anciens combattant Canada <a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/VACDND_Services-Benefits">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/VACDND_Services-Benefits</a><p>We, the veterans, are here to support the soldiers of today and the veterans of tomorrow. Everything we do now, or don't do will affect these young men and women when they eventually do remove the uniform. Their well-being is paramount. This is the duty of the veteran.<p>Contact: <a href="mailto:sylvain.chartrand@canadianveteransadvocacy.com">sylvain.chartrand@canadianveteransadvocacy.com</a><p>Cell: 438-829-8133 text only<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CanadianVeteransAdvocacy/videos/1507124576050781/">https://www.facebook.com/CanadianVeteransAdvocacy/videos/1507124576050781/</a><p> <p>----------------------------<br><br>Canadian Veteran Advocacy FaceBook Live Episode No. 2<p>WED JAN 17th 21:00 EST (max 30 min) CAF Medical Release Exam<p> <p>[1] Introduction<p>[2] Social Media<p>[3] My Advocacy with CAF, VAC and SISIP<p>[4] VAC 10 Commandments & Useful links<p>a. Drug Formulary <a href="http://ow.ly/q9T330hCZvp">http://ow.ly/q9T330hCZvp</a><p>b. Benefits and Services - (POC) <a href="http://ow.ly/ziEX30hCZyL">http://ow.ly/ziEX30hCZyL</a><p>c. Benefit Grid <a href="http://ow.ly/XEyu30hCZBm">http://ow.ly/XEyu30hCZBm</a><p>d. Policies <a href="http://ow.ly/MTic30hCZCQ">http://ow.ly/MTic30hCZCQ</a><p>e. Fact and Figures <a href="http://ow.ly/anK130hCZFg">http://ow.ly/anK130hCZFg</a><p>[5] Brief overview of subjects<p>a. Recording conversations with VAC & CAF <a href="https://legaltree.ca/node/908">https://legaltree.ca/node/908</a><p>b. VIP Denial<p>c. VAC Assistance Services<p>d. Role of CM<p>e. Medication<p>f. PTSD and consequential conditions<p>g. Conditions that give you dental<p>[6] Subject of the Day: CAF Medical Release Exam<p><br>Main area of advocacy: 1. CAF Medical Release Exam 2. ResF, 3. VIP assessments and reassessments<p>Never a 100% guarantee in success when we intervene and service depends greatly on level of health.<p><br>Social Media<p>Main Web Page | Notre page internet <a href="http://www.canadianveteransadvocacy.com/index.html">http://www.canadianveteransadvocacy.com/index.html</a><p>FaceBook Group: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/CdnVetsAdvocacy/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/CdnVetsAdvocacy/</a><p>FaceBook Page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CanadianVeteransAdvocacy">https://www.facebook.com/CanadianVeteransAdvocacy</a><p>FaceBook Page FRANCHOPHONE: Groupe de défense des intérêts des anciens combattants canadiens<p>Information Repository | Repertoire d'information <a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php</a><p>Veterans Affairs Canada, CAF Services and Benefits | Services et avantages des FAC et anciens combattant Canada <a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/VACDND_Services-Benefits">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/VACDND_Services-Benefits</a><p>We, the veterans, are here to support the soldiers of today and the veterans of tomorrow. Everything we do now, or don't do will affect these young men and women when they eventually do remove the uniform. Their well-being is paramount. This is the duty of the veteran.<p>Contact: <a href="mailto:sylvain.chartrand@canadianveteransadvocacy.com">sylvain.chartrand@canadianveteransadvocacy.com</a><p>Cell: 438-829-8133 text only<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CanadianVeteransAdvocacy/videos/1500347530061819/">https://www.facebook.com/CanadianVeteransAdvocacy/videos/1500347530061819/</a><p>---------------------------------------------<p>Canadian Veteran Advocacy FaceBook Live Episode No. 1<p>JAN 5th 14:15 EST (max 30 min) *VAC Assistance Services*<p><br>[1] Introduction<p>[2] Social Media<p>[3] My Advocacy with CAF, VAC and SISIP<p>[4] Brief overview of subjects<p>a. Recording conversations with VAC<p>b. VIP Denial<p>c. CAF Medical Release Exam<p>d. Role of CM<p>e. Medication<p>f. PTSD and consequential conditions<p>g. Conditions that give you dental<p>[5] Subject of the Day: VAC Assistance Services<p> <p>Main area of advocacy:<p>1. CAF Medical Release Exam<p>2. ResF<p>3. VIP assessments and reassessments<p> <p>Never a 100% guarantee in success when we intervene and service depends greatly on level of health.<p> <p>Social Media<p> <p>Main Web Page | Notre page internet <a href="http://www.canadianveteransadvocacy.com/index.html">http://www.canadianveteransadvocacy.com/index.html</a><p>FaceBook Group: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/CdnVetsAdvocacy/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/CdnVetsAdvocacy/</a><p>FaceBook Page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CanadianVeteransAdvocacy">https://www.facebook.com/CanadianVeteransAdvocacy</a><p>FaceBook Page FRANCHOPHONE: Groupe de défense des intérêts des anciens combattants canadiens<p>Information Repository | Repertoire d'information <a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php</a><p>Veterans Affairs Canada, CAF Services and Benefits | Services et avantages des FAC et anciens combattant Canada <a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/VACDND_Services-Benefits">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/VACDND_Services-Benefits</a><p><p>Contact: <a href="mailto:sylvain.chartrand@canadianveteransadvocacy.com">sylvain.chartrand@canadianveteransadvocacy.com</a><p>Cell: 438-829-8133 text only<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/CanadianVeteransAdvocacy/videos/1488825044547401/">https://www.facebook.com/CanadianVeteransAdvocacy/videos/1488825044547401/</a><p>To unsubscribe from these announcements, login to the forum and uncheck "Receive forum announcements and important notifications by email." in your profile.<p>You can view the full announcement by following this link:<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17265.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17265.0</a><p>Regards,<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-40513884917579162482018-01-23T20:54:00.001-05:002018-01-23T20:54:10.457-05:00New announcement: Veterans Independance ProgramDYK? If you already have VIP, you could be entitled to a one time ground maintenance for example NATURAL DISASTER, SEVERE WEATHER STORM DAMAGE ETC.
<br>For more info make sure to tune in <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1998511873719426??ti=ia">https://www.facebook.com/events/1998511873719426??ti=ia</a>
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<br>You can view the full announcement by following this link:
<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17261.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17261.0</a>
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<br>Regards,
<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-32775301926507815882018-01-18T20:04:00.003-05:002018-01-18T20:04:43.167-05:00New announcement: Dozens of vets shortchanged due to Veterans Affairs rounding error"This is how the system is meant to work. The ombudsman brings this to our attention, we listen to veterans and we check the system," says Seamus O'Regan." First this is not how the system should works, VAC making errors like this. 2nd give credit to Dennis not OVO.
<br>**PLEASE SHARE**
<br>Dozens of vets shortchanged due to Veterans Affairs rounding error
<br>New Brunswick vet flagged mistake to Veterans Ombudsman and now dozens of vets are getting $600 more a month
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<br><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/disabled-veterans-shortchanged-by-the-government-1.4490726">http://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/disabled-veterans-shortchanged-by-the-government-1.4490726</a>
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<br>You can view the full announcement by following this link:
<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17257.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17257.0</a>
<br>
<br>Regards,
<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-61935031642508797962018-01-18T20:04:00.001-05:002018-01-18T20:04:36.135-05:00New announcement: Dozens of vets shortchanged due to Veterans Affairs rounding error"This is how the system is meant to work. The ombudsman brings this to our attention, we listen to veterans and we check the system," says Seamus O'Regan." First this is not how the system should works, VAC making errors like this. 2nd give credit to Dennis not OVO.
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<br>Dozens of vets shortchanged due to Veterans Affairs rounding error
<br>New Brunswick vet flagged mistake to Veterans Ombudsman and now dozens of vets are getting $600 more a month
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<br><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/disabled-veterans-shortchanged-by-the-government-1.4490726">http://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/disabled-veterans-shortchanged-by-the-government-1.4490726</a>
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<br>You can view the full announcement by following this link:
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<br>Regards,
<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-37767814739551361692018-01-18T20:03:00.001-05:002018-01-18T20:03:40.482-05:00New announcement: Dozens of vets shortchanged due to Veterans Affairs rounding error"This is how the system is meant to work. The ombudsman brings this to our attention, we listen to veterans and we check the system," says Seamus O'Regan." First this is not how the system should works, VAC making errors like this. 2nd give credit to Dennis not OVO.
<br>**PLEASE SHARE**
<br>Dozens of vets shortchanged due to Veterans Affairs rounding error
<br>New Brunswick vet flagged mistake to Veterans Ombudsman and now dozens of vets are getting $600 more a month
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<br><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/disabled-veterans-shortchanged-by-the-government-1.4490726">http://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/disabled-veterans-shortchanged-by-the-government-1.4490726</a>
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<br>Regards,
<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-4609023090668933112018-01-17T12:12:00.001-05:002018-01-17T12:12:59.052-05:00New announcement: Dozens of vets shortchanged due to Veterans Affairs rounding error"This is how the system is meant to work. The ombudsman brings this to our attention, we listen to veterans and we check the system," says Seamus O'Regan." First this is not how the system should works, VAC making errors like this. 2nd give credit to Dennis not OVO.
<br>**PLEASE SHARE**
<br>Dozens of vets shortchanged due to Veterans Affairs rounding error
<br>New Brunswick vet flagged mistake to Veterans Ombudsman and now dozens of vets are getting $600 more a month
<br>
<br><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/disabled-veterans-shortchanged-by-the-government-1.4490726">http://www.cbc.ca/news/thenational/disabled-veterans-shortchanged-by-the-government-1.4490726</a>
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<br>Regards,
<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-26335266160054906312018-01-07T21:35:00.001-05:002018-01-07T21:35:50.922-05:00New announcement: Canadian Veteran Advocacy FaceBook Live Episode No. 1 - VAC Assistance ServicesCanadian Veteran Advocacy FaceBook Live Episode No. 1<p>JAN 5th 14:15 EST (max 30 min) VAC Assistance Services<p>Click Here: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CanadianVeteransAdvocacy/videos/1488825044547401/">https://www.facebook.com/CanadianVeteransAdvocacy/videos/1488825044547401/</a><p>[1] Introduction<br>[2] Social Media<br>[3] My Advocacy with CAF, VAC and SISIP<br>[4] Brief overview of subjects<br> a. Recording conversations with VAC<br> b. VIP Denial<br> c. CAF Medical Release Exam<br> d. Role of CM<br> e. Medication<br> f. PTSD and consequential conditions<br> g. Conditions that give you dental<br>[5] Subject of the Day: VAC Assistance Services<p>Main area of advocacy: <br> 1. CAF Medical Release Exam <br> 2. ResF<br> 3. VIP assessments and reassessments<p>Never a 100% guarantee in success when we intervene and service depends greatly on level of health.<p>Social Media<br>Main Web Page | Notre page internet <a href="http://www.canadianveteransadvocacy.com/index.html">http://www.canadianveteransadvocacy.com/index.html</a> <br> FaceBook Group: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/CdnVetsAdvocacy/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/CdnVetsAdvocacy/</a> <br> FaceBook Page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CanadianVeteransAdvocacy">https://www.facebook.com/CanadianVeteransAdvocacy</a><br> FaceBook Page FRANCHOPHONE: Groupe de défense des intérêts des anciens combattants canadiens<br> Information Repository | Repertoire d'information <a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php</a> <br> Veterans Affairs Canada, CAF Services and Benefits | Services et avantages des FAC et anciens combattant Canada <a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/VACDND_Services-Benefits">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/VACDND_Services-Benefits</a><p>Contact: <a href="mailto:sylvain.chartrand@canadianveteransadvocacy.com">sylvain.chartrand@canadianveteransadvocacy.com</a><br>Cell: 438-829-8133 text only<p>To unsubscribe from these announcements, login to the forum and uncheck "Receive forum announcements and important notifications by email." in your profile.<p>You can view the full announcement by following this link:<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17252.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17252.0</a><p>Regards,<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-13771803683017020592017-12-15T20:13:00.001-05:002017-12-15T20:13:16.680-05:00New announcement: FULL/HIDDEN Review Progress on Transition from Military to Civilian LifeFULL/HIDDEN REPORT: Review Progress on Transition from Military to Civilian Life / Transforming Veterans Affairs Canada
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<br>A hidden report from VAC. Both past and current VAC Minister's did not release this report. The full report will be disclosed later and will only be accessible by registered users.
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<br>Hitachi Consulting believes that VAC and others have conducted sufficient studies and analyses in recent months and years in order to take action now to make significant improvement in transition success.
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<br>Click here to view the report: <a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/VACDND_Services-Benefits/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Review-Progress-on-Transitions-from-Military-to-Civilian-Life-Rev-1.0.pdf">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/VACDND_Services-Benefits/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Review-Progress-on-Transitions-from-Military-to-Civilian-Life-Rev-1.0.pdf</a>
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<br>You can view the full announcement by following this link:
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<br>Regards,
<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-90638296197940235992017-11-19T21:43:00.001-05:002017-11-19T21:43:37.281-05:00New announcement: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLYTHE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY
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<br>I have been conspicuously quiescent of late, in reporting tour support group of family members, on the "State of the (Ste. Anne's Hospital) Nation", but I desisted deliberately , rather than being desultory in delaying this document, until I could collect enough concrete data to warrant comment, regarding several critical concerns.
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<br>Pursuant to accounts of recent meetings of the Transition Committee, and direct discussions with the likes of Michel Maisonneuve, Faith McIntyre, Walter Natynczyk, Lynne McVey, Patrick Murphy-Lavallee, Martine Daigneault and Manuela Fonseca, in addition to numerous floor nurses and front line orderlies, and Veterans in situ, plus my personal perceptions and experiences, herewith follows my melange of mixed messages:
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<br>1. STAFF SNAFUS.....
<br>The Hospital administration is, yet again, attempting to address the persistent problems of severe staff shortages, recruitment, retention,rotation. reliability, unilingualism, etc., by holding yet another Job Fair, exploring the possibility of a free bus shuttle servjce, etc., ..........none of which will, in my opinion, get at the root of the problem, which is that Ste. Anne's is located well beyond the demographic/geographic pale, unacceptably far away from where the principal potential pools of employees live
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<br>The fact remains that, as long as there are no true, tangible incentives for people to make the long and costly trek to work at Ste. Anne's Hospital, our personnel problems will persist and prevail. . Indeed, based on my own very recent encounters, the quantity and quality of staff serving our Veterans, is diminishing and deteriorating , day after day, with visibly poorer staff-to-patient ratios, expanded and daily reliance on unsuitable commercial agency employees, etc, and a dozen other deficiencies, meriting a separate, fuller, further report. All to the decided detriment of our Veterans, since the level of care is directly related to the essential complement and competence of the nurses and (perhaps even more important), the orderlies, so seriously lacking, and worsening, since the ill-fated Transfer took place, well over a year and a half ago.
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<br>As an attempt at being pro-active, the Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs finally met with his collegial counterpart, the Provincial Deputy Minister of Health, in an endeavour to secure the latter's cooperation and agreement to implement steps to cure the cancer currently consuming the promised pre-existing level of care. A very commendable effort, but one which, I fear, will prove to be of no avail, because, I contend, the Province of Quebec, in the person of its Minister of Health, Gaetan.Barrette, is totally reluctant, let alone motivated, to expend any extra energy, or further funds, to relieve Ottawa of its responsibilities to former Federal forces. .
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<br>I can but ruefully recognize that, regardless of the various officials' brave but bungled and belated efforts, we Veterans will vanish from the scene, well before any progress becomes palpable.
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<br>2. ADMISSION OF "NEW VETERANS"
<br>I have long been urging a change in policy, which would permit the admission of the post-Word War Two and Korean Conflict Veterans (Peacekeepers and Afghanistan Vets) to occupy the ever-increasing number of empty beds at Ste. Anne's. This matter is now, reportedly, under active consideration, but I find it difficult to understand the bureaucratic delays and inaction, bearing in mind that such a program has already been implemented at the former facility for Veterans, Maison Paul-Triquet, in Quebec City.
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<br>I can but continue to urge and press for this important, bebeficial, and much needed change to occur, and soon, as it is long overdue.
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<br>3. FOLLOWING THE MONEY
<br>In the interests of transparency and accountability, I have been repearedly requesting a full and true disclosure of the disposition of the per diem /per Veteran allowance paid by Ottawa to Quebec, for the care of the Veterans at Ste. Anne's, to verify that there has been no improper or unauthorized diversion of any of that money, to other health facilities, or civilian patients at SAH. This involves up to seventeen million dollars over the past nineteen months, and it is both astonishing and shocking to discover that there has not been any verifiable accounting required or submitted of those funds, in all that time. After a false and amateurish start, this matter has been referred for action to the Audit Bureau of Veterans Affairs Canada, which is now charged with the task of obtaining and inspecting the appropriate accounts of the Quebec Department of Health, emanating from a certified audit.
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<br>While I am not holding my breath on the outcome, which largely depends on the willingness of Quebec to cooperate, neither will I let this vital issue fade back into the shadows, where it has been hidden for so long. I will be among the first to applaud any finding that all is "strictly kosher".
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<br>4. EXECUTIVE BONUS AWARDS
<br>In response to numerous implications and rumours that senior executives of Veterans Affairs Canada, in direct relationship to their manifested record of cutting costs at the cost of cutting care, I undertook to personally research the matter, at very high levels. The initial response to my inquiry was unsatisfactorily unclear, claiming that such financial awards, misleadingly and mysteriously termed "at risk pay", were really only a form of "holdback" of part of the total compensation contractually due, and released , in part or in whole, according to the job performance of the individual. Upon my further probing, this obfuscating definition was revised, acknowledging that VAC has, indeed, set aside a separate budgetary line item for extra compensation (aka bonuses), to be paid to some one hundred or so senior/executive staff, in accordance with their degree of successful performance in achieving their respective goals, established at the beginning of that work year, and which t
<br> argets had no connection whatsoever with any savings in costs of operation.
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<br>I am content to accept that explanation, it having been provided by a source whose integrity I deem ti be unimpeachable. However, I disagree with the rigidity of policy which precludes the transfer of surplus budgeted funds from one use to another, if required, but that's a matter for further discussion.
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<br>5. CONTINUATION OF VETERANS AFFAIRS LIAISON OFFICE(R) ON PREMISES After many months of pleading and pressure to permit the presence, on the premises, of a VAC staff member, to serve as a direct liaison with our Veterans, in addition to providing even a slight sense of oversight of conditions here, the Provincial authorities finally consented, and even, albeit somewhat reluctantly, allotted unused office space for that person, provided it was to be for a period of only six months. After a hard-won one month extension, the Administration is now sounding off about terminating that (very efficacious) arrangement permanently, even though it does not cost the Province one red cent for its operation, which has proven to be of considerable advantage to the Veterans, as well as to VAC's representatives on the Transition Committee.
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<br>My own assessment of the reasons for this unreasonable and unyielding approach, is that it may stem from a combination of turf-protection on the part of the Hospital's Commissioner of Complaints, and the inherent suspicion and resistance to the continuing presence of any Federal personnel in a Quebec Provincial venue, under any circumstances, no matter how salutary.
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<br>In Toronto, Sunnybrook Hospital, also a former all-Veterans facility, long since transferred to the Province of Ontario, is served by a permanent VAC Liaison Office, in peaceful co-existence , and the Veterans at Ste. Anne's deserve no less, putting petty political peeves aside.
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<br>We should defiantly continue to make an issue of this issue, until a proper and permanent policy statement is issued, for the protection of our increasingly vulnerable Veterans. They deserve no less, nor should we settle for less.
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<br>6. MEDICAL MATTERS
<br>My personal experiences, along with my observation of numerous other Veterans here, lead me to make the greatly gratifying statement that, insofar as pertains to general medical, specialist, dental and clinical services rendered, the level of care, competence and compassion evinced in the prime performance of our professional personnel, is paramount throughout.
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<br>That is the one clearly "Good" item covered. The remainder may be categorized as "Bad" , or "Ugly", or as the jury is still out.
<br> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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<br>Interested recipients are respectfully invited to read, review and, if you care to, re-post and share this update on the latest lowdown. As for those chosen others, to whom this is a not-so-thinly veiled plea for actual action, do please do your shtick, and get on the stick !
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<br>NE KAH NE TAH
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<br>Wolf William Solkin.
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<br>Sent from my iPad
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<br>Regards,
<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-89242051672220102122017-11-07T22:07:00.000-05:002017-11-07T22:08:00.267-05:00New announcement: Veterans Affairs Canada Statistics Facts and Figures Statistiques d'Anciens CoVeterans Affairs Canada Statistics – Facts and Figures Updated: March 31, 2017<br>A MUST TO CHECK<br>VAC Facts and Figures contains current and forecasted statistics about Veterans and other clients of Veterans Affairs Canada, as well as numbers related to departmental programs and services, such as expenditures and program uptake.<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?board=195.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?board=195.0</a><p><br>Statistiques d'Anciens Combattants Canada – Faits et chiffres Mise à jour : Le 31 mars 2017 A LIRE<br>Faits et chiffres d'ACC comporte des statistiques réelles et prévues au sujet des vétérans et autres clients d'Anciens Combattants Canada, ainsi que les chiffres reliés aux programmes ministériels et aux services, tels que les dépenses et la participation aux programmes.<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?board=196.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?board=196.0</a><p>To unsubscribe from these announcements, login to the forum and uncheck "Receive forum announcements and important notifications by email." in your profile.<p>You can view the full announcement by following this link:<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17217.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17217.0</a><p>Regards,<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-82922432727581542342017-08-24T15:56:00.001-04:002017-08-24T15:56:50.585-04:00New announcement: Life After Service Survey 2016 - Sondage sur la vie après le service militaire 2Life After Service Survey 2016 - Sondage sur la vie après le service militaire 2016 Sommaire<p>REPORT: <a href="http://www.canadianveteransadvocacy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/LASS-2016-survey-TR2.pdf">http://www.canadianveteransadvocacy.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/LASS-2016-survey-TR2.pdf</a><p>The Life After Service Studies (LASS) program of research is designed to further understand the transition from military to civilian life and ultimately improve the health of Veterans in Canada. LASS partners are Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC), the Department of National Defence/Canadian Armed Forces (DND/CAF), and Statistics Canada. LASS 2016 expands on the earlier studies from 2010 and 2013 by including family content and a longitudinal component in two major studies: the survey of health and well-being, and the record linkage for pre- and post-release income trends. This technical report provides initial cross-sectional findings for Regular Force Veterans from the 2016 survey. Additional analysis will be covered in subsequent reports.<p>LASS 2016 survey data was collected by telephone in February and March 2016 by Statistics Canada interviewers who obtained a 73% response rate. Results describe Veterans who released (at post-entry ranks) from the CAF Regular Force between 1998 and 2015.<p>Findings indicate that 52% of Veterans reported an easy adjustment to civilian life, while 32% reported difficulty. Officers had a lower rate of difficult adjustment (17%), compared to 29% of Senior Non-Commissioned Members (SrNCM) and 39% of Junior Non-Commissioned Members (JrNCM). Veterans with recent releases (between 2012 and 2015) had a higher rate of difficult adjustment (42%), compared to earlier releases between 1998 and 2012 (29%). Compared to those with earlier releases, these recently-released Veterans had higher rates of service in Afghanistan, fair or poor self-rated mental health and less than 10 years of military service, all factors associated with difficult adjustment.<p>Veterans reported chronic conditions, including arthritis (29%), depression (21%), anxiety (15%), and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (14%), at higher prevalences than Canadians of comparable age and sex. SrNCM had the highest rate of arthritis (40%), and JrNCM had the highest rates of depression (24%), anxiety (18%), and PTSD (18%). Veterans also reported higher rates than Canadians for hearing problems, pain, and activity limitations. Since LASS 2013, the trend for chronic conditions has been increasing, although not statistically significant.<p>Most Veterans were employed (65%). SrNCM had a lower employment rate (57%) compared to Officers (64%), and JrNCM (70%). The unemployment rate for Veterans was 8%, similar to Canadians of comparable age and sex. Non-labour force activities for Veterans included retirement (16%), on disability (8%), and training (5%). Since LASS 2013, the trend for non-labour force activities has been increasing, although not statistically significant.<p>Some Veterans experienced low income (4%). This was lower than Canadians of comparable age and sex (14%), and has not changed since LASS 2013. JrNCM had the highest rate (6%). Most Veterans were satisfied with their finances (69%), and has decreased since LASS 2013 (74%). Officers had a higher satisfaction rate (85%) compared to SrNCM (75%), and JrNCM (60%).<p>LASS 2016 included new content on families. When asked about the effect their release had on the family, most Veterans reported that the transition was easy for their partner (57%) and their children (60%). However, 28% of Veterans indicated their partners had difficulty with their release, and 17% reported their children had difficulty with their release.<p>LASS findings have provided evidence to inform the efforts of both VAC and DND/CAF to support transition to civilian life. LASS 2016 findings will continue to contribute to improvements to programs, benefits, communications and outreach, to ultimately improve the health and well-being of Veterans in Canada.<p><br>Sondage sur la vie après le service militaire 2016<br>Sommaire<br> <br>Le programme de recherche Études sur la vie après le service militaire (EVASM) vise à nous aider à mieux comprendre la transition de la vie militaire à la vie civile et en bout de ligne à améliorer la santé des vétérans au Canada. Les partenaires des EVASM sont Anciens Combattants Canada (ACC), le ministère de la Défense nationale/les Forces armées canadiennes (MDN/FAC) et Statistique Canada. Les EVASM 2016 élargissent les études antérieures réalisées en 2010 et 2013 en incluant la dimension familiale et une composante longitudinale dans deux études importantes : l'enquête sur la santé et le bien-être et le couplage de données sur les tendances en matière de revenu avant et après la libération. Ce rapport technique fournit les premières constatations transversales de l'enquête de 2016 pour les vétérans de la Force régulière. Une analyse supplémentaire sera traitée dans des rapports subséquents.<p>Les données de l'enquête dans le cadre des EVASM 2016 ont été recueillies par téléphone en février et en mars 2016 par des intervieweurs de Statistique Canada qui ont obtenu un taux de réponse de 73 %. Les résultats décrivent les vétérans qui ont été libérés (à des grades postérieurs à l'entrée) de la Force régulière des FAC entre 1998 et 2015.<p>Les constatations indiquent que 52 % des vétérans ont déclaré que leur transition à la vie civile avait été facile, alors que cette transition a été difficile pour 32 % d'entre eux. Les officiers affichaient un plus faible taux de difficulté d'adaptation (17 %), comparativement aux militaires de rang supérieur (MR sup) (29 %) et aux militaires de rang subalterne (MR sub) (39 %). Les vétérans récemment libérés (entre 2012 et 2015) ont affiché un taux plus élevé de difficulté d'adaptation (42 %), comparativement aux vétérans libérés entre 1998 et 2012 (29 %). Comparativement aux vétérans libérés plus tôt, les vétérans récemment libérés affichaient un taux plus élevé de service en Afghanistan, une auto-évaluation de la santé mentale passable ou mauvaise, et moins de 10 années de service militaire, soit tous des facteurs associés à une adaptation difficile. <p>Les vétérans ont déclaré souffrir d'affections chroniques, comme l'arthrite (29 %), la dépression (21 %), l'anxiété (15 %) et l'état de stress post-traumatique (ESPT) (14 %), à un taux de prévalence plus élevé que dans la population canadienne de même âge et sexe. Le taux d'arthrite était le plus élevé chez les MR sup (40 %), alors que les MR sub affichaient les taux les plus élevés de dépression (24 %), d'anxiété (18 %) et d'ESPT (18 %). Les taux de problèmes d'audition, de douleur et d'incapacités fonctionnelles étaient plus élevés chez les vétérans que chez les Canadiens. Depuis les EVASM 2013, la tendance pour les affections chroniques a augmenté, mais pas statistiquement significative.<p>La plupart des vétérans occupaient un emploi (65 %). Le taux d'emploi des MR sup (57 %) était inférieur à celui des officiers (64 %) et des MR sub (70 %). Le taux de chômage chez les vétérans était de 8 %, semblable à celui de la population canadienne de même âge et sexe. Les activités autres que main d'œuvre pour les vétérans comprenaient la retraite (16 %), l'état d'invalidité (8 %) et la formation (5 %). Depuis les EVASM 2013, la tendance pour les activités autres que main d'œuvre a augmenté, mais pas statistiquement significative.<p>Certains vétérans avaient un faible revenu (4 %). Le taux était inférieur à celui de la population canadienne de même âge et sexe (14 %), et il est inchangé depuis les EVASM 2013. Les MR sub affichaient le taux le plus élevé (6 %). La plupart des vétérans étaient satisfaits de leur situation financière (69 %). Les officiers affichaient le plus haut taux de satisfaction (85 %) comparativement aux MR sup (75 %) et aux MR sub (60 %) et a diminué depuis les EVASM 2013 (74 %).<p>Les EVASM 2016 comprenaient une nouvelle dimension sur les familles. Lorsqu'on a demandé aux vétérans quelle avait été l'incidence de leur libération sur leur famille, la plupart d'entre eux ont indiqué que la transition avait été facile pour leur partenaire (57 %) et leurs enfants (60 %). Toutefois, 28 % des vétérans ont indiqué que leurs partenaires avaient de la difficulté avec leur libération, et 17 % ont indiqué que leurs enfants avaient eu de la difficulté avec leur libération.<p>Les résultats des EVASM ont permis de fournir des éléments de preuve pour documenter les efforts d'ACC et du MDN/FAC et appuyer ainsi la transition vers la vie civile. Les résultats des EVASM 2016 continueront de contribuer à l'amélioration des programmes, des avantages, des communications et de la sensibilisation, pour améliorer en bout de ligne la santé et le bien-être des vétérans au Canada.<p>To unsubscribe from these announcements, login to the forum and uncheck "Receive forum announcements and important notifications by email." in your profile.<p>You can view the full announcement by following this link:<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17175.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17175.0</a><p>Regards,<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-1462670919107477412017-07-02T21:37:00.000-04:002017-07-02T21:38:00.822-04:00New announcement: Rally Point RetreatOur Mission<br>Rally Point Retreat provides a quiet, safe, and relaxing, rural setting on Nova Scotia's South Shore as a respite for essential services members in treatment for CIS/CSI/OSI/OSIS/PTSD to regroup themselves and reconnect with their families, to prevent further collateral damage from traumatic events. <a href="http://www.rallypointretreat.org">http://www.rallypointretreat.org</a><p>To unsubscribe from these announcements, login to the forum and uncheck "Receive forum announcements and important notifications by email." in your profile.<p>You can view the full announcement by following this link:<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17132.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=17132.0</a><p>Regards,<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-46507576789604200242017-06-14T00:16:00.001-04:002017-06-14T00:16:35.363-04:00New announcement: REACHING OUT: IMPROVING SERVICE DELIVERY TO CANADIAN VETERANS**Report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs*
<br>REACHING OUT: IMPROVING SERVICE DELIVERY TO CANADIAN VETERANS <a href="http://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/421/ACVA/Reports/RP8685109/acvarp03/acvarp03-e.pdf">http://www.ourcommons.ca/Content/Committee/421/ACVA/Reports/RP8685109/acvarp03/acvarp03-e.pdf</a>
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<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-67922885984321680092017-03-20T18:25:00.001-04:002017-03-20T18:25:40.114-04:00New announcement: Report critical of Veterans Affairs buried as ombudsmen investigates"Hitachi Consulting believes that (Veterans Affairs) and others have conducted sufficient studies and analyses in recent months and years in order to take action now to make a significant improvement in transition success," said the report.
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<br><a href="http://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/politics/report-critical-of-veterans-affairs-buried-as-ombudsmen-investigates-1.2742088">http://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/politics/report-critical-of-veterans-affairs-buried-as-ombudsmen-investigates-1.2742088</a>
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<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-16708819227702460052017-01-08T17:47:00.001-05:002017-01-08T17:47:45.201-05:00New announcement: Dont Give Up the Fight Blog #20: The Homicide-Suicide among The Desmond MilitDon't Give Up the Fight – Blog #20: The Homicide-Suicide among The Desmond Military Family: A Few Facts Uncovered / Stigma & Mental Illness<p><br>Blog #20 The Homicide-Suicide among The Desmond Military Family: A Few Facts Uncovered<p>Dr. Antoon A. Leenaars<p>I signed off with Blog #19, on June 25, 2016, till my civilian service was needed. It is now needed on the occasion of the tragic deaths of Aaliyah, Shanna, and Brenda Desmond. They died by homicide. It is also needed because of Lionel Desmond's suicide that occurred after the homicides. This tragedy was certified, through Death Scene Investigation (DSI), I belief, as homicides-suicide (H-S). Lionel Desmond was a veteran; he served with the Second Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment. Lionel served in Afghanistan for an eight-month tour in 2007. He was known and treated for a mental injury, PTSD, based on the information that I now have (MacDonald, Jan. 5, 2017; Bissett & MacDonald, Jan. 6, 2017). At least since the American Civil War, we have known (but not always remembered): Suicide is a cost of service. Homicide is a cost of service too. Therefore, it follows that H-S is a cost of service! Of course, these are not the only aftershocks, so are alcohol/substance abuse, some accidents, incarceration, divorce, and many more self-directed and/or other-directed ones.<p>Homicide(s)-Suicides (H-S) are predictable after war. We know that (but it is masked. Stigma? Walls/Barriers?). I would encourage a read of my 2013 book, Suicide among the Armed Forces: Understanding the Cost of Service, available through my publisher, Routledge. As I cannot rewrite everything here from that book (blogs are supposed to be short and concise), I here copy a few quotes from Chapter 9, "The many faces of violence: Homicide, accidental deaths, self-harm, and incarceration":<p>"War-related death is violence. Suicide is violence. Homicide is violence. Suicide is self-directed violence. Homicide and war-related death are other-directed violence. They are lethal violence. Suicide, homicide, war-related death and other violence have probably always been part of the military experience. …"What is homicide?" is an age old question. … we can then define intentional homicide as: Intentional homicide is a conscious act of other-induced annihilation, best understood as a multi-dimensional event in a needful individual who defines an issue for which the homicide is perceived as the best solution."<p>That is quite similar to a definition of suicide, except that in suicide the best solution is self-directed violence. In H-S, it is both; it is a way to fix a situation. It is a final solution. Lionel was known to have stated about his unbearable pain, "I will fix it". Let me return to my book:<p>"Suicide is a multi-determined event. Homicide is a multi-determined event. Thus, it follows that homicide followed by suicide is also not determined by one factor. … We know almost nothing about homicide in the military. … Hill, Johnson, and Barton (2006) offer an overview on military homicide and suicide in harm's way. They undertook a chart review of 425 deployed soldiers seen for mental health reasons. They found that 127 (nearly 30%) had been suicidal and 67 (nearly 16%) had been homicidal within the past month. That is huge!"<p>We know nothing on military H-S, well almost nothing. We now sadly know the Homicides-Suicide of Aaliyah, Shanna, Brenda, and Lionel Desmond on January 4, 2017 in a small rural community in Nova Scotia.<p>Allow me a digression on H-S that I have learned so far. I wrote another book, Suicide and Homicide-Suicide among Police, available also through Routledge. Like among soldiers/veterans, suicide is at high levels in police too. However, maybe a better credential of my authority on the topic of Homicide-Suicide; I was the lead investigator for the London Police Service (LPS) in the H-S of Superintendent Dave Lucio and Inspector Kelly Johnson (Leenaars, Collins, & Sinclair, 2008). Dave died by homicide. Kelly died after by suicide. Along with a forensic team, I was asked to undertake a DSI. I did what is called a psychological autopsy (PA). On the PA, my mentor Dr. Edwin Shneidman, a founder of the PA investigation, stated: "It (the PA) legitimately conducts interviews (with a variety of people who knew the decedent) and examines personal documents (suicide notes, diaries, and letters) and other materials (including autopsy and police reports) that are relevant to the psychological assessment of the dead individual's role in the death" (Shneidman, 1977 [italics mine]). In the Kelly Johnson case, we answered, "Why did the H-S happen?", and "What can we do to prevent a similar occurrence?" I uncovered the barren bones of this tragic case; yet, although that was interesting, even more sadly, we learned that H-S among police was at epidemic levels. Not unlike among armed forces, police forces kept it secret. In an extremely rare study, as help from police forces has not been provided, the well-known expert on police suicide, John Violanti (2007) concluded, from public data, such as newspaper reports, that H-S among police is "high', well above statistical expected levels. Therefore, it is, based on WHO criteria, at epidemic level. This, I believe, is true among the armed forces!<p>If one wants to understand unnecessary death and how to prevent it better, I would encourage a good read of my new 2017 book with Routledge, The Psychological Autopsy: A Roadmap for Uncovering the Barren Bones of the Suicide's Mind. You will see that DSI is not mysterious. I think the book, and a PA of the Desmond case specifically, will help not only to understand H-S better, but also to be better accountable (See Blog #19). Like Suicide, Homicide-Suicide can be prevented!<p>The Globe and Mail did a revealing public report on PTSD, and suicide among soldiers and veterans (D'Aliesio, Perreaux, and Maki, November 4, 2016 [and the week that followed]). They uncovered the pain and deaths of 70 soldiers and vets. They interviewed the families, friends, fellow heroes, Lieutenant-Colonel Stephane Grenier, and many others. They also interviewed me; among other concerns, I raised the issue of survivors' pain and aftershocks. I was quoted: "You have to include the family and the children because there is secondary trauma" … "It is like walking on egg shells." The eggshells after the H-S in Nova Scotia will be even sharper!<p>There are, of course, survivors. Aaliyah, Shanna, and Brenda (and Lionel too) are not the only victims. A friend, Dennis MacKenzie, tells his story of survival (CBC News, Jan., 6, 2017). Indeed, we know that the aftershocks in collective communities, like the military and police, are even greater. This is normal, not crazy. However, we will survive! Don't give up the fight!<p>One final point: Like S, H-S can be prevented; yet, we need to do more than we do now. Furthermore, the care must be culturally competent, or also called culturally safe, care! There will be walls or barriers, often our own. There will be stigma! Sadly, the Desmond family and friends may be isolated. What I learned after the Dave Lucio-Kelly Johnson case, the Johnson survivors were alienated, maybe even shamed. Not-understandably, some of the greatest barriers came from some survivors of suicide. 'Kelly was not one of us', they believed and shared. She is, so is Lionel. Homicide-Suicide is Suicide; based on actual research, we know that it is more like Suicide than Homicide. VAC needs to do more; the last time that I spoke to Mike Blais, too little for soldiers and vets was being done to date. There were Trudeau promises to soldiers and veterans on suicide prevention, like to First Nations/Métis, Inuit people, but to date little action. What will we do?<p>I am sure that this Blog will not make people at the VAC happy. Many decades ago, when we started the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention (CASP), we asked the federal government during an epidemic of suicide among youth, "How many of our young people are you going to let die?" It appeared that citizens are not allowed to ask such questions. The response was that I and some subsequent presidents of CASP, such as Bob Sims, were blacklisted in Ottawa; they even blacklisted CASP itself. The late 1980's to 2010 were dark years for suicide prevention in Canada. This was stigma! Of course, the whole of mental health was in the dark ages; funding for mental health was at a low, with only Iceland contributing less per capita on the world developed stage. Stigma!! Barriers!! The days of blacklisting, I hope and believe, are gone. If not, that is sanctuary trauma (See Blog #10). The Desmond's tragedy can, in fact, be an opportunity to call all of us in Canada together to help our heroes. They served; they now need our help. I think that we can. I know that we can!<p><p><br>References.<p>Bissett, K., & MacDonald, M. (2017, Jan. 7). 'I will fix it', struggling ex-soldier wrote. National Post in Windsor Star, pp. NP1 and NP4.<p>CBC News. (2017, Jan. 6). Veteran struggling with friend's role in apparent murder-suicide. CBC News. <p>D'Aliesio, R., Perreaux, L., & Maki, A. (2016, Nov. 4). We remember. The Globe & Mail, pp. 1 & 11.<p>Leenaars, A. (2010). Suicide and Homicide- Suicide among Police. New York: Routledge.<p>Leenaars, A. (2013). Suicide among the Armed Forces. New York: Routledge.<p>Leenaars, A. (2017). The Psychological Autopsy: A Roadmap for Uncovering the Barren Bones of the Suicide's Mind. New York: Routledge.<p>Leenaars, A., Collins, P., & Sinclair, D. (May 28, 2008). Report to the London Police Service and London Community on the Deaths of David Lucio and Kelly Johnson. Retrieved November, 22, 2008 from <a href="http://www.police.london.ca">http://www.police.london.ca</a>.<p>MacDonald, M. (2017, Jan 5). PTSD suspected after Afgan veteran, wife, daughter, and mother found dead. National Post in Windsor Star, pp. NP1-2.<p>Shneidman, E. (1977). The psychological autopsy. In L. Gottschalk, F. McGuire, E. Dinovo, H. Birch, J. Heiser (Eds.), Guide to the investigation and reporting of drug-abuse deaths (pp. 42-56). Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.<p>Violant, J. (2007). Homicide-suicide in police families: Aggression full circle. International Journal of Emergency Mental Health, 9, 97-104.<p>To unsubscribe from these announcements, login to the forum and uncheck "Receive forum announcements and important notifications by email." in your profile.<p>You can view the full announcement by following this link:<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=16691.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=16691.0</a><p>Regards,<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-90577355350634536522016-11-20T19:11:00.001-05:002016-11-20T19:11:26.955-05:00New announcement: Mefloquine News ArticlesA Clinical Drug Trial Gone Wrong and the Unfinished Business of the Somalia Affair<br><a href="https://imvalliance.org/2016/07/18/a-clinical-drug-trial-gone-wrong-and-the-unfinished-business-of-the-somalia-affair/">https://imvalliance.org/2016/07/18/a-clinical-drug-trial-gone-wrong-and-the-unfinished-business-of-the-somalia-affair/</a><p>Top military physician skeptical about toxicity of malaria medication<br><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/top-military-physician-skeptical-about-toxicity-of-malaria-medication/article32920959/">http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/top-military-physician-skeptical-about-toxicity-of-malaria-medication/article32920959/</a><p>Malaria drug's effect on troops should be examined: Somalia inquiry head<br><a href="https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/malaria-drugs-effect-on-troops-should-be-examined-somalia-inquiry-head-says/article32881571/?ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theglobeandmail.com&cmpid=rss1&click=sf_globe&service=mobile">https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/malaria-drugs-effect-on-troops-should-be-examined-somalia-inquiry-head-says/article32881571/?ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theglobeandmail.com&cmpid=rss1&click=sf_globe&service=mobile</a><p>Defence Minister puts onus on troops while defending use of harmful malaria drug<br><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/sajjan-puts-onus-on-troops-while-defending-use-of-harmful-malaria-drug/article32846896/">http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/sajjan-puts-onus-on-troops-while-defending-use-of-harmful-malaria-drug/article32846896/</a><p>To unsubscribe from these announcements, login to the forum and uncheck "Receive forum announcements and important notifications by email." in your profile.<p>You can view the full announcement by following this link:<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=16542.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=16542.0</a><p>Regards,<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-25926302776579276352016-11-20T16:58:00.001-05:002016-11-20T16:58:58.938-05:00New announcement: Ottawa promises to overhaul mental-health services for militaryOttawa promises to overhaul mental-health services for military<p>Les Perreaux AND Renata D'Aliesio<p>MONTREAL and TORONTO — The Globe and Mail<p>Published Thursday, Nov. 17, 2016 9:26PM EST<p>Last updated Friday, Nov. 18, 2016 10:49AM EST<p>CHECK THIS LINK AS THERE IS VIDEO<br><a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ottawa-prepares-to-overhaul-mental-health-services-for-military/article32919472/?utm_medium=Referrer%3A+Social+Network+%2F+Media&utm_campaign=Shared+Web+Article+Links">http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ottawa-prepares-to-overhaul-mental-health-services-for-military/article32919472/?utm_medium=Referrer%3A+Social+Network+%2F+Media&utm_campaign=Shared+Web+Article+Links</a><p>A year Ago: Defence Minister vows to prioritize mental health of soldiers at every stage <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/defence-minister-vows-to-prioritize-mental-health-of-forces-at-every-stage/article27348814/">http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/defence-minister-vows-to-prioritize-mental-health-of-forces-at-every-stage/article27348814/</a><p>This article is part of The Unremembered, a Globe and Mail investigation into soldiers and veterans who died by suicide after deployment during the Afghanistan mission.<p>The mental-health system for treating military personnel and veterans will undergo a sweeping overhaul to better care for them from boot camp through their retirement years, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan has revealed.<p>Top-ranking officials in Defence and Veterans Affairs are looking at "creating a new structure that's going to not just look after the veteran at the end but start with keeping our soldiers healthy when they're in the military," Mr. Sajjan said in an interview with The Globe and Mail.<p>The minister was not prepared to go into detail on what the overhaul will look like, but he did say he hopes to have a detailed plan in place in 2017. The Trudeau government promised a joint suicide-prevention strategy for veterans and soldiers when it came to office last year after a Globe investigation revealed 54 Afghanistan war vets took their own lives. That toll is now up to 71.<p>Read more: Remembering 31 Canadian Afghanistan war veterans lost to suicide<p>Read more: Suicide toll reveals how system failed Canada's soldiers and veterans<p>Critics have long complained of a major gap in services between the Canadian Armed Forces and civilian life where veterans mainly rely on patchwork provincial systems and where Veterans Affairs falls out of contact with the majority of retired soldiers. Many soldiers and veterans have also criticized the slow pace of reform.<p>A Globe investigation this month into 31 of the 71 confirmed suicide cases of soldiers who served in Afghanistan shed new light on some of those failings. Their families reported incomplete screening, delayed care, ineffective treatment and insufficient support. Most soldiers also expressed dread at the prospect of leaving the military before they died. The 31 accounts are the most comprehensive public record of Canada's Afghanistan war veterans lost to suicide.<p>About 27 per cent of veterans face financial, employment, mental or physical health issues when they leave the Canadian Armed Forces, according to Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr. "We are setting up our department to chip away at that number by giving them a road map when they leave the Canadian Armed Forces to find their new normal," he said in an interview.<p>Mr. Hehr doesn't see the creation of any new structure from his side, however, suggesting a more gradual approach boosting Veterans Affairs involvement when military personnel depart the armed forces. "We'll work with existing structures to have a real closing of the seams," he said.<p>Mr. Sajjan seems intent on a bolder plan, including a long-awaited overhaul of the Joint Personnel Support Unit that was established in 2008 and was meant to help soldiers recover from physical and psychological wounds and ease transition out of the military.<p>Many former soldiers and their families describe it as little more than a way stop on their way out. The recent Globe investigation showed eight of 31 suicide cases were attached to JPSUs. On Nov. 12, a ninth soldier whose last post was at the JPSU killed himself, the Globe has confirmed.<p>"I would not call it a failure," Mr. Sajjan said. "When it was created it met the need it was trying to meet. But it needs to evolve. We're looking at the entire system and how the JPSU is structured is going to be part of it."<p>Retired sergeant-major Barry Westholm, who quit the Eastern Ontario JPSU and the Forces in 2013 because of chronic staffing shortages and insufficient training, said reviews of the unit are taking too long and no tangible improvements have yet been made, despite repeated pledges to fix the broken soldier-support system. He noted long-standing problems at the JPSU have caused a lot of heartache.<p>"They're releasing these poor people in terrible states knowingly and causing, I believe, ultimately suicides," said Mr. Westholm, who was a founding member of the JPSU. He joined the casualty support unit in 2009 because he believed in the concept and wanted to help battered soldiers returning from Afghanistan. He still believes in the JPSU, but said significant improvements are desperately needed to help ill and wounded military members.<p>"We knew in short order the troubles that the unit faced," said Mr. Westholm, who spoke about the JPSU before the Veterans Affairs Committee this past May. "We knew by 2010 we were in trouble. And the entire time, between now and then, it's been the same. No change. They have just been dragging their feet, for whatever reason. I would really love to know the reason."<p>Both ministers insisted they feel a sense of urgency to fill cracks in the system between military and civilian life. Mr. Hehr would like to reinforce new initiatives such as including Veterans Affairs staff in the military release process and conducting exit interviews with soldiers.<p>Mr. Sajjan, a former soldier who served three times in Afghanistan, suggests more expansive measures.<p>A wounded soldier "leaves and then goes on to Veterans Affairs to deal with the file and [the veteran] has to convince Veterans Affairs of what actually happened," Mr. Sajjan said.<p>"That piece is going to be sorted out. … It can't just be remaking the way the system was."<p>If you would like your relative included in the commemoration project of Afghanistan war veterans lost to suicide, please e-mail <a href="mailto:remember@globeandmail.com">remember@globeandmail.com</a><p>To unsubscribe from these announcements, login to the forum and uncheck "Receive forum announcements and important notifications by email." in your profile.<p>You can view the full announcement by following this link:<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=16540.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=16540.0</a><p>Regards,<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-86852028725735624682016-07-19T22:26:00.001-04:002016-07-19T22:26:21.003-04:00New announcement: Ste. Anne's Hospital...ref Mr. Marcel Beluse ,"A TALE OF TWO CITIES" (OTTAWA-QC)Ste. Anne's Hospital...ref Mr. Marcel Beluse ,"A TALE OF TWO CITIES" (OTTAWA &QUEBEC)<p><br>To Whom It May Concern....and sure as hell it should concern anyone who is at all concerned about the continuing welfare of the hundreds of helpless Veterans still surviving (but hardly thriving) at Ste. Anne's Hospital, following the April Fool's Day transfer of that once-fine facility to the ministrations of La Belle Province.<p>Hereunder, you will (I trust) be (dis)pleased to find a verbatim copy of a no-laughing -matter letter recently received from Ms Micheline Beluse, the devoted but disillusioned daughter of a Veteran on my floor, disappointed and despairing of the current care and treatment being tendered to her frail and ailing father.<p>It is my contention, and that of Micheline and a plentitude of other persons partial to the better interests of our vulnerable (albeit not always venerable) Veterans, that the promised prior level of care is not being accorded to them, in accordance with the underlying terms of the Transfer Agreement, which are being blatantly broken and breached at turn after turn, day after day.<p>Such palpable violations are manifested and exemplified in the poignant and pathetic letter below, presented as it is, for what it is, and representing but one voice on behalf of just one of the many other Veterans who are subject to similar egregious experiences, which are all too often, for reasons of feared retaliation, not voiced with volition.<p>It is my fervent plea--and hope-- that the elements so expounded and exposed in Ms Beluse's compelling communication, will be considered and corrected by the Transition Committee, not just as specific situations, but as symptoms of the overall and underlying primary problems permeating Ste. Anne's Hospital as we know it today Those dire and destructive <br>"TEN PLAGUES" , from which most of the ills besetting the patients infiltrate into their daily life routines, lie embedded within the faults and flaws to be found in the new nature of, and Provincial personnel protocols pertaining to and/or producing, the following :.....<p>STAFF SELECTION ...STAFF TRAINING...STAFF SHORTAGES...STAFF ROTATION...<br>STAFF PART-TIME POSTS...STAFF INDIFFERENCE...STAFF INCOMPETENCE...<br>STAFF PLACEMENTS...STAFF INSECURITY...and STAFF MORALE, AT ITS VERY NADIR.<p>Now, "cut & paste", or superimpose that plethora of problems upon the proper level of care pledged to our Veterans, and, inevitably, those negatives will produce a picture of pure chaos, consternation, confusion and concern affecting the patients, in place of the constant core of comfort , contentment and confidence which prevailed in the pre-Provincial period.<p>Unless and until principal personnel policy and procedural changes are promptly and positively designed and implemented by the Transition Committee, fully reinforced by "the full faith and credit" of Veterans Affairs Canada, the disease duo of decline and deterioration will spread and infect the few, final years left to the final, few Veterans still left, b seeking sanctuary and shelter, in the dwindling shadow of Ste. Anne's Hospital, originally intended to serve as their penultimate place of peace and rest, not trauma and turmoil.<p>Having pronounced my preamble, I will now clear the way for Ms Micheline Beluse to present her compelling case, on behalf of her father and his fellow-Veterans.<p>NE KAH NE TAH<p>Wolf Solkin<br>Ste. Anne's Hospital<p>-------------<p>July 13 2016 <p>Hello, Mr. Solkin<br>This follows the discussion we had last week and I thank you for your help and patience.<p>On Monday I went to my father's closet to get him a clean shirt and found that the ones we had put in the wash more than 2 weeks ago had not been returned. I then went to the sock and underwear drawer and found that Dad had not been putting his underwear in the wash. I looked at the socks…I had been wondering why he was washing them himself and found that most of the socks I had bought him were gone. I asked Paul the attendant on Dad's floor and Gercia the nurse about this and they both said that the people who pick up the bags for the wash don't sort out what is taken care of at Ste-Anne and the pieces such as facecloths, towels and sheets that are being sent out to an independent facility. The result is that clothes disappear. The independent facility does not return the residents' clothing despite the fact everything is clearly identified with name, floor, Ste-Anne Hospital. I asked what was being done since I don't seem to be the first family member to be confused about this…and they had no idea. All they could tell me is that the staff is constantly reminded not to send out the personal clothing but the constant rotation I now have to go buy Dad new clothes, trust that they will be properly identified and returned…but I have my doubts. My Dad is now paranoid about changing his clothes…<p>I have noticed that there is a change in the quality of the food that is fed to the residents. I thought it was just me so I asked the other residents if they had noticed anything as well. Yes they had. As an example, I was with Dad at lunchtime and he had a sandwich, fruit, milk and tea. I was sure dinner would be more copious and better balanced. In fact dinner was a very small helping of baked beans, fries, ketchup and a desert. The residents are not complaining and I asked why…the answer was they are afraid of reprisals and the people attending meals can't do anything about replacing a meal that is not satisfactory. I am perplexed. The dietician in charge of our unit is Monica, very devoted and attentive to the residents. She is present at almost every lunch time but appears to be unable to control what comes up from the kitchens… In the past the meals were served at a fixed time…on the dot. Now the meals can be up to an hour late. In the past if a resident was unable to eat the food or found it unpalatable or was dissatisfied, a substitute was provided. This no longer happens. The meal is the meal, like it or leave it. I have asked Dad to keep the meal slips for me so that I can see what he is fed since I am not present at all sittings. <p>I have to say that the food at the cafeteria is not what it used to be either…but I am not a resident and have a choice to go elsewhere. The Veterans don't.<br>On the subject: One of Dad's little joys is his daily can of Pepsi. I got a call from Monica last week and she was upset. Apparently the contractor has been changed and only Coke is being served now. Dad got really upset with Monica who can do little about it. She asked me could I please run by the store and bring him some to keep him happy. I did. What I don't understand is that the little snack bar in the atrium doesn't seem to have a problem getting soft drinks but the hospital does. <p>We now seem to have won the war of toilet paper penury. To palliate I have brought in extras that I put in the night table by Dad's bed. It only took a little over a month to convince the staff in charge of sanitation that a person in a wheelchair and who is on stool softeners cannot access the extra rolls set on top of the paper towel dispenser. A little over a month and a few trips to Walmart. M<p>The facecloths and towels are not regularly furnished or replaced. The result is that Dad may have to use the same facecloth and towel for several days…they get to have an unpleasant odor.<p>We now have a problem with the designated 'family room'. When Dad was admitted and the Federal Government was in charge of Ste-Anne the current situation did not exist. As a family member I am restricted to the use of the bathroom in that room. I cannot use the resident's facilities…none of them. Now I find that if I need to go to the bathroom, there is likely a staff member there and I have to wait my turn. The staff also uses the room for naps and snacks. Last week I had to ask permission to go use the staff bathroom as the family room's was occupied but the staff's wasn't. From October to April this did not happen once. With personnel cuts this should not happen. The attendants I know say that either they use the family room facilities or have to wait for the relief person to come and take over while they run to the staff bathroom. <p>The family room runs out of soap on a regular basis as does the large resident bathroom in the hallway. I spoke to Simon Leblanc about all this. Nothing has changed. <p>I have asked to meet with Dr. Richer who has now taken over Dad's care. I hope to see her at the upcoming interdisciplinary meeting on the 22nd. That I know of, there have been no full checkups or bloodwork done on Dad since the takeover. He has gained a lot of weigh and I am concerned. The nurses have put notes in his record. He has also complained about dry eyes and now I'm waiting to see if anything is being done about this. Catching up with the nurse on duty is not always easy.<p>There have been three incidences of nigh orderlies (or nurses, hard to tell) coming into Dad's room around 4 A.M. to take blood pressure. Waking an older gentleman at that hour is bad enough but what puts him in a fury is that these 'équipe volante' persist in putting the sides up on his bed. This happened again last week. Dad was furious and the head nurse on duty had to be called in. Dad considers putting up the sides of his bed unnecessary and entering to his room without prior advice or knocking an invasion of privacy. This is his home and in his home he sleeps in the buff and goes to the bathroom at least twice in the nighthhb…he doesn't want to hit his head on the metal sides either. The relief people do not read the notes. Fortunately they have stopped trying to take his hearing aids away.<p>I bought batteries for Dad's hearing aids since the nurses' cabinet didn't have more than 2. I was told that all Dad needed to do was go down to the clinic and ask for some. Dad has no idea how to do this and telling him is useless. He has short term memory loss and gets easily disorientated. I will do this for him now. This never happened before the takeover.<p>In April, Dad's eyeglass frames had to be repaired and the attendant took them to the clinic. The clinic warned that unfortunately the frames were old and couldn't be repaired again: he needed new glasses. On the 19th Nurse Gercia called for an ophthalmology consult. This was refused because Dad had cancelled his appointment in December while under the influence of a powerful drug administered by the hospital. We were told he would only be seen next December. I had to argue and argue and finally got an appointment on the 19th of June and the glasses are being ordered. If the frames had broken my Dad would have been both hard of hearing and unable to get around…he would have been blind as well.<p>In April, Dad's wheelchair seat was so soiled that it had become malodorous. I asked that it be cleaned and the request was made. And refused. Apparently this is only done once a year and it wasn't his turn. It was the attendant Paul who went downstairs and did the cleaning himself. Two attendants are still here from the old set: Paul and Julie. We are very grateful for this.<p>In May, one of the other residents got very belligerent and threatened Dad. He was alarmed and so was I. I had seen that man wheel himself into another resident's room and pick a fight. The attending nurse had run down the hallway at the ruckus and hurriedly wheeled the man away to his room. Neither Dad nor I knew whether the man was able to cause damage. Both Adrienne and I talked to the head nurse to express our concerned and the whole matter was pretty much dismissed until we said the next time we would have Dad call the police…this was scoffed at as the police could do nothing. We pointed out that at least there would be a record of the event and if things turned ugly the hospital would be held responsible. The situation has not re-occurred and the resident is now nowhere near my father. <p>All and all, Mr. Solkin, things are more and more difficult since the takeover. It seems like a whole lot of little problems and some serious ones are forcing me to have boots on the ground and eyes all around which did not happen under the old regime. I had complete confidence in the care and attention to detail. My Dad was safe and well taken care of. If I had a problem, I would speak to the nurse and she would refer me to the proper department…case solved. Now, I never know what next and I find Dad becoming more irascible as obstacles pile up.<p>Thanks again for your attention and help<p>Micheline Beluse, Marcel Beluse's daughter<p>To unsubscribe from these announcements, login to the forum and uncheck "Receive forum announcements and important notifications by email." in your profile.<p>You can view the full announcement by following this link:<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=16225.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=16225.0</a><p>Regards,<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1212015425667744476.post-87163775959731716132016-06-15T07:22:00.001-04:002016-06-15T07:22:43.687-04:00New announcement: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VETERAN in THE NEW AND (un)IMPROVED STE. ANNE'S HOSPITALA DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VETERAN in THE NEW AND (un)IMPROVED STE. ANNE'S HOSPITAL
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<br>One day, earlier this week, I decided to keep a mini-journal of my experiences, "for the record". The day began like most other days (since we were handed. over by The Government of Canada to that of Quebec), with breakfast being served almost one hour later than should be the case, because of insufficient staff. This, in turn, caused delays and even cancellations of other scheduled appointments and activities further on, with consequent consternation and confusion for me and, especially, some of my more fragile fellow-Vets.
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<br>Next to arrive , was a new-ish nurse with my medications, and for the third time in as many weeks, I found that (the same) med was missing, and had to bring that to the nurse's attention, as she had apparently not had enough time or training to thoroughly check my dosage dossier.
<br>It was no big deal for me, because I am, fortunately, still adequately alert and reasonably vocal enough, to rectify such a situation in timely fashion....but what of those of my comrades who may not be quite as cognizant, attentive and verbal as I ?
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<br>Then came a lone orderly, new to me, but with one month on the job, well-spoken (albeit in French only), who was sufficiently self-conscious of her lack of experience, to ask me what I needed done, to prepare me for the day. That was reasonably acceptable to me***, rather than, as has been too often the case with other "new"orderlies, to have them burst in like the proverbial bull in a china-shop, leaving complete chaos in their wake. But again, how are similar situations being handled by some of my buddies who neither understand nor speak French, even as fractured as mine ? How can they possibly communicate their needs and routines to a unilingual, novice nurse or orderly, especially if they are too challenged or fearful to be able to express their wants, let alone object to their treatment, in whatever language ?
<br>***[Notwithstanding, I must confess to an increasing weariness on my part with having to deal, every damnable day, with so many floor personnel who are still using training wheels, and are only truly qualified for a "Learner's license". I didn't sign on to be their teacher/supervisor !].
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<br>Following that, with a blood pressure machine in tow, there arrived an "old guard " nurse who, while normally on nights, was today (yet again) called in for special day shift duty, to fill another one in the seemingly ceaseless stream of short-of-staff spots. Her major complaints centred on the incessant, continuing conditions compelling her, and her colleagues and orderlies, to be constantly changing wings and floors, as well as shifts, causing the employees to have a sinking sense of instability, compounded by irritability, further resulting in riding roughshod over her patients, exacerbating their existing timidity and insecurity, fueled by their inherent fear of the unfamiliar and the unexpected.
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<br>She has, as indeed I have from the outset, placed the blame for the current crisis in the staff situation upon the Province's deliberate policy of replacing virtually every one of the previous (Federal) full-time nurse and orderly positions with two half-time jobs . It is said by some apologists that Quebec's reason for this major change in our staff structure, was to achieve greater efficiency, but the consensus among those in the line of fire, is that the true motive was to save mounds of money, by not having the obligation to contribute to pensions, sick leave pay, paid vacations and other pricey "perks" mandated for full-time personnel. That may be so, superficially, but the negative result is that too many employees, now hired for only two or three shifts per week, and thus unable to provide for their basic needs, are compelled to seek a second job elsewhere. As a consequence, they are usually unavailable when called in to replace "no-shows", leaving yawning gaps in service and
<br> causing inevitable collateral damage to the high level of service publicly pledged to me and my housemates, by Veterans Affairs Canada.
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<br>As well, these part-timers,primarily new hires, inevitably develop little or no loyalty toward Ste. Anne's or its patients, as they fast come to consider this as "just another job". Moreover, since they are treated and referred to more as numbers, rather than by name, they tend, in turn, to treat me and my band of brothers more with indifference, than within a common culture of care and compassion, which previously existed. It may indeed be , that "What happens in Vegas , stays in Vegas", but it is equally true that WHAT HAPPENS TO OUR STAFF, STAYS WITH OUR VETERANS, as one is the inseparable, interdependent Yin to the Yang of the other.
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<br>My next visitor was a third and highly qualified, experienced nurse, who bemoaned the frustrating fact that her shift, which normally called for five orderlies, was short-changed by having only three report for duty, ( for a 40% staff shortage !), creating a far heavier work load for her than normal, amid the additional frenzied preparations obliging all the employees (but one), to leave the floor for duty at the monthly "Community Luncheon" in the auditorium. She shared with me that she has for so long been upset by, and "sick and tired"of the current, ongoing dreadful state of affairs, with its negative impact upon her work and added stress upon her well-being, that she is very seriously considering quitting her job, much as she would hate the thought of "abandoning my Veterans" after so many years in their service. But she feels that her ongoing fatigue and irritability could cause her to make mistakes, be short-tempered with her staff and patients, and lose focus just whe
<br> n she might need it most. All to the detriment of her cherished charges.
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<br>My next notable encounter was with my new Doctor, in whom I have every confidence as a competent and caring professional. Her major drawback, however. Is the new (Provincial) protocol, which makes her available to me, or any one patient on any given floor, only one day per week,( barring an exigent emergency), rather than much more often, as was the practise in the past. The disadvantages to me, and my confreres, of such a restricted regimen , is self-evident.
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<br>The last "event" of the day, was the full-cycle appearance on the scene of still one more, fresh-of-face and noticeably nervous new orderly, assigned to prepare me for sleep, who almost laughably queried, "What should I do, sir?".... The only part of that question that I did not bristle at, was the nostalgically satisfying sound of "sir".
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<br>Over the course of just this one day, I was subject to a full range of the root circumstances and experiences encompassing the basic ills besetting me and my beleaguered brothers and sisters, in what is being publicly, but improperly, proclaimed as a successful and "seamless transition". We are facing the onslaught of our very own, non-Biblical, version of "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse : Staff Standards, Staff Training, Staff Shortages and Shifts, and Staff Performance, to which I would dare add yet a fifth and sixth "riders", namely, lower Staff Values, and severe Staff Malaise.
<br>I have treated with these plagues before, but like the self-same Bible, it bears reviewing daily.
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<br>These actual incidents encompass my litany of the acts and facts contributing to and culminating in the veritable violation of those specific terms of the Transfer Agreement, which were designed to guarantee my/our rights to a continued, undiluted, undegraded level/standard of care at Ste. Anne's Hospital.
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<br>Sad to say , my typical day is a clear manifestation of that failure, and I unhesitatingly forecast that conditions will continue to deteriorate, failing drastic intervention by our erstwhile guardians at Veterans Affairs Canadami, as time "progresses", and as increasing numbers of civilian patients are transferred here, from other Provincial facilities, to fill all four of our empty floors.
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<br>By then, the (in)famous Transfer Agreement, might just as well have been writ in invisible ink, which can only be brought to life again by the might and ministrations of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
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<br>So fasten your seat belts, Ladies and Gentlemen, it's going to be a bumpy ride !
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<br>NE KAH NE TAH
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<br>Wolf William Solkin
<br>Ste. Anne's Hospital
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<br>MORE AMMO FOR THE BIG GUNS.
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<br>Hi, Michel: as a precursor to your meeting of the Transition Committee, come June 14th, I had an unexpected and fortuitous visit to my HQ, just yesterday, from a very fine, but palpably perturbed lady, Micheline Beluse, whose father, is a WW II Veteran here at the transferred (and transformed) Ste. Anne's Hospital.
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<br>Ms. Beluse had inquired about whom she should approach for assistance, and was referred to me , rather than to the Residents' Committee or the Ombudsman, as an advocate with possible influence and some integrity. After she had recounted her story, I requested that she commit the gist of it to writing, so that I could vouch for its validity, if challenged. What follows is a verbatim, true transcription of the brief letter she willingly penned, in my presence :
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<br>"10 June 2016
<br>Went to visit my Dad,Marcel Beluse, at lunch time on Tuesday, and two of the residents complained that their lunch (the meat) was inedible. They were quite vocal about it in French and English - no offer to replace the meal was made***. The meal was already 45 minutes late, and one of the residents had left the (dining) room having lost his appetite. As I was leaving one of the two residents approached me and said--'WILL YOU SPEAK FOR US, PLEASE ? WE NO LONGER HAVE A VOICE', This was the most distressing thing I have ever heard. The poor man was distraught and was pleading with me. He also said they were afraid to say anything".
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<br>(Sgd.) Micheline Beluse
<br>***[such an offer is supposed to be, and previously was, standard practise].
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<br>There is little or nothing I could possibly add to this absolutely angering and terribly tragic exposure of the innermost feelings of serious sadness and hopelessness, pervading among far too many of our hapless Veterans.
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<br>It gives me no satisfaction whatsoever to know that I had correctly anticipated and announced such an outcome, among others, following the by-now legendary but, I trust, discredited "seamless transition". The only satisfaction I could ever possibly derive from such a scenario, would come, if that day ever arrives, when I can, happily and gratefully. no longer deem it necessary to publicly air similar sorrowful stories, and devote my iPad to "the good stuff", instead of inspiring only tears and fears.
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<br>I need now take the liberty, on my own behalf and that of many other of my fellow- Veterans at Ste. Anne's, to express heartfelt thanks to Ms. Micheline Beluse, for her courageous initiative and strength of purpose in standing up, publicly, to safeguard the rights of her father and his companionate Veterans, (myself proudly included), currently "confined to barracks", for the duration.
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<br>NE KAH NE TAH
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<br>You can view the full announcement by following this link:
<br><a href="http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=16142.0">http://canadianveteransadvocacy.com/Board2/index.php?topic=16142.0</a>
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<br>Regards,
<br>The The Canadian Veterans Advocacy - One Veteran, One Standard Team.Canadian Veterans Advocacyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07880107802140294910noreply@blogger.com0