STE -ANNE-DE-DE-BELLEVUE, QC, May 20, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - "The way things are shaping up, war veterans might not escape the Harper government's steamroller," declared Yvan Thauvette , president of the Union of Veterans Affairs Employees, during a press conference this afternoon at Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue Hospital.
Indeed, the federal government wants to get rid of the Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue veterans' hospital. The Minister of Veterans Affairs, Mr. Fantino, is responsible for negotiating the devolution of the hospital to the province of Quebec. But negotiations have been stalled for months and his ministry lacks transparency.
"The situation is of concern to everyone, said Mr. Thauvette. We all wonder whether it is appropriate for government to get down to attack anyone, even those who risked their lives to defend their country. I was hoping to raise the issues of concern to veterans, their families and the hospital staff with Minister Fantino, but it constantly avoids addressing these issues with the Union. "
Minister Fantino has once again avoided an opportunity today by not showing up for a ceremony in which he was supposed to present a veteran with a memorial medal.
"The minister's attitude reflects that the maintenance of services to Veterans is far from being a priority for the Harper government, as also evidenced by the recent closure of Veterans Affairs regional service offices across the country."
SOURCE: Public Service Alliance of Canada, Québec region
Catherine Lapierre- Ouellet, Union Representative, Alliance of the Public Service of Canada, Quebec Region, Cell: 514-607-2755, Email: [email protected]
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