Upset about the federal government's plans to close the Sydney office of Veterans Affairs Canada, members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) held a candlelight vigil at the gates of the garrison, where they had learned MacKay was to attend a dinner for junior ranks. However, after arriving on the site, they were told the minister was unable to make the dinner.Military police spokesperson Sgt. Freeman Mullins confirmed that MacKay would not be attending the event.
"Nothing has been passed along to me as to why he's not showing up," he said. "He can't make it. I don't know why."
Edie Boyles, a longtime Veterans Affairs employee in Sydney and a representative of the Union of Veterans Affairs Employees, a component union of PSAC, was among those at the vigil which drew approximately 60 people.
"We wanted (MacKay) to take the message back to the Prime Minister that we would like him to reverse his decision to close Veterans Affairs offices," she said. "Closing federal offices affects the whole community, and families and schools and everybody."
The Sydney Veterans Affairs office is among nine across Canada slated for closure over the next two years. Federal officials have said that veterans in Cape Breton will be able to get service at five Service Canada locations on the island and will still be able to receive at-home visits.
Boyles said Service Canada can't provide the services that Veterans Affairs employees do because they're not trained in the field and can't give the personal touch.
"We as Veterans Affairs employees are the experts so we really need our services here and the veterans certainly deserve it. They fought a long time and they shouldn't have to fight this battle," she said.
Veterans have also argued that some can't make trips to an office in Halifax and others don't want to struggle with accessing the federal department over the phone or online.
Brent Duff, a civilian employee of the Department of National Defence, participated in the vigil and is concerned about the young veterans he works with on a daily basis losing an important support service.
"They depend on (Veterans Affairs) and they're only young and they do have computer skills and they can use the phone but there's no better feeling than when they're face to face," said Duff.
Veteran Vince Rigby, who served in Croatia and Bosnia, credits the local Veterans Affairs office with saving his life. He said there's a trust between local veterans and Sydney office employees.
"These people know our stories already. We don't have to explain ourselves over and over again and be traumatized by our own stories again," he said. "They can get answers for you. They get you the help you need right away."
Sydney-Victoria MP Mark Eyking was at the vigil and said it's a shame MacKay was not there to see the outpouring of concern.
"He was supposed to come down to recognize the young soldiers in there, which is very good, but I think at the end of the day, we cannot stop there. When the soldiers are done of their duty and they're a veteran, that's when you really need to take care of them," he said. "I still have another week in the House of Commons so I'm going to bring this message back Monday in the House."
Original Article
Source: cape breton post
Author: Laura Jean Grant
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