NDP Call for Veterans-RCMP Centre

Fall River (D2N) – NDP Veterans Affairs Critic Peter Stoffer has sewn a seed he hopes to watch grow and bloom. The NDP Member of Parliament for Sackville-South Shore and NDP MP for Halifax Megan Leslie, today called for the government to begin the process of reviewing and planning for the construction of a Veterans-RCMP Health Centre of Excellence to replace the Camp Hill Hospital.

“The idea is a seed was planted today,” said Stoffer at a press conference held at his constituency office in Fall River; “we have let the general public know.” The MP said the matter is a federal responsibility assisted by the province.

Stoffer and Leslie were joined by Tom Watters, who is with the Walter Callow Wheelchair Busses for Veterans; Veteran Bill McGuire, a Peer Support Worker with Occupational Stress Injury Social Services (OSISS); Dave Shaw representing Army, Navy and Airforce veterans, and veteran care specialist Dr. Heather MacKinnon. Anne James, director of Human Resources for Commissionaires Nova Scotia, and Amy Jeans, also with Commissionaires Nova Scotia were in attendance as well.

Stoffer and Leslie called for the government to begin planning for a new facility to house all veterans and retired members of the RCMP who have served their country, along with their spouses. Presently, only veterans of WWII and the Korean War are accepted at Camp Hill – and their spouses are not. “There is a strict requirement to get in,” Stoffer said. The MP wants to see a larger and more efficient care facility constructed which will be able to take in all veterans and their husbands or wives who need care. It would also be a place where veterans could receive the support needed to be able to deal with their injuries and illnesses. The new facility could take ten years to happen. “It’s time to initiate these plans and ideas now,” said Stoffer. “It will take many years to plan, design and co-ordinate.”

“We want to be proactive, not reactive,” said Stoffer. “We want to have proactive discussions about a long-term care facility for veterans and their spouses.” There is presently no hospital that allows veterans and spouses to stay together at the end of their lives. Stoffer cited the case of a couple married 60 years; both were in the final stages of life. The husband was in Camp Hill Hospital and his spouse was not allowed to stay with him. Sadly, they died separately.

“Between now and the time we go to bed tonight, 80 to 90 world war vets will pass on; if we include retired RCMP, there are 170 to 180 every day,” Stoffer said. “There is only one World War I veteran left, and he is 109 years of age.

There are thousands of veterans, and Stoffer says the government needs to be very inclusive, of both military and RCMP members. Lieutenant Colonel retired Dr. Heather MacKinnon works with veterans and said 80 to 90% of her patients are ex-military or ex-RCMP. She said some have severe illnesses and need permanent care but they don’t qualify for Camp Hill; “they will not qualify for the same level of care,” said MacKinnon. The doctor advocates transitional services to help the veterans with things like paperwork, while treating both the physical and psychological needs of each. “They have served their country and we should give them the care they deserve,” she said.

Murray Brown has spent 36 years as a member of the RCMP and hopes the new plan and facility will include retired RCMP members. “We are the “lost cousin” in the eyes of Veteran Affairs,” he said. “We are trying to educate them; this is not acceptable and unprofessional. We are asking to be integrated into the programs that have been put in place (for veterans).”

Veteran Bill Maguire says Veterans Affairs must understand the needs of the veterans to be able to properly help them. Maguire enlisted in the military at the age of 15 and served 37 years; he now suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD.) Maguire does not qualify to get into the Camp Hill Hospital for care. He, like many other veterans, will go on a waiting list for placement in a nursing home if and when he requires that level of care. “We need people out there who know where we are coming from; to have these people trained would be a giant leap,” said Maguire, who is a peer support worker with the Operational Stress Service Injury Support Centre in Halifax. He spoke of the care needed by veterans living with painful injuries, such as having no knees left, or damaged backs from carrying 150 lb. packs around, all the results of performing years of service to this country. “One man has chronic pain, he can’t dress himself, can’t walk or drive, but he has been denied VIP,” said Maguire. “Another fellow tried to commit suicide; it goes on and on.”

Maguire also wants to see a support system in place to assist the husbands and wives of veterans. “We need to have a program for the spouses; we need someone to make contact with them and to give him or her guidance,” he said. “We have to get somewhere we can go, and put our trust in this system. All we want is to be treated fairly and with dignity.”

Stoffer said he appreciates the care Staff at the Camp Hill Hospital gives to the veterans. “On behalf of all of us, we thank the staff at Camp Hill Hospital for the service they have done. We would like to include them in a new facility,” he said.

Despite his problems Maguire said he would do it the same again if he had to. “I’d enlist again, I’d do it again,” he said. “I would, I just do not want to be looked at as a 2nd or 3rd class citizen.”

Stoffer said it’s to include men like Maguire that a new facility is required. “The new facility should be for people 20 to 100 years old, and should be able to accommodate the needs of these vets,” he said. “If we work with the province and the municipalities, we will then see a tremendous bright light open up for these veterans.”

“With the rapid passing of WWII and Korean veterans we know that the future of Camp Hill hospital is up for debate. It’s time to open discussions about the need for a new facility to address the needs of our other veterans and their families,” said Stoffer.

“This discussion needs to happen right across the country,” said Leslie. “Camp Hill is just one of the veterans’ care facilities facing an uncertain future, and we need to make sure our veterans across the country can access quality care,” she added.

“It’s wonderful to say “We Support the Troops”, said Stoffer, “but what happens after the uniform comes off?” he asked. “We want the support in place now. We in government have the ultimate responsibility to meet their needs, all the way to the gravestone.”

MP Leslie presented veteran Dave Shaw, Murray Brown, and Dr. Heather MacKinnon with memorial Vimy Medals.