Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino has apologized for being 鈥渧ery late鈥� for a meeting Tuesday with a group of veterans who later called for his resignation.
The meeting had been scheduled to discuss the closure of eight Veterans Affairs regional offices, but veterans said they 鈥渨aited and waited,鈥� only to have Fantino show up late, answer a few questions and then leave.
鈥淵esterday, due to cabinet meeting that ran long, I was very late in meeting a group of veterans that had come to Ottawa to discuss their concerns,鈥� Fantino said in a statement Wednesday.
鈥淚 sincerely apologize for how this was handled. Today, I am reaching out to those veterans to reiterate that apology personally.鈥�
NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair said Wednesday that Prime Minister Stephen Harper needs to fire Fantino for treating veterans 鈥渃allously.鈥�
鈥淲ill the prime minister do the right thing, apologize himself and fire that incompetent?鈥� he asked during question period.
Mulcair鈥檚 question was later echoed by Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.
Harper replied by saying that Fantino has already apologized.
鈥淲e have said very clearly that we have provided unprecedented levels of service to our veterans and we will continue to do so,鈥� the prime minister said.
In his statement, Fantino said he has been 鈥渃ommitted to having an open dialogue with the men and women who served Canada in uniform, but I realize that yesterday鈥檚 regrettable delay has brought that into question.
鈥淰eterans across Canada should know that I remain deeply committed to meeting with them and listening to the issues that matter to them and their families, and to continue to do what鈥檚 right to support those who have stood up for Canada.鈥�
In the House of Commons Wednesday, Fantino said that the Conservative government has made 鈥渞ecord investments鈥� to veterans鈥� services since 2006.
Tuesday鈥檚delegation included veterans of the Second World War who travelled to Ottawa to tell Fantino that regional office closures will force them to travel long distances in order to obtain services and benefits.
Offices in Kelowna, B.C., Saskatoon, Brandon, Man., Thunder Bay, Ont., Windsor, Ont., Sydney N.S., Charlottetown and Corner Brooke, N.L., are scheduled to close Friday as the government moves to more online services.
Some veterans also say the inability to access services could have dire consequences for former soldiers suffering from mental health issues.
The Conservative government has said that veterans will still be able to get everything they need from the 584 Service Canada offices across the country.
Harper reiterated that on Wednesday.
But Mulcair said that, starting Monday, 鈥渟ome (veterans) who are over 90 years of age will have to go to Service Canada offices and stand in line to then be sent to a computer.鈥�
