MP Gallant hosts Veterans Affairs Committee Visit to CFB Petawawa

April 15, 2008

Petawawa, Ontario - Cheryl Gallant, MP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, is pleased with the warm reception members of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs received during recent hearings at CFB Petawawa.

“As the local MP whose riding includes CFB Petawawa, I have been encouraging my colleagues on the Veterans Affairs Committee to visit Petawawa and witness first hand an operational army base in action,” remarked MP Cheryl Gallant. “Some were surprised to learn that CFB Petawawa is the largest army base in the Province of Ontario. The next deployment to Afghanistan will be from Petawawa, starting next month. There is as much preparation for the soldiers leaving as there is for when they return.”

The committee is concerned with the proper allocation of resources to provide the best of care to Veterans.

“One of the highlights of the meeting was a presentation by the Director of the Casualty Support Management Detachment at Petawawa, Lorraine Shirley. Last September, the centre was opened to provide casualty support services to all military members (regular forces and reservists) and veterans who were injured, medically released or became ill while serving, as well as to their families. The support is here,” observed Cheryl Gallant, MP.

“The local challenge stems from the fact that Pembroke and Petawawa are under serviced communities when it comes to provincial healthcare. There is the same lack of physicians for service personnel and their families as there is for the rest of the local population. Medical follow-up for releasing personnel is difficult when there are not enough local physicians. The Province of Ontario takes millions of dollars in healthcare premiums from service personnel while refusing to allow licensing of sufficient physicians for positions as provide local family doctors,” remarked MP Gallant.

“The Pembroke District Office of Veterans Affairs has a client base of 2700. While about 60% are Canadian Forces pensioners, over 1,100 clients are still considered to be “traditional” veterans. Unlike other offices, Pembroke is growing and will continue to grow. The Province must address the local doctor shortage, concluded Cheryl Gallant, MP.”