A small group of veterans gathered Monday to express their outrage over how they have been treated by the Department of Veteran Affairs.
Ted Shiner attended today's news conference. The 90-year-old Second World War veteran feels the governmental department that was established to help vets like him has let them down.
Shiner is dealing with aches and pains caused by a recent fall and because of this he needs assistance with housekeeping. He also says he is barely able to take dishes out of his cabinet.
"…even with my left hand, I just get enough of a grip, but it's risky," says Shiner.
Shiner says the Department of Veterans Affairs insists he does not qualify for help and that the department has never made it clear to him why his claim was rejected.
"…I'm level zero and I had to be level two before I receive assistance, but there is no definition," says Shiner. "You don't know anything about the scale, you don't know whether it's valid or reliable."
The NDP and Liberals held a rare combined news conference on the issue.
"Ninety-years-old, think about it, 90-years-old, that alone should have gotten him the VIP service he's asking for," says NDP Veteran Affairs critic Peter Stoffer.
"The issue is so compelling," says Liberal MP Geoff Regan. "It's so frustrating, as a member of parliament, to have cases like these. We have many veterans who are not getting the help they need."
The department responded to this morning's news conference with an email. In it, the government claims that benefits for veterans have actually been enhanced in the last few years, through the new veteran's charter, among other things.
Shiner says he doesn't know how he's going to appeal the decision without getting precise reasons for the refusal of his application. For now, he does what he can to clean his home.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Ron Shaw
