Corner Brook Veterans Affairs office reopening a relief to local vet

A veteran from Summerside is applauding the Liberal government's promise to reopen the Corner Brook Veterans Affairs office, which the former Conservative government closed in January 2014.

"We are very relieved. It's been a hard two years for everybody on the west coast," Paul Davis told The Corner Brook Morning Show.

Last week, Veterans Affairs Minister Kent Hehr confirmed the nine closed offices across the country would reopen, although he did not specify that they would return to their original locations. 

A spokesperson later confirmed those locations, including Corner Brook, would be reopening. 

There's no clear timeline as to when that would take place.

"This is a new government, and as fast as we all want to go, things aren't happening as fast as we'd like them to go," said Long Range Mountains MP Gudie Hutchings, who added she has provided the minister with information on the Corner Brook office.

'It's been very hard'

Since the closure, the nearest physical office has been in St. John's, although one employee did work part-time in Corner Brook. Veterans also had the option of calling a helpline.

"It's been very hard on a lot of veterans, especially our senior veterans," said Davis.

"It's confusing for them now, where they're so used to walking into our offices in Corner Brook, and getting served and looked after right away, to now have to make phone calls and travel long distances into St. John's."

Davis actively campaigned against the closure, protesting in Corner Brook and Ottawa, as well as trying to meet with former Veterans Affairs Minister Julian Fantino.

Davis hopes for a better relationship with Hehr.

"We're optimistic we have someone good in there, and we're going to get some results, good results," said Davis.