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Thursday, February 6, 2014 Freddy & Linda Marks
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STILL NO COMFORT Parents of young worker killed say Worksafe not helping
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JESSICA PETERS / OBSERVER
Film crews work to clean up the mess from a controlled explosion of a truck on Pioneer Ave. on Friday night, downtown Agassiz. A crowd of about 100 people braved the cold to watch the scene being shot for the television series Wayward Pines.This was episode five of a 10-episode series, and the crew will be back in a few weeks.
ANDREW BACK ON STAGE Agassiz’s hometown singer returns for one show
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PRICE PLUS TAX, Agassiz location only. Valid after 5 pm upon presentation of this coupon until February 28/14
Veteran service cuts under fire Changes are mostly administrative, says MP Strahl
Jessica Peters THE OBSERVER
Changes to how veterans can access services have come under fire over the last week, after several offices were closed across the country and responsibility shifted into the hands of Service Canada workers. Veterans across the country protested as eight Veterans Affairs offices were closed, including those in Kelowna and Prince George. By this Monday, all NDP, Liberals and independent members of parliament were calling for them to be reopened. They also urged the Harper government to immediately address
the mental health crisis facing administrative change,” he said, and Canadian soldiers and veterans by services that were once available hiring appropriate mental in those VAC offices health professionals, and will now be available in to prioritize and conclude Service Canada offices. more than 50 military In many cases, the offices suicide inquiries. were housed in the same That vote failed, with building. all Conservative MPs This shift adds up to little voting against it, including change for the veterans Chilliwack Fraser Canyon in the Fraser Valley, who MP Mark Strahl. will still have to travel STRAHL In a phone interview from to Vancouver to visit Ottawa on Tuesday, Strahl the closest VAC office. said the changes to Veterans Affairs However, in the same restructuring, operations are misunderstood. more than 600 Service Canada “We think this is largely an offices will now be equipped to
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help veterans with their paperwork, accessing services, internet support, and other administrative duties. That service will be available at the downtown Chilliwack Service Canada office by this week, Strahl said. Likewise, he assured that Veterans Affairs case workers and registered nurses will continue to be available to veterans who are unable to travel to a VAC or Service Canada location. “That service will not change,” he said. Despite these assurances, many see the changes as a slow disarming Continued on 3
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