B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
The union representing workers at Veterans Affairs Canada is calling the deal to privatize rehabilitation services a failure, six months after it was implemented.
A contract with Lifemark Health Group and WCG International Consultants was supposed to take the strain off case managers and help veterans access services.
The two organizations formed Partners in Canadian Veterans Rehabilitation Services and were awarded a $57-million contract in July 2021 to provide rehab and vocational assistance services. The transition of files began in October 2022.
The Union of Veterans' Affairs Employees says instead of streamlined services, case managers are dealing with more paperwork and frustrated clients.
The union issued a new "report card" Monday, saying that only the least complex files have actually been transferred and that delays in getting started have led to backlogs for veterans.
"We have been raising concerns about this rehab contract since before it really even got implemented ... and nobody's listening," said union president Virginia Vaillancourt.
The union is pointing a finger at a lack of training in Veterans Affairs Canada's guidelines, as well as a lack of understanding of what the clients need.
Vaillancourt said before the contract came into effect, rehabilitation services were carried out by Veterans Affairs case managers and the services were covered through Medavie Blue Cross. She said referrals to service providers must now go through Lifemark.
"And Lifemark is actually paying less than what they were getting paid through Blue Cross," she said, adding that some service providers have stopped working with veterans as a result.
A spokeswoman for Lifemark directed questions to Veterans Affairs.
The department did not immediately respond to questions.
The Veterans Affairs Canada program is meant to help veterans and their families "transition to life after service," according to its website, by co-ordinating medical, psycho-social and vocational services for ill and injured former service members.
Lifemark, which was purchased by Loblaw Companies Ltd. in May 2022, says it has more than 300 locations across the country. Its partner in the Veterans Affairs contract, WCG International, has been working with the department to provide vocational assistance and rehab services to veterans for over a decade.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2023.
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
A property tax bill is perplexing a small townhouse community in Fergus, Ont.
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
A local Oilers fan is hoping to see his team cut through the postseason, so he can cut his hair.
A family from Laval, Que. is looking for answers... and their father's body. He died on vacation in Cuba and authorities sent someone else's body back to Canada.
A former educational assistant is calling attention to the rising violence in Alberta's classrooms.
The federal government says its plan to increase taxes on capital gains is aimed at wealthy Canadians to achieve “tax fairness.”
At 6'8" and 350 pounds, there is nothing typical about UBC offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, who was born in Tonga and went to high school in Pitt Meadows.