RICHARD DESCHAMPS Tuesday, April 23rd 2019 - 12:42 pm
VVi 30 Apr 2019 db
Ste. Anne Hospital Graham Hughes/Montreal Gazette file photo
It appears the Ste. Anne's veterans hospital is no longer providing free transportation for its patients to attend special events put on by the Royal Canadian Legion, according to the president of one branch.
This past week, the Royal Canadian Legion branch in LaSalle put on a luncheon at its legion hall. Usually, vets from the Ste. Anne's hospital, many of whom are well into their 90s, get bused in for these kinds of events, but LaSalle legion head Bruce Allan says, earlier this year, a letter arrived from the hospital's management informing them that they would be cutting off free bus transport for those vets.
"A lot of people were saddened that we don't have the vets from Ste. Anne's, because they were the ones that fought for this country," Allan said.
Allan says the letter was sent to every Legion hall informing them of the change, saying that while the letter didn't provide a clear justification for the move, he was told by the Legion's Central Command that it was basically a cost-cutting measure.
In 2016, control of the hospital went from federal to provincial jurisdiction, and criticism of the hospital's new management has been widespread in the years since.
Allan suggests the move to cut costs could be another example of the provincial government perhaps not fully grasping the needs and interests of Canadian veterans.
"I think it's just lack of interest...them saying, okay they're there. Take care of them until they pass away, I gather," Allan says.
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