September 6, 1996
(Health)

Veterans wing officially opened in Central Newfoundland

The Exploits Memorial Veterans Pavilion located at the Dr. Hugh Twomey Health Centre in Botwood was officially opened today by Member of Parliament for Gander-Grand Falls, George Baker, on behalf of Lawrence MacAulay, Secretary of State (Veterans), and by Lloyd Matthews, Minister of Health, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. The opening ceremony was also attended by the Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland, Honourable Frederick W. Russell, and Mrs. Russell, veterans, members of the Royal Canadian Legion, hospital staff and other local residents.

The Exploits Memorial Veterans Pavilion houses 14 long-term care beds for priority access by veterans in the central and southern regions of the province and includes priority access to two beds in the existing protective care unit which is designed for persons with cognitive impairment.

Ernest Langdon and James Skinner, Second World War veteran residents of the pavilion, helped cut the ribbon to officially open the health care pavilion.

Also during the opening ceremony, a peace garden was dedicated by Lieutenant Governor Russell. The peace garden will be a permanent reminder of the achievements and sacrifices made by veterans of Newfoundland and Labrador in support of world peace.

The cost of renovations to and upgrading of the Dr. Hugh Twomey Health Care Centre for the pavilion was $971,000 and was shared by the Department of Veterans Affairs (two-thirds) and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (one-third). In addition to this capital contribution, Veterans Affairs Canada will pay the operating costs of the new pavilion up to approximately $800,000 annually.

"The opening of these beds for priority access by veterans is a further step in providing veterans of Newfoundland and Labrador with a wider range of facilities in the province," said Mr. Baker. "The veterans wing strategically located in Botwood will allow us to provide necessary institutional long-term care services for veterans living in central and southern Newfoundland without the veterans having to travel to St. John's, away from the support of family and friends."

"As the veteran population ages, the need increases for health services, including long-term institutional care," said Mr. Matthews. "There is no doubt that veterans in Newfoundland and Labrador will be requiring more long-term care. With this new pavilion, we are now in a better position to respond to their emerging health care needs."

There are approximately 6,400 veterans currently residing in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Exploits Memorial Veterans Pavilion is part of a long-term Master Agreement between Veterans Affairs Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador which was signed in April 1993 to provide 88 new long-care beds for veterans in key areas throughout the province. The Caribou Memorial Veterans Pavilion, containing 56 long-term care beds for veterans, was officially opened in St. John's in 1994. The Western Newfoundland Veterans Pavilion, housing 18 chronic care beds, is scheduled to officially open in September 1996.

Veterans Affairs Canada works in partnership with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in the provision of care to eligible veterans in the province. In addition to these long-term beds, Veterans Affairs Canada also assists eligible veterans with the costs of nursing home care in community facilities under the Veterans Independence Program, as well as provides other services and benefits.

The Exploits Memorial Veterans Pavilion is an example of how this government is prioritizing its spending so that it can better serve Canadians by making efficient use of their tax dollars. Funding for the veteran bed unit was provided for in the March 1996 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

• Contact:
  Jacqueline Bannister
  Regional Director Communications
  Veterans Affairs Canada
  (902) 426-8936
  (902) 452-4760 (cellular)
  
  Jill Sooley
  Director of Communications
  Department of Health
  (709) 729-1377