Ex-soldier says Veterans Affairs ignoring his pleas for help

A New Brunswick veteran frustrated with the lack of support from Veterans Affairs Canada has taken to the streets to protest his treatment.

Blair Churchill, 52, of Swan Creek, has been camping out at street corners and the entrance of 5th Canadian Division Support Base Gagetown.

​Churchill says the damage to his ears and brain during his 22 years in the Canadian military has been completely ignored by Veterans Affairs.  

"They deny, they deny, they deny. And they hope you give up," said Churchill.

Churchill says he has tinnitus, hyperacusis and misophonia.

He says the constant ringing and shrieking that only he can hear has led to stress, depression and suicidal thoughts.

Churchill says he's been trying unsuccessfully to get treatment through Veterans Affairs since Aug. 18, 2014.

"Veterans Affairs has dropped my file from the day it started."

Churchill says his anger with the bureaucratic approach to his health issues has forced him to start protesting on street corners despite the roar of passing cars compounding the damage to his ears and mind.

"They do not know what common sense is because they follow policy to the letter. Common sense is not a word in their dictionary or in their manuals. Period."

Churchill's wife Wanda says even when they visited a psychiatrist on the department's list, Veterans Affairs wouldn't approve of it simply because they hadn't gotten around to appointing one yet.

"They said it was a conflict of interest even though she's as on their list of people they send to go see her," she said. "It made no sense."

Veterans Affairs critic Peter Stoffer says Churchill should have never had to go this far for help.

"Veterans should not have to stand vigil at a base or go the media for help. We're a better country than that," said Stoeffer.

Veterans Affairs couldn't be reached for comment.