The problem with the 1-800 number is that when a veteran speaks to someone in Canada or elsewhere around the world, the department does not seem to make the connection. It is a slow process and the veterans has to call two or three times. For example, Gilles Gervais from Saint-Jean had to call 12 times and he waited a year and a half before someone called him back. This happens regularly. It would be far more practical to assign names in alphabetical order.
On April 29th, 2008. See this statement in context.