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Veterans Affairs Canada officials felt former minister Julian Fantino’s public relations’ disasters had “intensified” what was already a glut of “bad press” that had “taken its toll” on the department’s reputation, internal documents show.

The documents are part of a secret briefing binder delivered to current Veterans Affairs Minister Erin O’Toole upon his appointment to replace Fantino in January. They highlight the degree to which officials believe bad publicity, exacerbated by Fantino’s tenure, is to blame for many of the department’s problems.

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Fantino’s office declined to comment, saying he is no longer veterans affairs minister. Fantino is currently associate minister of national defence, with responsibility for Arctic sovereignty, cyber-security and foreign intelligence. O’Toole also declined to comment.

“I am pleased to comment on my own actions and things I have said,” O’Toole said in an email. “I continue to thank previous ministers for laying the foundation upon which we are building and moving forward to better serve the veteran community.”