Canada's New Government Delivers a Fair and Compassionate Plan for
Veterans Affairs Canada
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2007
Canada's New Government Delivers a Fair and Compassionate Plan for
Canadians Connected to Agent Orange Testing
Fredericton, N.B. - Today, the Honourable Greg Thompson, Minister of
Veterans Affairs, was joined by the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of
National Defence, to announce that Canada's New Government will offer
a one-time, tax-free ex gratia payment of $20,000 to eligible recipients
connected to the testing of unregistered U.S. military herbicides,
including Agent Orange, at CFB Gagetown.
To be eligible for the ex gratia payment, individuals must have been
diagnosed with a condition associated with Agent Orange, as determined
by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine.
Individuals must also have worked or trained at CFB Gagetown, or lived
in a community any part of which is within five kilometres of CFB
Gagetown when Agent Orange was tested in 1966 and 1967.
"Canada's New Government regrets that so many years passed with
this issue not being addressed, and that so many Canadians waited and
worried while their questions went unanswered," said Minister
Thompson. "Today we are proud to announce a plan that is fair and
shows compassion to the thousands of Canadians whose lives have been so
affected. We believe that this plan is responsible, transparent, and
will help to bring closure to this longstanding issue."
"We may never fully know what happened when Agent Orange was tested
at Canadian Forces Base in Gagetown in 1966 and 1967, but our government
has always stood firm in doing what is right for Canadians and showing
our dedication to Canada's brave men and women in uniform," said
Minister MacKay. "Delivering this ex gratia payment demonstrates our
commitment to do the right thing."
Those who believe they may be eligible for the ex gratia payment may
visit the Veterans Affairs Canada Web site for more information
(http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/) or call 1-888-854-1803.
The deadline for applications is April 1, 2009.
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Backgrounder attached.
Media Enquiries:
Janice Summerby
Media Relations Advisor
Veterans Affairs Canada
613-992-7468
Richard Roik
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Veterans Affairs
613-996-4649
Backgrounder
Agent Orange Ex Gratia Payment
The Government of Canada is offering a one-time, tax-free ex gratia
payment of $20,000 related to the testing of unregistered U.S. military
herbicides, including Agent Orange, at Canadian Forces Base (CFB)
Gagetown in New Brunswick during the summers of 1966 and 1967.
The deadline for applications is April 1, 2009.
Eligibility
To qualify for the ex gratia payment, individuals must have been alive
on February 6, 2006 and meet the following conditions:
(a) Between June 1, 1966 and February 6, 2006, the individual was in
the process of being diagnosed with any one or more of the following
medical conditions:
● chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)
● soft tissue sarcoma
● non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
● Hodgkin's disease
● chloracne
● respiratory cancer (of the lung/bronchus, larynx or trachea)
● prostate cancer
● multiple myeloma
● early onset transient peripheral neuropathy
● porphyria cutanea tarda
● type 2 diabetes
● spina bifida;
(b) the individual must be diagnosed with any one or more of those
medical conditions no later than April 1, 2009; and
(c) at any time from June to September of either 1966 or 1967 the
individual or, in the case of an individual diagnosed with spina bifida,
a biological parent of the individual must have:
● worked or lived at CFB Gagetown;
● been posted to or trained at CFB Gagetown; or
● resided in a community of which any portion laid within five
kilometres of the perimeter of CFB Gagetown.
Individuals may apply on their own behalf, or as the primary caregiver
of an individual who passed away after February 6, 2006, and would have
been eligible for the ex gratia payment. If you are applying both on
your own behalf and as a primary caregiver, you must submit two separate
application forms.
For more information or to apply, visit the Veterans Affairs Web site
(http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/) or call 1-888-854-1803.
http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/clients/sub.cfm?source=services/pensions/orange