"All victims should be compensated" - Greg Thompson MP
The New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal reported that Conservative MP Greg Thompson is drafting legislation aimed at forcing the federal government to compensate all victims of Agent Orange sprayed at CFB Gagetown in the 1960s. Mr. Thompson said that a private member’s bill or motion is needed to make sure civilians are not overlooked in any federal compensation package. According to him, “it’s just a matter of fairness. All victims should be compensated.” (2/6 NBTJ A4)
It is always interesting to look at the past especially when it comes to noting what politicans have said. Perhaps Mr Thompson can explain what the Conservative government is doing to"make sure that civilians are not overlooked".
There has been no mention of a compensation package for civilians. The Conservative government has only spoken of compensation for soldiers harmed in the years 1966 and 1967by Agent Orange. It certainly appears that they choose to ignore the other 26 years from 1956 to 1984.
The Conservative government has used the Gagetown defoliant issue as an opportunity to garner votes in the last election.
They are using the issue again to garner votes in a possible upcoming election otherwise the "ex-gratia payment" that is to be paid would have been issued.
They are stalling plain and simple.
Art Connolly
Vice President
Agent Orange Association of Canada
www.agentorangealert.com
The CFB Gagetown Agent Orange petition is located at www.petitiononline.com/aoalert
1 comment:
Great stuff, Charles. Its is refreshing to find someone like yourself that is not afraid to tell the truth.
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