Chemical Warfare Agent Testing Recognition Program

On February 19, 2004, the Honourable David Pratt, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable John McCallum, Minister of Veterans Affairs, announced a $50-million recognition program for Canadian veterans involved in chemical-warfare agent experiments between the 1940s and the 1970s.

This program offers payments to Canadian veterans who volunteered as participants in chemical-warfare experiments, beginning in the Second World War era, in Suffield, Alberta, and Ottawa. Eligible veterans will be offered a one-time payment of $24,000 in recognition of their service, an amount comparable to previous payments to Canadian veterans. This is in addition to the pension benefits to which these veterans may be entitled.

• News Release
• DND Backgrounder on the program
• When Service Affects Health
• Questions and Answers for clients