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News Release
Canada's New Government Announces Changes to the Chemical Warfare Agent Testing Recognition Program
NR–06.082 - November 22, 2006
OTTAWA – The Honourable Gordon O’Connor, Minister of National Defence, today announced that Canada’s New Government is expanding the Chemical Warfare Agent Testing Recognition Program to include Canadian military veterans who volunteered to participate in chemical-warfare experiments while serving abroad.
These changes mean that approximately 200 Canadian veterans, including soldiers from Newfoundland serving with the British Army during the Second World War, will now be eligible for a $24,000 ex-gratia payment. The total cost of this expansion is estimated at $5 million.
“Canada’s New Government is committed to ensuring that no deserving veterans are denied the recognition due to them,” said Minister O’Connor. “I am pleased that we are extending this program to include veterans who participated in chemical testing outside of Canada.”
The Chemical Warfare Agent Testing Recognition Program, previously mandated to award ex-gratiapayments to veterans who volunteered to take part in chemical warfare agent testing in Suffield, Alberta and Ottawa, will now accept applications from veterans who participated in tests at Allied Forces’ test establishments like the Chemical Defence Experimental Station in England.
The Chemical Warfare Agent Testing Recognition Program recognizes the exceptional service of veterans who took part in chemical warfare agent testing during and after the Second World War. Veterans who feel they are eligible for this package are encouraged to contact National Defence toll-free at 1-800-883-6094 by February 28, 2007.
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Note to Editors: For more information on the Chemical Warfare Agent Testing Recognition Program visit: http://www.forces.gc.ca/hr/cwatrp-pregc.
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