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News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ombudsman Welcomes Justice for a Second World War Veteran

Ottawa, July 28, 2006 – Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces Ombudsman, Yves Côté, today welcomed the implementation of his recommendation to compensate Squadron Leader (Retired) Clifton Wenzel for the pension that he was unjustly denied.

“I would like to commend the Minister of National Defence, the Honourable Gordon O’Connor, and the Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces for correcting this significant and long-standing injustice,” stated Mr. Yves Côté. The Ombudsman added, “Mr. Wenzel served Canada and Canadians with pride and distinction under incredibly challenging circumstances and I am very pleased that he is getting the recognition that he so rightly deserves.”

This compensation package for Squadron Leader (Retired) Clifton Wenzel follows a six-month investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman. In November 2005, the Ombudsman released a special report, For the Sake of Fairness, detailing Mr. Wenzel’s 44-year-long battle for a military pension – and justice.

Mr. Wenzel left the Royal Canadian Air Force after more than 20 years of service, including 47 combat missions in the Second World War, but before the mandatory retirement age for his rank. At the time, the Canadian Forces Superannuation Act provided that he was entitled to a return of his contributions to the superannuation plan. It also provided that he could be granted a reduced pension if it was deemed to be in the public interest. He requested a reduced pension but was granted only a return of his contributions.

The Ombudsman’s report concluded that the military had failed Mr. Wenzel. It was clear that the decision not to grant the decorated Veteran a reduced pension had been arrived at as a result of an unfair process, and the Ombudsman recommended that Mr. Wenzel be compensated for the pension he was unjustly denied.

“I am very proud of the thorough and professional work that our investigators did in this case and the role they played in helping to right this wrong,” said Mr. Côté.

The special report, For the Sake of Fairness, is available online at the following address: www.ombudsman.forces.gc.ca.

For additional information, please contact:

Darren Gibb
Director of Communications
Office of the Ombudsman
Tel.: (613) 992-6962

Edith Dauphinais
Communications Advisor
Office of the Ombudsman
Tel.: (613) 996-8076

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