A retired general who is part of a class-action lawsuit over the use of Agent Orange at a New Brunswick military base says a compensation package announced Wednesday is deplorable.
"I think it's anything but fair. Anything but just. Anything but compassionate," said Ed Ring, a St. John's-area retired brigadier-general.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is giving a one-time lump-sum payment of $20,000 to each person who qualifies for compensation for health problems they say were caused by use of defoliants at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown.
However, the conditions of the $96-million package include only veterans who worked at CFB Gagetown between 1966 and 1967.
Tony Merchant, the Saskatchewan lawyer who is leading the class-action suit, believes Wednesday's announcement actually strengthens his case.
"Even though the government says, 'This is a payment and we don't admit liability,' everybody has to know, including those on the judiciary, that they are making an admission that things went wrong and that the government is responsible," he said.
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"I think it's anything but fair. Anything but just. Anything but compassionate," said Ed Ring, a St. John's-area retired brigadier-general.
The Department of Veterans Affairs is giving a one-time lump-sum payment of $20,000 to each person who qualifies for compensation for health problems they say were caused by use of defoliants at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown.
However, the conditions of the $96-million package include only veterans who worked at CFB Gagetown between 1966 and 1967.
Tony Merchant, the Saskatchewan lawyer who is leading the class-action suit, believes Wednesday's announcement actually strengthens his case.
"Even though the government says, 'This is a payment and we don't admit liability,' everybody has to know, including those on the judiciary, that they are making an admission that things went wrong and that the government is responsible," he said.
Full Story
Is the compensation package fair?
More...