Today, The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, P.C., M.P., the Member for Calgary Southwest and the Prime Minister of Canada, announced that the Government of Canada has reached an agreement in relation to key elements of a compensation package for victims of hepatitis C as a result of a tainted blood system before January 1, 1986, and after July 1, 1990.
Both the present Government, and the previous Government of Canada, should be congratulated for their tireless work in relation to this issue. In November of 2004, the previous Government announced an intention to compensate the victims in the timeframe outlined above, and embarked on a discussion of the options that were available to the Government. At the end of 2005, the Government announced that it had reached a memorandum of understanding with the victims' representatives. Today, building on the work of the previous Government, Mr. Harper announced that key elements of that agreement have now been finalized.
Only a few steps remain to be taken before compensation can be paid:
:?: Sources
1. Click here for the Web site of the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada.
Both the present Government, and the previous Government of Canada, should be congratulated for their tireless work in relation to this issue. In November of 2004, the previous Government announced an intention to compensate the victims in the timeframe outlined above, and embarked on a discussion of the options that were available to the Government. At the end of 2005, the Government announced that it had reached a memorandum of understanding with the victims' representatives. Today, building on the work of the previous Government, Mr. Harper announced that key elements of that agreement have now been finalized.
The Government has announced an intention to place one billion dollars into a trust, to be reserved for paying compensation to those affected by a once-tainted blood system. This is in supplement to the five hundred twenty-five million dollars that was committed by the previous Government to ensure that policies and strategies were put in place to ensure that the blood system would be entirely safe and secure for use in the future, and to support the treatment of victims of the tainted system.[color=#1874CD said:The Right Hon. Stephen Harper[/color], P.C., M.P.,]Because these victims have waited long enough for what is due to them, our government is going to do everything in its power to ensure that matters are moved ahead as quickly as possible.
Click here to read the entire news release.
Cliquetez içi pour lire le communiqué entier.
Only a few steps remain to be taken before compensation can be paid:
- A more detailed final agreement will need to be written;
- The courts in four of the Provinces of Canada will need to concur in the agreement; and
- A process for persons to apply for compensation, and for those applications to be reviewed, will need to be established so as to ensure that the distribution of compensation will be completed in a timely and efficient manner.
:?: Sources
1. Click here for the Web site of the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada.