OTTAWA, ON, June 28, 2006 - The National Council of Veteran Associations (55 member-associations) has forwarded an advisory to Members of Parliament and the Senate proposing that an ex-gratia payment be made to Aboriginal veterans who were unable to qualify for benefits under the Veterans Charter of 1945.

In a cover letter sent with the advisory, NCVA Chairman Cliff Chadderton noted his expectation that the matter would be heard when Parliament reconvenes this fall, however, expressed his organization's hope that a settlement could be arranged prior to that time.

A copy of the letter is appended herewith:

June 27, 2006

MEMBERS OF THE SENATE OF CANADA
MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

RE: COMPENSATION: ABORIGINAL VETERANS

The National Council of Veteran Associations, of which the National Aboriginal Veterans Association of Canada is a constituent member, has been petitioning the Government for some 15 years.

The complaint is to the effect that Aboriginal veterans were unable to qualify for benefits under the Veterans Charter of 1945.

The details are set out in an advisory prepared by The War Amputations of Canada, copy of which is attached.

The claim is based on evidence that all classes of Aboriginal veterans were denied full access to benefits under the Veterans Charter.

The proposal suggests that, in addition to any recommendations for compensation for which various classes of Aboriginal veterans might qualify, the claim, now being pursued by the National Aboriginal Veterans Association (NAVA) and under the arrangement concluded between NAVA and NCVA, would result in an ex-gratia payment for all classes of Aboriginal veterans as follows:

• An amount equal to $7,500 a year (or part thereof) for those who served in Canada only; and
• An award of $15,000 a year (or part thereof) for those with service in a theatre of actual war in World War II or Korea.

Attached hereto is copy of an article by Ms Sue Bailey of The Canadian Press, written on the occasion of a ceremony at the Aboriginal Veterans Monument in Ottawa on June 21, 2006. This article appeared in 30 newspapers.

The situation, as I see it, is that the public would be prepared to accept the proposal as outlined above, if put forward by Parliament.

Attached hereto is copy of a submission. It is expected that this matter would be heard when Parliament reconvenes this fall. Hopefully, we could arrange a settlement prior to that time.

Kind regards,

H. Clifford Chadderton, CC, O.Ont., OStJ, CLJ, CAE, DCL, LLD
Chairman

cc. Mr. Claude Petit, CM, CD
Chairman, NAVA