OTTAWA, ON, October 12, 1999 - The Canadian Merchant Navy Veterans Association stated today that it would not support another hunger strike, unless the government refuses to deal with recommendations for compensation reviewed earlier this year by the Veterans Affairs Parliamentary Committee.

The government's response to the report is due November 6. This statement was issued by Aurele Ferlatte of Dalhousie, New Brunswick, the National President of the 1,700 member-organization. It was endorsed by Cliff Chadderton, Chair of the 36 member National Council of Veteran Associations and by Chuck Murphy, Dominion President of the 500,000 member Royal Canadian Legion.

The statement was made in response to an announcement by Mr. Ossie MacLean of Saint John, New Brunswick, made over an Ottawa radio station last Friday, to the effect that he would lead another demonstration similar to the hunger strikes he organized in the Fall of 1997 and early in 1999.

Mr. MacLean is reported to have said that this time he and his colleagues would remain on Parliament Hill until Veterans Affairs Minister George Baker "cut them a cheque."

Mr. Ferlatte, who leads the 1,700 member former Merchant Seamen's Organization, stated that Mr. MacLean was acting on his own.

"The Canadian Merchant Seamen's organization voted at its Annual Meeting last July to take no action until the government responds to the Parliamentary Committee Report. Accordingly, although Mr. MacLean is a member of our organization, he is proceeding in direct violation of a resolution for which he voted at our Annual Meeting," Mr. Ferlatte said.

Cliff Chadderton, Chair of the National Council of Veteran Associations, warned that if Mr. MacLean proceeded with his hunger strike scheduled for next week, he would organize a counter demonstration to indicate to the public that veterans, including the Canadian Merchant Navy Veterans Association, which is by far the largest group representing former wartime Merchant Seamen, were highly critical of the proposed action of Mr. Ossie MacLean.

"We gave the government our word that we would play by the rules. This means that we would instigate no new public protest until the government has had an opportunity to study the report of the Parliamentary Committee, and the submissions made to the Committee," Chadderton said.