OTTAWA, ON, May 7, 2001 - Cliff Chadderton, Chairman of the National Council of Veteran Associations (NCVA) today wrote to Veterans Affairs Minister Ron Duhamel expressing the appreciation of his 37 organizations in regard to approval of the final payment for Canada's Merchant Seamen.

Chadderton stated that he was surprised at the number of Merchant Seamen and widows who had made an application for this humanitarian grant. He stated that, before Parliamentary Committees in 1989, the Veterans Affairs Deputy Minister had given an estimate of approximately 4,500 Merchant Seamen or widows who could qualify.

In his presentation to the Parliamentary Committee, Chadderton stated from his records the number would be nearer 7,500. The much larger figure of applicants was due to the lack of records in regard to those who had served in the Canadian Merchant Navy during World War II. In many instances, the seamen had lost their log books, but in other cases the only records were available from ships captains or from shipping companies which were no longer in existence.

Chadderton suggested that the Government had been "most understanding" in realizing that firm estimates were not available when the Government made its initial offer of $50 million. As the applications came in to Veterans Affairs in Charlottetown, it became necessary for the veterans organizations to continue putting pressure on the Government to increase the amount which could be authorized by Cabinet. The final payout will be approximately $104 million.

"This was a project which the organizations which represent those who served in the military were keen to support. These men and women who manned the deep-sea ships bringing supplies and troops to England and Normandy suffered unspeakable hardships and their loss of life was higher than any other service," Chadderton said. "You could put them on par with Bomber Command or the infantry."

In an interview with The Toronto Star, he was quoted further:

"With one in ten Merchant Seamen killed during that time, they also suffered one of the highest casualty rates in the forces," notes Cliff Chadderton, President of the National Council of Veteran Associations.

But when they returned home they were classified as civilians not as veterans. The rationale was that as employees of commercial shipping lines, they'd earned more than soldiers, even though the ships had essentially been commandeered for navy service.

"The Federal Government told them they'd have jobs in a Canadian Merchant Navy but abandoned the plan after about five years," Chadderton said.

"The poor Merchant Seaman had nothing. He lost five years sort of fooling around waiting. When I got back from the war, the Government sent me to University and there were housing allowances and benefits."

"The compensation package removes the ‘black mark' that hung over Canadian Veterans programs," Chadderton said.

For more background information on the Merchant Navy issue, go here.