OTTAWA, ON, April 18, 1989 - The executive of the Thalidomide Victims Association is disappointed with the response of the Minister of National Health and Welfare to the report delivered February 14. The report requests compensation for Canadian thalidomide victims because the government failed to keep the drug off the market.

This response came out of an informal meeting March 30 with health and Welfare Minister Perrin Beatty and Cliff Chadderton, Chairman of the Thalidomide Task Force which wrote the report. A number of the thalidomide victims were also present at the meeting in Toronto.

"Mr. Beatty told the group that he (Beatty) would be under 'fire' from the media and the public if he were to attempt to do something for the Thalidomide victims, separate and apart from other persons who had suffered physical damage from blood transfusions or vaccinations," stated Chadderton.

The Task Force has called an emergency meeting for May 5 in Ottawa to determine what further steps might be taken to bring their claim before the public.

Meanwhile, the Canadian thalidomide disaster is being given considerable coverage in the United States. 'People' magazine and the Phil Donahue show are preparing pieces with members of the Canadian Thalidomide Victims Association. The Public Broadcasting Service is airing a documentary on the issue on its 'Frontline' series on May 2.