OTTAWA, ON, February 8, 2001 - The National Council of Veteran Associations expressed indignation today regarding an attempt by lawyer David Greenaway, acting on behalf of a class action, and Mr. Roy Bailey of the Alliance Party, to use a press conference in the Parliament Buildings to influence the government to pay interest on funds administered for veterans going back to World War I.

NCVA Chairman Cliff Chadderton pointed out that the matter is headed for the Ontario Court of Appeal. "The original judgment in the Windsor court, despite a previous decision which stated that there were no grounds to pay ‘interest' on funds being administered by VAC on behalf of institutionalized veterans, has been appealed by the Federal Department of Justice," he said, adding that it could be a matter of "saving not wasting" if the lawyers lose their case.

Chadderton stated that taking the case to Parliament Hill and seeking support from the Alliance Party could be viewed as an effort to "panic" the government into a settlement without waiting for the court judgements. "The tradition in Canada is that the law should prevail. Notwithstanding, the strategy of the lawyers, from the start of the case in October 1999, has been to seek political and public support even to the point of using a public relations firm," he said.

In answer to Greenaway and Bailey's suggestion that disabled war veterans were being short-changed, Chadderton said, "The lower court judgment would provide cash payments back to World War I. The majority of the veterans have thus passed on, and so primarily, the financial benefit would be for relatives. Surely they could wait until the decision of the Appellate courts."

He added that the lawyers, who have escalated this into a class action, fail to mention that these veterans received full pension benefits and institutional care averaging $2,500 a month, plus full hospital care. If alive, their monthly payments would be pension of $1,800 and special allowances of approximately $600, as well as hospital care running as high as $250 a day.

In response to a reporter who enquired as to Mr. Greenaway's fee, he made no specific commitment. It did appear, however, that he was annoyed by the question in that there has been serious criticism of what is expected to be a large legal fee for the plaintiffs' solicitor if the case succeeds.

NCVA has recommended to the government that it establish an appellate system if there are any justifiable cases. "Otherwise, someone has to speak up for the taxpayer who could be liable for up to $3 billion for a benefit which was never included in the veterans benefit package," Chadderton said.