OTTAWA, ON, May 10, 2002 - Cliff Chadderton, Chairman of the 40-member National Council of Veteran Associations (NCVA), stated that his organization has today written to the Minister of Veterans Affairs suggesting that his Department establish a review procedure which would allow payment of interest on justifiable cases.

"We have been advised that the Government of Canada has filed leave to appeal with the Supreme Court of Canada on the decision of the Court of Appeal for Ontario in regard to a class action on trust accounts. The decision of the Lower Court would require the Government to go as far back as 1917 in regard to the payment of interest on trust accounts administered by Veterans Affairs on behalf of incompetent veterans while under medical care of the Department," said Chadderton.

The National Council made a request to the former Minister of Veterans Affairs dated April 20, 2001, asking that a review committee be established with authority to approve payment in any justifiable cases. "We do not feel it is fair that the case be held up in the courts while veterans or their immediate families have to await a decision regarding the Crown's appeal before the Supreme Court of Canada," Chadderton said.