Veterans Trust Funds
As Secretary of the Woods Committee, which rewrote the Pension Act in 1965, Cliff Chadderton has particular knowledge of the administration of trust funds by Veterans Affairs for hospitalized veterans who had been medically or otherwise adjudged incapable of handling their own funds.
We have opposed the class action lawsuit primarily as it would create a liability for cases as far back as 1917.
The original Judgement of Mr. Justice Brockenshire would have cost the taxpayer an estimated $3.5 billion and very few disabled veterans would have benefited. In most cases, the beneficiaries would not be members of the veteran's immediate family, i.e. wives and children, rather distant relatives or extended family members. The Pension Act provides payments only for disabled veterans and their family dependants.
Most of the veterans who are part of the class action have been drawing 100% pension, allowances and free medical treatment for up to 50 years - the trust funds were handled as a "set-off" in lieu of interest. In other words, the Department of Veterans Affairs was providing an additional service above and beyond the provisions of the Pension Act and other legislation by handling the monies of institutionalized veterans who were of diminished capacity.
The Crown has lost its appeal of the class action. For more information, please visit our chronology of key developments leading to this point.
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