OTTAWA, ON, June 1, 2004 - The National Council of The War Amputations of Canada viewed the June 1st article by Heather Sokoloff of The National Post regarding the long waiting period for a hip replacement for Don Latter of Abbottsford, British Columbia.

Mr. Latter is a member of The National Council of The War Amps which directs the activities of this organization which has looked after war amputees (and amputee children) for more than 50 years.

"We are taking immediate steps to bring this matter to the attention of the Minister of Veterans Affairs," Cliff Chadderton, Chief Executive Officer of The War Amps, stated today.

He indicated that The War Amps could not consider the case of Mr. Latter as being in any way "ordinary."

"We are not requesting the Minister to arrange for this man to 'jump the queue' but it must be considered that he has lived with this amputation since March 1945 - a period of nearly 60 years," Chadderton said.

"In addition to a very aggravating stump which must carry his 210-pound frame, day in and day out, he has more than 20 other disabilities which are the direct result of his amputation," he said.

Chadderton suggested that: "This places Mr. Latter in a priority position, bearing in mind his age of 77 and the fact that he is entitled to live in comfort for the rest of his years."

Copies of Chadderton's letter to the Minister, appended herewith, will, in accordance with the policy of the Association, be sent to all leaders of the Opposition parties.

Letter to Minister:

June 1, 2004

RE: Mr. D.J. Latter (File #0680561)
World War II amputee casualty
 

Dear Minister:
 

Reference is made to the excellent article by Heather Sokoloff in The National Post of June 1, 2004. The article properly identifies an unconscionable waiting period, during which Mr. Latter has been on the list for an artificial hip replacement for close to a year. He lost his leg from the shell of a German antitank gun in March 1945.

It was our National Service Bureau which gave the information to Heather Sokoloff so that the matter could be brought to the attention of the public. Our plea now to you, as Minister of Veterans Affairs, is to make the necessary arrangements which have provided special consideration to war amputees who suffered loss of limbs from both World Wars and Korea.

We understand that the Department has the responsibility to provide treatment under the Veterans Pension Act, based on the least possible delay. We believe that Canadians expect no less for those amputees whose situation is the basis of a $3.5 million commemoration to be held at Juno Beach where the Canadians landed on June 6, 1944.

Yours sincerely,

H. Clifford Chadderton, CC, O.Ont., OStJ, CLJ, CAE, DCL, LLD
Chief Executive Officer