This has further reference to our letter to the editor of yesterday concerning Agent Orange. This is repeated herewith:

LETTER TO THE EDITOR 

RE: AGENT ORANGE - - ANOTHER DND/VETERANS AFFAIRS COVERUP? 

Veterans Affairs pension adjudicators appear at last to be recognizing the U.S. policy of granting almost ‘automatic' pensions to any Canadian soldier who may have contacted Agent Orange, which was used in trials by the United States, notably at Camp Gagetown in New Brunswick. This matter has been under investigation for many years through the Service Bureau of the National Council of Veteran Associations. 

We are suggesting the Canadian Government adopt the U.S. presumptive policy (ie: If exposed to Agent Orange it is PRESUMED that the Canadian military must shoulder the blame). 

The big problem now is to identify deceased military personnel or dependants thereof to commence a claim. The pension would be payable in that the Canadian serviceman's condition directly “arose out of or was directly connected with” service in the Canadian military. 

Sincerely, 

H. Clifford Chadderton
Chairman 

Cliff Chadderton, Chairman of the National Council of Veteran Associations, has written a letter to The Honourable Bill Graham, Minister of National Defence, who gave a positive reply as to whether the Government would take proactive action to seek out possible claimants.

Please find the letter appended herewith:

Dear Minister: 

RE: Agent Orange 

It was encouraging to see a report out of Fredericton , New Brunswick yesterday to the effect that, as Defence Minister, you indicated that the government would consider the matter of financial assistance under the Veterans Pension Act for proven cases of disability due to exposure to Agent Orange. 

As you would know, Agent Orange caused a great number of medical problems in the United States , due to the widespread use of it in Vietnam . 

It was a surprise to some authorities in Canada that the possibility existed that exposure to Agent Orange might well have affected a number of Canadian military personnel due to the use of Camp Gagetown as a testing area for this defoliant. 

I have been personally involved in following the study of the possible medical effects of Agent Orange in the United States . As you may well be aware, the first positive result for American servicemen was a successful class action against the U.S. manufacturers which resulted in a $60 million trust fund. These funds have all been fully expended. 

The court decision, however, added considerable weight to the possibility that Agent Orange had dangerous carcinogenic properties which could lead to various medical problems. 

Possibly you have seen the latest reports from the United States . Enclosed herewith are data sheets forwarded to me by my contacts in the United States . 

It will be noted that U.S. authorities have literally given up on attempting to determine whether certain disabilities reported by former U.S. servicemen were as a result of exposure to this defoliant. 

In order to solve an almost insurmountable problem, the U.S. authorities declared a ‘presumptive' policy. Accordingly, a claimant in the United States would have to prove only that he/she had undergone a military experience which might well have resulted in exposure to Agent Orange. The presumptive clause in the U.S. legislation means that the burden of proof is limited to circumstances where exposure may have taken place. This eliminated the problem of attempting to relate a specific disease to Agent Orange as a determinant in regard to pensioned conditions. 

As you will be aware, the administrators of the Canadian Pension Act should now accept responsibility to determine whether medical claims could be traced back to exposure when Agent Orange was being tested in Camp Gagetown , New Brunswick in the early 1960s. 

It would appear to me that our own Pension Act contains the necessary authority to make favourable decisions. The test would be whether a disability for which a claim is being made need only have arisen out of or be directly connected with military service. This would mean that, if a serviceman was in a situation where he/she may have come in contact with Agent Orange during the testing periods in Camp Gagetown , a favourable disability claim could be approved. Unfortunately, some of the diseases, which are listed in the U.S. documents, can result in death, which could mean that pension might be payable to a qualified dependant. 

Media contacts communicated with me yesterday and advised that Ms Janice Summerby of Veterans Affairs Communications stated that Veterans Affairs would not put into effect a procedure under which an attempt would be made to contact possible claimants. 

It would appear from the information which you gave to the media (I am quoting the Fredericton Canadian Press by-line) that you are prepared to consider some process under which possible claimants could be informed. This appears to us to be the correct procedure. 

We would be pleased indeed to use the resources of the 51 organizations under the National Council of Veteran Associations to assist in this matter, should the government agree. 

I have been receiving many telephone enquiries from the media, and will send them a copy of this letter. In the meantime, I take this opportunity of expressing appreciation to you for your prompt announcement to the effect that the Department of National Defence would look favourably upon a system to determine possible claimants. 

Yours sincerely, 

H. Clifford Chadderton
Chairman 

Data sheet appended herewith:

AGENT ORANGE - HERBICIDE EXPOSURE 

United States - Veterans Benefits & Services 

Vietnam Veterans Benefit From Agent Orange Rules 

They are society's leaders. They run businesses; direct organizations; hold political office. In their mid-50s, they are at the height of their social and economic power, earning more than others in their age group. Yet, with their success, they can't escape the inevitable health concerns of a graying population.

They are Vietnam veterans, and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is concerned they may regard diseases associated with aging, such as prostate cancer, as just another illness rather than as the result of their military service in Southeast Asia .

VA wants these Vietnam veterans to know that they may be eligible for compensation and health care for certain diseases associated with Agent Orange, the defoliant sprayed to unmask enemy hiding places in the jungles throughout Vietnam.

Special health care and compensation benefits are available to the 2.6 million men and women who served in Vietnam between 1962 and 1975, only 3,300 of whom remain in uniform today. Those discharged during that period are the largest group of veterans receiving VA health care and monthly compensation.

Yet a small percentage of their disability claims are for illnesses scientists have listed as being associated with Agent Orange. VA presumes that all military personnel who served in Vietnam were exposed to Agent Orange, and federal law presumes that certain illnesses are a result of that exposure. This so-called "presumptive policy" simplifies the process of receiving compensation for these diseases since VA foregoes the normal requirements of proving that an illness began or was worsened during military service.

Based on clinical research, the following diseases are on VA's Agent Orange list of presumptive disabilities: chloracne, Hodgkin's disease, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, porphyria cutanea tarda, respiratory cancers (lung, bronchus, larynx and trachea), soft-tissue sarcoma, acute and subacute peripheral neuropathy and prostate cancer. A regulation is being developed to add diabetes mellitus.

In addition, monetary benefits, health care and vocational rehabilitation services are provided to Vietnam veterans' offspring with spina bifida, a congenital birth defect of the spine. A new law authorizes health care and monetary benefits to children of female veterans who served in Vietnam for certain additional birth defects. Those additional benefits under the new law will not be payable to the beneficiaries until Dec. 1, 2001.

Veterans who served in Vietnam during the war also are eligible for a complete physical examination. If a VA physician suspects a disease might be related to Agent Orange, VA will provide free medical care. Those who participate in the examination program become part of an Agent Orange Registry and receive periodic mailings from VA about the latest Agent Orange studies and new diseases being covered under VA policies.

Vietnam veterans and their families can contact VA for more information about these benefits. For the Agent Orange Registry physical examination, call a local VA hospital or clinic listed in the government pages of your phone book. To file a compensation claim for a current disability related to Agent Orange, veterans can call 1-800-827-1000 for an application form or visit VA's Web site.