Government Withholds Proceeds from $500,000 Estate Left to War Amps
OTTAWA, ON, August 15, 2006 - Cliff Chadderton, Chief Executive Officer of The War Amps, today filed a petition with the Minister of Veterans Affairs, demanding a reply to a previous request that the Government declare its position on a bequest left to the Association by a former member, now deceased.
Chadderton stated that there was a complication in that the money was left originally to a daughter of Arnold Palmer, who lost his leg in the battle for Vimy Ridge, in April 1917, during the World War I campaign.
The complication arose from the fact that the surviving family of Mr. Palmer requested that the monies be used for child amputees in British Columbia.
Chadderton stated, “Unfortunately the original beneficiary, Ethel May Palmer, stated in her will that the monies should go to the Government of Canada.”
Chadderton has carried on a lengthy campaign, pointing out that the intent of Mr. Palmer, who resided in Victoria, was that the estate should ultimately go to child amputees in his province.
In a letter dated October 27, 2005, the Government refused to relinquish title to the funds which have been deposited with the Treasury Board.
The Royal Canadian Legion reviewed the matter and stated an opinion that the funds should be given to The War Amps.
The Right Honourable Paul Martin, former Prime Minister of Canada, refused the request and attempts to override the refusal were denied by members of the Government after the December election.
A backgrounder prepared by The War Amps provides additional information and is appended herewith.
CHRONOLOGY: ESTATE OF ETHEL MAY PALMER
| 1. |
August 24, 2005: Mr. Chadderton received a communication from Donald Brothers, a retired lawyer in British Columbia, who is the executor of the estate of Ethel May Palmer.
|
| 2. |
The information was to the effect that the primary funds would come from the sale of property in Victoria , presumably valued at in excess of $500,000.00.
|
| 3. |
The letter indicated that the estate was originally put together by Arnold Palmer, a World War I amputee and former member of the Dominion Council of The War Amputations of Canada, who resided in Victoria.
|
| 4. |
About two weeks after Mr. Chadderton received the official letter, he made a number of telephone calls, during which it was determined that:
Mr. Palmer directed that the estate go to Ethel May Palmer, who was known to be in financial difficulties. It has subsequently been determined that Ethel May Palmer was suffering from dementia, and apparently it was the feeling of Mr. Arnold Palmer that Ethel May Palmer, who was his daughter, might require some funding. Subsequently, Mr. Palmer died and it is not known whether he had a will. In any event, the estate had apparently been transferred to Ethel May Palmer, the daughter. Ethel May Palmer made a will, leaving the estate to the Government of Canada upon her death. It was subsequently learned that the matter was under consideration by the Department of Justice, Government of Canada , Ottawa , Ontario. Mr. Chadderton then placed the matter in the hands of Mr. Brian Forbes, of the legal firm of Forbes Singer Smith Shouldice of Ottawa . Mr. Forbes is the Association Solicitor for The War Amputations of Canada .
|
| 5. |
October 3, 2005: At the request of Mr. Donald Brothers, Mr. Chadderton attempted to contact a number of government Ministers and ended up by writing to the Prime Minister of Canada, with copies to the Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Veterans Affairs. In his letter to the Prime Minister, Mr. Chadderton suggested that, if the estate were paid to The War Amputations of Canada, his organization would establish a ‘spending program’ so that the funds were used on behalf of child amputees in the province of British Columbia.
|