OTTAWA, ON, October 23, 2003 - In replying to a response from Veterans Affairs Minister Dr. Rey Pagtakhan in the House of Commons on October 23, 2003, Cliff Chadderton, Chairman of the 47-member National Council of Veteran Associations (NCVA) noted that the Minister quoted only the Presidents of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans Association.

He omitted, however, any reference to a news release issued the same day by NCVA which commented that the three veterans organizations had been operating under a statement attributed to the Minister of Finance which indicated "the Government would not approve any ‘new money' and enhancement of current programs would have to come from funds allocated for other Departments which had become redundant."

"At the meetings we asked that the VIP be continued for the widows of the totally disabled veterans but were advised that the changes to the Government Regulations would be subject to the financial edict that ‘no new money would be available'," Chadderton stated.

The information from the Minister in a further news release of May 12th stated "these changes also recognize the value of lifelong caregiving that has been provided to veterans with disabilities by their spouses."

The Minister's news release of May 12th goes on to say "by working hand in hand with the three major veterans organizations we will be able to make, very soon, a further meaningful difference in the daily lives of our veterans, and their spouses."

"Our interpretation was that the Government would include the widows of totally disabled veterans, the other veterans organizations insisted that VIP would be continued, not only for the widows of the totally disabled veterans but for all widows," Chadderton said.

"No mention was made of a commencement date of May 12th, 2003, although all statements made in the House have continued to lead the public into believing that there would be sufficient monies to deal with the top group of widows," Chadderton continued.

"It is obvious that this does not. As the Minister stated, ‘these changes also recognize the value of lifelong caregiving'. This categorization would not provide benefits for the widows of the totally disabled who died prior to May 12th," Chadderton concluded.