The Honourable John McCallum, Minister of National Defence, is
pleased to announce that Bill C-41, an Act to compensate military
members injured during service, received Royal Assent last night.
The new Act provides for the payment of a lump-sum benefit for
a service-related injury incurred on or after 1 October 1972 and
before 13 February 2003. The legislation covers dismemberment
(loss of a hand, foot, or thumb and index finger) and the total
and irrecoverable loss of sight, hearing or speech as a result
of service in the CF. Details with respect to the benefits are
set out in the Act.
This Act complements the new insurance program put into place
effective 13 February 2003 to meet the current and future needs
of serving members. Both the new Act and the insurance program
provide for payments of up to $250,000 to former and serving CF
members not covered by the General Officers Insurance Plan (GOIP).
The Department of National Defence expects to start paying the
benefit very shortly. Retired and serving members who may be eligible
for the benefit and are currently receiving a disability pension
under the Pension Act will be contacted by the Department to initiate
the process. Other former or serving members or the representatives
of estates of deceased members who believe they are eligible may
apply for the benefit. The DND point of contact for program administration
is the Centre for the Support of Injured and Retired Members and
Their Families at 1-800-883-6094.
"This government is committed to treating all ranks of the
Canadian Forces in a consistent manner with compassion and understanding,"
said Minister McCallum. "This Act corrects a disparity in
the benefits provided to Canadian Forces personnel who have suffered
dismemberment and loss of sight, hearing or speech as a result
of a service-related injury."
"The implementation of an insurance program earlier this
year to provide lump-sum dismemberment benefits to our members
under the rank of Colonel was a major step forward," said
General Ray Henault, Chief of the Defence Staff. "Now, making
these benefits available under the new Act to personnel injured
before the date of the insurance program is also welcome. The
benefits that are provided to our men and women in uniform must
reflect the risks that they undertake on behalf of the people
of Canada."
DND will administer and fund the new benefit at an estimated
cost of $26.3 million. It is estimated that 200 beneficiaries
are eligible to receive the payment. In the case of approximately
80 personnel who are now deceased, the benefit will be payable
to their estates. Benefits are not subject to federal income tax.
Generals and colonels, and lieutenant-colonels in the legal branch,
are entitled to lump-sum benefits for dismemberment under the
GOIP. This coverage was introduced as part of the executive compensation
package for senior ranks in the Regular Force in 1972 and for
the Reserve Force in 1994. Service-related dismemberment benefits
payable under the new Act are comparable to those provided by
GOIP.
Accidental Dismemberment
