Posted on 07/25/2006 2:48:34 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
Ottawa will give one billion Canadian dollars (876 million US) to victims who contracted hepatitis C from blood transfusions in the 1980s and 1990s, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said.
"While this money will certainly not undo the pain and suffering that has been endured, nor dull the painful memories of those who have lost loved ones to the disease, it is our government's sincerest hope that today's announcement will provide a measure of closure to those who have suffered so much," Harper told reporters.
An earlier deal in 1998 compensated some victims who contracted the disease from tainted blood from January 1986 to July 1990.
Canada did not use tests that were available to screen blood for infectious diseases during that period. As a result, thousands contracted hepatitis and HIV, the virus which causes AIDS, in what became the country's biggest health crisis.
The new offer, which must be approved by courts in four provinces, is in addition to 1.1 billion Canadian dollars (980 million US) allocated to the first group, and would extend compensation to all.
"All should be compensated equally, because all of the victims have endured pain and suffering," the prime minister said.
About 6,000 people are eligible for the latest payout, he said.
Hepatitis C is a virus carried in the blood that damages the liver.
http://www.salon.com/news/1999/02/25news.html
Welcome to another reason why Canada went conservative in the last election.
That is exactly what happened; however, don't expect to hear anything about this travesty (the Arkansas prison link while Bubba was governor) in the liberal MSM ... they buried it before, they're prepared to do it again.
Dayam, Canadians still have blood? Whothehelleverwouldhavethunkit!
PING!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/keyword?k=bloodhounds
The long sad history can be found under the bloodhounds keyword.
Maybe one of the original bloodhounds on Fr can post the link to the collection of info on this horrible scandal.
I seem to remember the two of you having interest in this subject.
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Bloodhounds ping
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