• http://www.thespec.com/Opinions/article/780899

Lee Prokaska
The Hamilton Spectator Canada
(Jun 3, 2010)

It is virtually impossible to put an accurate and true dollar value on a loved one lost.

But when a mechanism is set up to try to do that, when responsibility is accepted by government, it is unacceptable for families to lose yet again by failing to receive the full compensation they deserve.

That is precisely what has happened to Bob Green's family. The Burlington man died from a hepatitis C tainted blood transfusion.

His family's claim is part of a large class-action settlement between the federal government and those who were infected with hepatitis C through tainted blood either before 1986 or after 1990. These were the victims excluded from an earlier compensation package in the aftermath of the tainted blood scandal.

The federal government put a total of about $1 billion in two pools to pay out claims. One was a general compensation fund; the other was for those affected most severely and was intended to cover future lost income and relief for dependents.

There is, apparently, no money left in that second fund.

The Green family received a small portion of their total claim from the general-compensation fund.

Green was deemed to be in the highest of six levels of severity for affected people. But his family has been told the bulk of the claim won't be paid because the second fund is empty.

The government has not agreed to transfer any of the $250 million from the general-compensation fund to the pool for future loss.

Why not?

Health Canada has declined to indicate if the government will inject additional money to pay tainted-blood related claims.

Why not?

The federal government is not meeting its commitment to the Green family -- and potentially many other families which did not receive compensation before the future-loss fund ran out of money.

Why not?

By settling with victims of the tainted blood scandal, the federal government accepted responsibility for the impact of tainted blood on individuals and families. But it appears our government is not prepared to take full responsibility, given the future-loss fund is tapped out with no apparent plan to replenish it.

That is not fair. It is also not responsible.

More than 14,300 claims have been received. Just over three-quarters have been approved and nearly $744 million has been paid out. The stats don't tell us how many claims have not yet been paid out.

Bob Green's family has jumped through all the legal hoops. The original claim two years ago was denied twice before an independent mediator ruled their claim should be approved.

The federal government must make good on its commitment to Canadians by ensuring that Green's family and others in similar circumstances receive the compensation they are due.

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