News-Info-Alerts

Re: Former POW Gets Public Support

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Date: November 18, 2002

"Public backs PoW's request for pension
 
David Vienneau - Global National

Al Trotter, who spent 268 days as a prisoner of war in Germany after his plane was shot down, missed out on his pension because he applied too late.
 
The public is demanding that one of Canada's most decorated war heroes receive the $40,000 prisoner of war pension that is owed him, and somewhat amazingly, the federal government appears to be listening.

The case of retired lieutenant-colonel Al Trotter is about to be reopened, Veterans Affairs Minister Rey Pagtakhan has told Global National.

"I have asked my department to review it all again in fairness to Mr. Trotter," he said. "I would be awaiting their briefing of me on that particular issue."

The reversal comes less than two weeks after MPs from all parties rose in unison in the House of Commons to praise Mr. Trotter.

Mr. Trotter flew 44 missions over Europe as a pathfinder for Lancaster bombers -- one of the most dangerous jobs of the Second World War. His plane was shot down on Aug. 12, 1944.

After Mr. Trotter's story was told earlier this week, dozens of Canadians took up his cause, writing to the minister to protest the pension denial.

Should the government fail to come up with a solution, a Kamloops, B.C., lawyer has volunteered to independently review Mr. Trotter's case and fight for his rights in the Federal Court of Canada if necessary.

But Brian Ross doesn't think it will come to that.

"We believe Mr. Trotter still has the right to his full pension and as a prisoner of war and veteran he should be receiving that full benefit," Mr. Ross said.

To compensate former PoWs for their suffering, the Trudeau government established a special pension supplement in 1976. It passed and received royal assent in one day.

The original law had clear provisions providing for retroactive payments. But in 1986, the Mulroney government shifted the supplement into the Canada Pension Plan, which places strict limits on retroactivity. It was also believed at the time that all former PoWs had already applied for their pensions.

Mr. Trotter had not done so and when he learned about the pension supplement in 1990 he was told it was too late. Mr. Ross said the government had been reluctant to correct the oversight because it feared setting a precedent. It turns out there are only two other vets in the same situation as Mr. Trotter.

© Copyright 2002 The Ottawa Citizen"