Harper Announces Help For Hepatitis C Victims

Devolin Column
July 27, 2006

This past Tuesday I was pleased to hear that the federal government has reached an agreement on the fundamentals of a settlement for those Canadians who contracted hepatitis C from the blood system before January 1, 1986 and after July 1, 1990. 
Unfortunately, prior to the Prime Minister’s announcement, only those victims who were infected between 1986 and 1990 were eligible for compensation.

In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s, thousands of ordinary men and women – through no fault of their own – were infected with hepatitis C, a horrible disease for which there is no cure. These Canadians have been forced to endure a life of pain and suffering. Sadly, many of those who were infected are no longer here with us.

Under the terms of the agreement, Canada’s new government will set aside nearly $1 billion in a special settlement fund. The level of compensation will be based on the principle of parity with compensation already provided by the federal government for those who were infected between 1986 and 1990. 

Benefits will be paid on a present-value basis, meaning that class members will receive the entire sum of their compensation up front, based on such factors as current disease level and probability of disease progression. This will also serve to minimize administrative costs. 

In order to better understand the magnitude of this week’s agreement, in 1998, federal, provincial and territorial governments agreed to offer financial assistance to Canadians infected with hepatitis C through the blood system between January 1, 1986, and July 1, 1990. The settlement included persons with hemophilia and thalassemia who are hepatitis C positive and received blood products between 1986 and 1990, regardless of when they became infected with hepatitis C. 

Individuals infected before January 1, 1986 and after July 1, 1990 (the pre-1986/post-1990 class) were not included in this settlement. At that time, the Government of Canada committed $525 million for a comprehensive package to support treatment for people infected before January 1, 1986, and after July 1, 1990, to improve blood regulation, as well as surveillance, prevention, support and research.

The agreement reached this week provides the foundation for a detailed final agreement. Once this is completed and approved by the courts in four provinces, an application and review process will be established to ensure that compensation is provided as quickly and effectively as possible.

I’m happy to hear that all victims will now be compensated equally, because all those affected have endured pain and suffering. While in opposition, many of my Conservative colleagues have fought to have this compensation to include all victims. And now, as government, we’re acting upon it.


It’s unfortunate these victims have waited long enough for what is due to them. I want to assure people that our government is going to do everything in its power to ensure that matters are moved ahead as quickly as possible.

I’ll close my column this week with a quote from Prime Minister Harper. “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.”