Hon. Gerald S. Merrithew (for the Minister of Justice) moved

that Bill C-70, an act to amend the Criminal Code (jury), be read the third time and passed.

Mr. Merrithew moved

that the bill be read the third time and passed.

Hon. Gerald S. Merrithew (Minister of Veterans Affairs) moved

that Bill C-84, an act to amend the Civilian War Pensions and Allowances Act, the War Veterans Allowance Act and the Pension Act and to amend other acts in consequence thereof, be read the second time and referred to a legislative committee in the Departmental envelope.

Hon. Gerald S. Merrithew (Minister of Veterans Affairs):

Mr. Speaker, I do not intend to drag the debate out, but I do want to comment on the remarks of the member for Broadview-Greenwood. I want to state very clearly that I understand that issue. I understand it all too clearly. I have been at it for a long time.

Since 1930 when this act was introduced no Parliament has considered amendments and since 1930 no Parliament ever intended resistance fighters to get war veterans allowance.

That was done by a quasi-judicial board, and there was later an interpretation of the act by the Federal Court of Appeal.

In the meantime those that were processed were honoured. We were even generous enough to grandfather them, and that is fair.

However, I want to say that there are an awful lot of people who do not think it is particularly fair. I can understand that as well. This government made a deliberate decision to do this. It was done after a lot of consultation with veterans groups. It was mentioned here today that there are resolutions on the floor of the convention two weeks from now in Quebec City suggesting that we return War Veterans Allowance to what Parliament always intended it to be. This government certainly intends to do so.

I would like to read a quote from the Royal Canadian Legion, which is by far the largest veterans organization in Canada, representing 600,000 veterans. It said in a

letter to me: "The executive officers of the Legion also want you to know you have our unqualified support for the amendments to the War Veterans Allowance Act relating to allied resistance groups. We are of the firm belief that benefits for veterans must first and foremost be available to Canadians and to allied veterans living in Canada".

Having said that I do wish to extend my thanks to the opposition members and to my own colleagues who were so supportive on this issue over the months that we dealt with it.

I particularly want to thank my critics today. I thank the hon. member for Hillsborough, who has Veterans Affairs Canada, the largest employer in P.E.I., in his own riding. He has been veiy interested in veterans issues.

I thank the hon. member for Victoria, who filled in very adequately for our ailing critic from Regina-Lums-den. They all have been very supportive of veterans issues.

My thanks to one and all.

Mr. Merrithew:

Mr. Chairman, in considering applications to the Canadian Pension Commission, in the absence of other hard evidence, the commission would have to take into consideration a statutory declaration as to the service or maybe an event that happened during the service of a veteran.

June 10, 1992

The hon. member asked what the benefit of the doubt would be. It would not affect that at all. In the case of a statutory declaration the commission would still give the benefit of the doubt to the veteran.