Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - July 8, 2004, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press thursday july 8, 2004 Canada world a7 Toronto ? an american Soldier Hinzman said following the proceed who fled the military after refusing Ings. To participate in the War in Iraq faces if i was going to go shoot depleted an october refugee status hearing to uranium rounds at iraqi children or decide whether he and his family will into the iraqi ground and raise the be Able to stay in Canada. Cancer rates then that is contrary to Jeremy Hinzman 25, attended a Good standards of human pre trial hearing yesterday to set oct. Hinzman who fled fort Bragg 20 to 22 As the dates for the inquiry to n.c., in january now resides in determine his Fate. Toronto with his wife and two year Brian Goodman of the immigration old son. And refugee Board who will oversee Goodman told Hinzman he needs the status hearing said he will con to explain among other things Why Sider whether Hinzman a argument he joined the army in the first place ? that the War in Iraq is illegal and when he knew combat might be a pos he would be breaking the Law by Par Sivility. Tic Pating ? is relevant to the Case. ? Canadian press our whole Case hinges on that victims yet to see any of $300-m Hep c fund no sign of feds promised Aid for medical expenses by Dennis Bueckert o Ottawa ? Vikki Boddy who was infected with hepatitis c through a blood transfusion in 1984, has declared bankruptcy twice because of expenses arising from her disease. She Hopes she wont have to do it again. I Hope to god i a dead before i do it a third time said Boddy of Lethbridge alta., in an interview yesterday. Boddy is one of hundreds of hepatitis c victims who want to know what happened to a $300-million fund that former health minister Allan Rock announced in 1998 to cover their medical expenses. The care instead of Cash program As its known was aimed at victims excluded from Cash compensation because their infection with the virus occurred outside the 1986-1990 period for which Ottawa admitted liability. Rock told the commons at the time the Money would be Given to the provinces to make certain anyone who got hepatitis c through the blood system will have Access to the needed medical services and drugs for treatment and care with out paying out of their own health Canada spokeswoman Paige Raymond Kovach said this week that about half of the fund $150 million has so far been transferred to the provinces and the rest will be disbursed in coming years. Yet when Boddy sent Alberta health minister Gary mar a Bill for $53,000 to cover drug treatment and other costs last year she was told the care instead of Cash program was not intended for that purpose. We have no recorded Case in the country where a patient has received out of pocket expenses from the fund ? ? John Plater vice president of the Canadian Haemophilia society that has been the Standard response for All victims who have tried to tap the fund say victims representatives. We have no recorded Case in the country where a patient has received out of pocket expenses from the fund said John Plater vice president of the Canadian Haemophilia society. Toronto lawyer David Harvey who represents Many of the victims has asked auditor general Sheila Fraser for an audit to determine what happened to the Money. I am unaware of any enhanced Access to medications or services that have been provided to this group As a result of the $300-million Transfer said Harvey in a recent letter to Fraser. In fact i have been contacted numer Ous times by people unable to afford medications necessary to treat their Raymond Kovach of health Canada said the Federal agreement with the provinces requires them to report on their use of the Money within five years. The five year deadline has to been reached so health Canada has no accounting yet. The agreement specifies that the Money was to be used for services such As drug therapy such that there will be reasonable Access to them by persons infected. Before Jan. 1 1986 and after july 1, 1990.? victims have been trying in vain to get information from health ministers about the fund. ? Canadian press ;