Ottawa, July 28, 2006 – Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces
Ombudsman, Yves Côté, today welcomed the implementation of his recommendation to
compensate Squadron Leader (Retired) Clifton Wenzel for the pension that he was
unjustly denied.
“I would like to commend the Minister of National Defence, the Honourable
Gordon O’Connor, and the Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces for
correcting this significant and long-standing injustice,” stated Mr. Yves Côté.
The Ombudsman added, “Mr. Wenzel served Canada and Canadians with pride and
distinction under incredibly challenging circumstances and I am very pleased
that he is getting the recognition that he so rightly deserves.”
This compensation package for Squadron Leader (Retired) Clifton Wenzel
follows a six-month investigation by the Office of the Ombudsman. In November
2005, the Ombudsman released a special report, For the Sake of Fairness,
detailing Mr. Wenzel’s 44-year-long battle for a military pension – and justice.
Mr. Wenzel left the Royal Canadian Air Force after more than 20 years of
service, including 47 combat missions in the Second World War, but before the
mandatory retirement age for his rank. At the time, the Canadian Forces
Superannuation Act provided that he was entitled to a return of his
contributions to the superannuation plan. It also provided that he could be
granted a reduced pension if it was deemed to be in the public interest. He
requested a reduced pension but was granted only a return of his contributions.
The Ombudsman’s report concluded that the military had failed Mr. Wenzel. It
was clear that the decision not to grant the decorated Veteran a reduced pension
had been arrived at as a result of an unfair process, and the Ombudsman
recommended that Mr. Wenzel be compensated for the pension he was unjustly
denied.
“I am very proud of the thorough and professional work that our investigators
did in this case and the role they played in helping to right this wrong,” said
Mr. Côté.
The special report, For the Sake of Fairness, is available online at the
following address:
www.ombudsman.forces.gc.ca.
For additional information, please contact:
Darren Gibb
Director of Communications
Office of the Ombudsman
Tel.: (613) 992-6962
Edith Dauphinais
Communications Advisor
Office of the Ombudsman
Tel.: (613) 996-8076
