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PM unveils new aid for tainted blood victims

(2008-2-28) Thousands of Canadians who contracted hepatitis C from tainted blood but were excluded from earlier compensation will now be covered under a new $1.1-billion plan, Prime Minister Harper announced Tuesday.

'These men and women have waited long enough,' said Prime Minister Stephen Harper in Cambridge, Ont. (CBC) "These men and women have waited long enough," Harper said as he made the announcement in Cambridge, Ont.

Harper and Health Minister Tony Clement outlined details of the new package, which will cover 5,500 Canadians who developed hepatitis C from tainted blood transfusions before 1986 or after 1990, but who were not eligible for a package offered by the federal and provincial governments in 1998.

The amount of money paid out to each will depend on the severity of their illness and how much income they've lost to the health problems. Payments will range from $30,000 to $250,000.

More info: CBC News