Manitoba Thalidomide victim says government pay out not enough

On Friday, the federal government released a compensation package totalling $180 million for the victims of Thalidomide-related birth defects, but some survivors say it isn’t enough.

Thalidomide, a drug that was used to treat morning sickness and was administered to women in the 1950s and 1960s, caused severe physical birth defects in babies.

The new compensation package will see that each survivor receives one lump sum of $125,000. The government is also creating a fund that will help to cover survivors’ medical expenses.

But Paul Murphy, a survivor of Thalidomide who lives in Selkirk, said he was surprised to hear victims would only be receiving $125,000 each.

“I was surprised,” said Murphy. “Certainly wasn’t the numbers that were expected."

Murphy said the original proposal would’ve seen a lump sum of $250,000 go to victims, with annual payments in the $75,000 to $150,000 range depending on medical bills and other health-related costs.

Murphy was part of the original group in the late 80s and early 90s that petitioned the federal government for financial assistance. And there was a pay out back then.

“There was what they called an 'extraordinary assistance' paid out, but it wasn’t that much,” said Murphy. “There was a promise at that time to continue to work toward something and nothing ever happened.”

Many involved with more recent efforts were upset by the figure handed down Friday, Murphy said.

And while survivors deserve more than what they’re getting, Murphy said the new package will help.

"This is something that will help them,” said Murphy. “Things get rougher as we've gotten older. Just myself in the last few years I've seen a dramatic decrease in my mobility.

“You’ve got to look at this with some level of [positivity]. They did come through with it.”