Topic: CEF
Pension Scale for Canadian Soldiers
Premier Borden Presents Government Proposals to the House of Commons
Comprehensive Plan
Dependents of Killed of Crippled Fighters Carefully Provided For
The Toronto Sunday World; 25 March 1915
The Right Honourable Sir Robert Borden, G.C.M.G., P.C., K.C.
8th Prime Minister of Canada
Oct 1911 – Jul 1920
Ottawa, March 24.—Premiere Borden today laid upon the table of the house of commons the pension regulations for Canadian soldiers, stating that the new regulations were made under the authority of the war measures act but that the pensions would not go into force until parliament gave its approval.
The order-in-council provides that the following rates of pension would be granted militiamen wounded or disabled on active service, during drill, training, or on other military duty, provided the disability was not due to his own fault or negligence.
- Rank and file: First degree, $264; second degree, $192; third degree, $132; fourth degree, $75.
- Sergeant: First degree, $336; second degree, $252; third degree, $168; fourth degree, $100.
- Squadron, Battery or Company Sergeant-Major or Quartermaster-Sergeant: First degree, $372; second degree, $282; third degree, $186; fourth degree, $108. The foregoing also applies to Color Sergeants and Staff Sergeants.
- Regimental Sergt.-Major and Master Gunner (not W.O.), and Regimental Quartermaster Sergt.: First degree, $432; second degree, $324; third degree, $216; fourth degree, $132.
- Warrant Officer: First degree, $480; second degree, $360; third degree, $240; fourth degree, $144.
- Lieutenant: First degree, $480; second degree, $360; third degree, $240; fourth degree, $144.
- Captain: First degree, $720; second degree, $540; third degree, $360; fourth degree, $216.
- Major: First degree, $960; second degree, $720; third degree, $480; fourth degree, $288.
- Lieut.-Colonel: First degree, $1,200; second degree, $900; third degree, $600; fourth degree, $360.
- Colonel: First degree, $1,440; second degree, $1,080; third degree, $720; fourth degree, $456.
- Brigadier General: First degree, $2,100; second degree, $1,620; third degree, $1,050; fourth degree, $636.
The Classifications
The first degree shall be applicable to those who are rendered totally incapable of earning a livelihood, as the result of wounds or injuries, or illness contracted in action or in presence of the enemy.
The second degree shall be applicable to those who are rendered incapable of earning a livelihood as the result of injuries received or illness contracted on active service during drill or training, or on other duty, or are rendered materially incapable as a result of wounds or injuries received or illness contracted in action or in the presence of the enemy.
The third degree shall be applicable to those who are rendered materially incapable of earning a livelihood as the result of injuries received, or illness contracted on active service, during drill or training, or on other duty, or rendered in a small degree incapable as a result of wounds or injuries received or illness contracted in action, or in the presence of the enemy.
The fourth degree shall be applicable to those who are rendered in a small degree incapable of earning a livelihood as the result of injuries received, or illness contracted on active service, during drill or training, or on other duty.
Pension Increases
Where the injury is great enough to require the constant services of an attendant, such as the loss of both legs, or both arms, or the loss of sight by both eyes, or where the use of both legs, or both arms, has been permanently lost the first or second degree of pension will be increased by one-third.
In addition to the above rates, a married officer, warrant officer, non-commissioned officer or man, totally incapacitated may draw for his wife half the rate provided under the Pension Act for the widow, and the full rate for the children, of officer, etc., of his rank subject to the limitation respecting the age of the children. After the death of the officer, etc., the widow may then draw the full rate now provided for widows and children.
The mother-widow of a totally disabled soldier may be granted a pension at half the rate fixed for a widow provided the soldier is her sole support and unmarried. In the event of the soldier's decease she may draw the full rate.
Pensions may be paid to the widows and children of those who have been killed in action or who have died from injuries received or illness contracted in active service, during drill or training, or on other military duty at the following rates, provided the soldier's death was not due to his own fault or negligence: rank held by husband, son or father at time of death.
Scale Provided
- Rank and file—$22 month for widow and $5 a month for each child.
- Sergeant—$28 a month for widow and $5 a month for each child.
- Squadron, Battery or Company Sergeant-Major or Quartermaster-Sergeant—$30 a month for widow and $5 a month for each child.
- Regimental Sergt.-Major (not W.O.)—$30 a month for widow and $5 a month for each child. The same for master gunner and regimental quartermaster-sergeant.
- Warrant Officer—$32 a month for widow and $5 a month for each child.
- Lieutenant—$37 a month for widow and $6 a month for each child.
- Captain—$45 a month for widow and $7 a month for each child.
- Major—$50 a month for widow and $8 a month for each child.
- Colonel—$60 a month for widow and $10 a month for each child.
- Brigadier General—$100 a month for widow and $10 a month for each child.
(A) A widowed mother, whose only son was her sole support, and unmarried, shall be eligible for pension as a widow without children and subject to the same conditions as hereafter set forth.
(B) In the case of orphans, the rates shown above for children may be doubled and the pension paid to legally appointed guardians.
No Delays
Pensions to widows and children shall take effect from the day following that on which the death of the husband, etc., occurred, and a gratuity equivalent to two months' pension shall be paid for the first month in addition to the pension.
The pension of a widow, a widowed mother or child may be withheld or discontinued should such widow, etc., be or subsequently proved unworthy or it, or should she be, or become, wealthy. The decision of the minister as to whether a pension should be so withheld or discontinued shall be final.
The pension to a widow or widowed mother shall cease upon her remarriage, but she will be eligible for a gratuity of two years' pension immediately after her marriage.
Neither gratuity nor pension shall be paid on account of a child or orphan over fifteen years of age, if a boy, or over seventeen years of age, if a girl, unless owing to mental or physical infirmity the child or orphan is incapable of earning a livelihood, in which case the pension may be continued wheen the child or orphan is 21 years of age, but no pension will be paid to a child or orphan after marriage.
Individual cases for which the regulations do not provide, or sufficiently provide, will be specially considered by the governor-in-council. Pensions may be paid monthly in advance.
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