OTTAWA — The federal government has set Apr. 1, 2009, as the deadline for those exposed to Agent Orange to apply for a $20,000 ex-gratia payment.

The one-time, tax-free offer is being made to people who were exposed to the testing of unregistered U.S. military herbicides, including Agent Orange, at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in New Brunswick in 1966 and 1967.

Those eligible to make the claim would have been posted to or worked at the base between June 1 and Sept, 30, 1966, or between June 1 and Sept. 30, 1967.

Anyone who lived in a community within five kilometres of CFB Gagetown who has an illness associated with exposure to Agent Orange also qualifies for the payment.