The federal government, faced with criticism over delays, offered another deadline for promised compensation for victims of toxic defoliants sprayed onto a New Brunswick army base in the mid-1960s.

Minister of Veteran Affairs Greg Thompson had vowed to compensate veterans and civilians affected by the toxins used to clear land at CFB Gagetown by the end of last year.

"Each time when questioned on when the package will be coming for the sick and dying, it becomes another date farther down the calendar," said Jim Cadger of the Agent Orange Association at an NDP-sponsored meeting in Fredericton on the issue.

Thompson says the compensation packages, worth $20,000 to $24,000 per person, will be available by fall.

The minister admitted he's gotten in trouble before for being too optimistic about when the package will be ready.

"It's a little more complicated than what I thought it would be but again, at the end of the day, that's one of the reasons for the delay. I'll just be very honest and forthcoming with that. It has been because of that complexity."

Some veterans and residents who lived near the base in 1966 and 1967, when there were experiments done with several defoliating agents, including agents orange and purple, say it affected their health.

Agent Orange is infamous for its use in the Vietnam War, while Agent Purple is lesser known but more toxic. The chemicals have been linked to cancer, leukemia and other health problems.

NDP veterans affairs critic Peter Stoffer said the Conservative government tried to accuse the previous Liberal government of foot-dragging on the issue.

"It's now July of 2007 with no end in sight," Stoffer told reporters Thursday.

The most recent report on use of the chemicals at the base, released last month, said spraying posed little risk to human health in the long term.

With files from the Canadian Press