The Canadian Curling Association has recognized the need to develop a medical exemption policy for the CTRS and Olympic qualification process and the new policy will allow Kerry Burtnyk and his team to compete in the pre-Trials competition in 2009.

Burtnyk's registered team for 2007-08 included Dan Kammerlock, Richard Daneault and Rob Meakin. However an early, and serious, injury to Rob Meakin forced Burtnyk to recruit Garth Smith. Smith played much of the season as the team's regular lead, including earning the trip to the Tim Hortons Brier.

Meakin attemnpted to play at the late-season Player's Championship but found that he was unable to compete and has retired.

That, combined with a change of personnel at third, meant that only two members of Burtnyk's listed team could advance to the pre-Trials event.

In that case the team would not be eligible to compete.

Team Burtnyk requested that the CCA allow Smith to be recognized as a member of the team based on Meakin's medical situation. At the time of his recent news conference, Burtnyk said he could abide by the decision whichever way it went.

He stressed the need for the CCA to have a medical exemption policy but he acknowledged the difficulty involved with implementing any policy retroactively.

After being advised that the CCA has established a Medical Exemption policy, and that Garth Smith would be recognized as a replacement for Rob Meakin on the 2007 official team lineup, Burtnyk admitted he was extremely delighted.

"I think they have formalized a new policy that was needed for teams in our situation," Burtnyk said. "I'm glad they decided to apply it to our team."

Burtnyk said the only reason it probably wasn't there in the past was that no one had forseen the requirement in the new organizational structure of teams and events.

"There are many situations where a medical exemption could be required," Burtnyk suggests. "Unexpected preganancies, someone injured in a car accident, someone injured in competition are all reasons why the policy was needed."

The replacement of a person under the medical exemption policy carries with it the restriction the player being replaced may not compete for that season or the one following.

For Team Burtnyk, the issue of eligibility to utilize the earned 2007-08 pre-Trials berth could be moot. If the new team lineup that includes Don Walchuk, Richard Daneault, and Garth Smith competes at the level Burtnyk expects it to, the team will earn a pre-Trials or Trials berth in the 2008-09 season.