First Name: hugh
Last Name: mackenzie
City: westville, n.s.
E-mail Address: hughmackenzie@canada.com
Comments: hi art, thanks for the forum. my 2 cents worth. i was 1st batt. black watch, c co. 7 platoon. i remember vividly being sprayed. my daughter born in 1969 had cleft palate, took 20 + operations to repair. she cannot have children.my son born in 1972 had undescended testicle, required operation for that. my other two children are 25 and 23 years old, i don't know yet if they can have children. my big fear is if they do they will be born with birth defects.since leaving army in 1968 i have suffered severe depression, muscular/skeletal problems. i went before DVA in 1980's and asked them about agent orange and they laughed in my face, said it was never used in canada. i have sent emails to peter stoffer m.p., and peter mackay m.p. yesterday i did an interview with paul withers of cbc television, it was on 6 o'clock news last night. i urge all who were there, especially the "black watch family" to pursue this relentlessly.we and our children have suffered enough and listened to veterans affairs and dva lies long enough. LANG MAY YOUR LUM REEK!!! You are more than welcome for the fourm Hugh. Thanks for putting your two cents worth in. Glad to hear you went on the NEWS too. it is VERY VERY important that this story remain in the media. I urge everyone to write letters / emails to their local newspapers. Also write your MP's the Minister of Defence. _______________________________________________________________ Ex-soldiers file Agent Orange claims
Last updated Jun 29 2005 10:42 AM EDT
CBC News
Dozens of Nova Scotia veterans are expected to file compensation
claims over their exposure to the deadly herbicide Agent Orange in
the 1960s.
The defoliant, which contains lethal dioxins, was used to clear
training areas at CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick.
Hugh MacKenzie, of Westville, was a member of the Black Watch
regiment stationed at the base then. He remembers what it was like to
walk through the brush.
Hugh MacKenzie"It was like a mist," he said. "We lived with it, we
ate in it and we slept in it."
MacKenzie blames his exposure to Agent Orange for his muscle and
skeletal problems and the health problems of his daughter, who was
born shortly after he left the regiment.
He's now looking for compensation for what he went through. "They
used us as guinea pigs and now it's time to pay the piper," MacKenzie
said.
According to the Black Watch Association, dozens of its veterans from
Nova Scotia have filed or will file compensation claims with Veterans
Affairs Canada.
The federal government admits that Agent Orange was sprayed as a test
over three days in June 1966 and four days in June 1967. Agent
Purple, a similar defoliant, was also used.
Defence Minister Bill Graham has acknowledged that the testing
exposed Canadian soldiers to a health risk and he promised them help.
But the real issue, according to Karen Ellis, with the Department of
National Defence, is how many people were affected.
* CBC ARCHIVES: Agent Orange
* NATIONAL DEFENCE: Agent Orange information
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=ns-orange-vets20050629
--
Mike Christie As always I thank you Mike. Your contributions are truly invaluable and appreciated :) -Art
___________________________________________________________________ June 29, 2005 From : Roy Sabean | I lived in gagetown with 4 brothers and one sister from 1958-1965.my father was in the black watch.about 9 years ago one of my brothers had to have lung surgery due to a colasped lung caused by what they called soft spots in his lungs.5 years ago I had a brother die of lung disease at age 46.last summer I had to have the upper lobe of my right side removed due to soft spots which at that time caused a colasped lung.I had a blood test to see if I had hereditery lung problems and it came back negative so it seems strange for one family to have so many lung problems. so I am also looking for answers.I would like to know what they sprayed from the back of a truck on our streets as we would play,it came out as a white cloud and covered the street.access to information say they have no records of this. I would like to hear back Roy Sabean My sources tell me it was what is called a "swing fog". It was actually DDT. That may explain why they won't...ooops...cant find any info. -Art | | _____________________________________________________________________________ June 29, 2005 First Name: Pierre
Last Name: Loiselle
City: Fredericton
E-mail Address: pierre_loiselle@hotmail.com
Comments: To Whom It May Concern:
In light of the recent attention to the spraying of pesticides at CFB Gagetown and the epidemic of adverse health effects, CHSR FM would like to offer considerable air-time to the communities struggling with this crisis in the form of a special broadcast. This letter is an invitation to participate and help us brainstorm on how to make it a success.
CHSR FM is a campus/community broadcaster located on the UNB campus providing quality programming to the greater Fredericton area since 1961. In 2004, we increased our broadcast power to 250 watts and our signal on 97.9 on your FM dial can even be heard as far as Lower Jemseg. Our broadcast radius from Fredericton covers Oromocto, CFB Gagetown and the surrounding area, as well as reaching the rest of the country via our live internet broadcast which can be found at www.unb.ca/chsr.
We are non-partisan and independently funded from the University of New Brunswick and St. Thomas University, as well as from listener contributions. Our membership is open to both students and community members and has included civilians and military personel. Part of our mandate is to provide a voice to the greater community, and this issue that affects and concerns so many of us in this region deserves our attention.
We would like to bring the voices of those directly affected by the spraying to the airwaves, along with "experts" who can help us answer questions relating to the history and health impacts of these pesticides which have been sprayed not only in Gagetown, but across the province.
We would like to rely heavily on phone-ins, where people in the community can contribute their stories, questions and concerns. Essentially, we would like to facilitate an on-air open public meeting. We would be able to prepare some guest interviews in advance as well as have pre-arranged live studio guests or call-ins. We feel it would be useful to invite people who are knowledgeable on aspects of these issues (ie: a toxicologist or epidemiologist who can field medical questions relating to exposure) that can help answer questions or further the discussions on these matters. We may even want to consider having an official representative make an appearance so that people can direct their questions and concerns to the powers that be, but we do not want this section to predominate. We want to emphasize voices that are not connected with those who have a vested interest in covering up this issue. This is an opportunity to focus on the voice of the people in the community. !
We would like to showcase several hours (either consecutive in one afternoon or evening, or broken into chunks such as 2 hours for 3 nights straight.) There will be no charge for this initiative, although assistance in publicizing the broadcast would be appreciated. Following the broadcast, we can also make the audio available on-line for those who missed it live.
This initiative is still in it's preliminary stage and we would like to invite input from those directly involved with this issue on how to make the broadcast a success. If you would like to give feedback, appear on the broadcast or help in any other way, please get in touch. You can e-mail chsrpd@unb.ca or give us a call at (506) 452-6173.
Pierre Loiselle
Project Coordinator
pierre_loiselle@hotmail.com
(902) 454-5921
Melissa Montgomery
Program Director
chsrpd@unb.ca
(506) 452-6173 __________________________________________________________________ AGENT ORANGE UPDATE – June 29, 2005 Jody Carr, MLA Federal Cabinet Committee struck. Today, June 29, 2005 Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan will chair a meeting in Ottawa involving several Federal Cabinet Ministers to discuss the issue of the use of Agent Orange and Purple at Base Gagetown in the early 60’s. The Federal Government is preparing additional measures to remedy fallout from chemicals tested in 1966 and 1967. -
Federal MP Greg Thompson, NB Southwest, reiterated a call for an independent public inquiry into all chemicals used for defoliation done at Base Gagetown between 1956 and 1984. Bill Graham says no. -
Federal Minister Bill Graham continues to limited his comments to the 7 days of testing of Agent Orange and Purple in 1966 and 1967. “In fact there were only seven days involved over two years during a limited time. We clearly in the department will be looking at that. We will be doing soil tests,” said Graham. -
But Bill Graham’s own ADM Karen Ellis admitted last week that the chemical spray program at Base Gagetown indeed started much earlier than 1966, but reiterated the chemicals used were not Agent Orange. -
Documents from DND clearly show that chemical spraying started at Base Gagetown in 1956 using 2,4,5 T, a component of Agent Orange, and fuel oil. These mixtures were sprayed throughout the Base training area. An expert from BC says the earlier mixtures of 2,4,5 T contained higher concentrations of Dioxin. The use of the mixture was stopped in 1964 after an overspray killed crops on farms in Upper Gagetown and Sheffield. Farmers were later compensated by the Federal Government for a total of $250,000. -
Base Gagetown Commanding Officer Col. Ryan Jestin committed at last Thursday’s Public Meeting in Gagetown that he would expand soil tests to other areas of the Base outside the tested plots. Col. Jestin will move forward with these tests shortly. -
Grace Getty, UNB Nursing Professor is continuing her work with a local committee who are hoping to get Federal funding in order to study the incidence of cancer and other illnesses in the communities surrounding Base Gagetown. This will help determine whether there is indeed a higher rate of illness compared to other parts of NB. Clearly, the Federal Government has the responsibility to undertake an independent review of the entire spray program starting in 1956. The Federal Government then must compensate all victims, veterans and civilians, who were exposed to the chemicals. Too many people, civilians and veterans, from across Canada claim they were exposed to deadly chemicals as a result of their work at Base Gagetown starting as early as 1956. After 50 years, it is time to clear the air and come clean. For more updates visit www.jodycarr.ca or www.agentorangealert.com ____________________________________________________________________________ First Name: Kenneth
Last Name: Young
City: Nanaimo
E-mail Address: Kentar@telus.net
Comments: A reply letter to Jody Carr
Although I was born in Quebec, I now live in BC on Vancouver Island. I have contacted my MP. Dr. James Lunney here in my riding.
My exposure and health story are somewhat different then most because I wasn't in Gagetown with 1 RCR, until 1971 when I participated in Exercise Running Jump II, along with the whole Division. I was at that time in Recce platoon and on one very dark night during the exercise my Platoon was driven out to an area that nothing was alive and even the trees had all been cut down (helter skelter) and just left there, making the area almost impassable. Each group of 3 were dumped off and given a map and compass reading to follow through the dusty mess. I have no idea how big the area was but enough to say we didn't hear or see anyone for the rest of the night, nor could I point the area in question out to you today but it took us around 10 hours to find our way to the other side. It was very dusty and within minutes we were swallowing as much contaminated dust as we were spitting out. Remember that it was dark and the trees were all over the place so we were falling and bumping, c!
rawling over, under and even through branches through the whole night and when we arrived at the other side we were more dust then anything else. The taste in our moths took days to get rid of and headaches were not uncommon. At the time we had no idea what had been sprayed there nor when it had been sprayed and shrugged it off as just another dumb order to see if we could hack it.
Small things (health wise) began to happen almost immediately. Little things at first but they continued to increase in severity until in 1974 I was hospitalized with Diarrhea, swollen glands, weight loss, unexplained high temperatures, blood and lymph problems. At that time I didn't make a connection. My health continued to deteriorate, operations were performed and organs removed and my wife was even told that I would only live for 4 years if the treatments went well. In 1975 they gave up on me and sent me home to die and when I didn't they released me from the Army in 1977. I have continued to have numerous health problems ever sense Gagetown but they seemed random and unconnected until I started to read up on Agent Orange and it's effects and symptoms. Even though I started to get sick shortly after Gagetown I never put two and two together until last month.
When I phoned CVA I told them that I was not in Gagetown in 66- or 67 but was in 71 and 72 and they informed me that them dates were covered in the directive from Ottawa and have started to work on a pension for me. So far I do not know where this is going but After reading up on the effects of Dioxin on Humans I know what has happened to me. It helps a bit to know why I have been sick and that all the things that have gone wrong in my health do have a common thread but I was only 23 years when my life took a terrible turn health wise. I have lost a lot of years and a large part of my life due to Dioxin and one night of crawling in the dust. I really would like to know WHY? Pensions and compensations would be welcome and nice but my health and all them years back would be better
Cpl Young K H CD.
PS: I only recounted a small part of the health problems that I have had. Too many more would not add to the story.
Thank you for sharing Ken Your emails are always informative and thought provoking. -Art __________________________________________________________________________ FROM CBC.CA June 28, 2005 | Soldiers not deliberately sprayed: Graham | | Last updated Jun 28 2005 04:05 PM ADT
CBC News
| | The number of people making disability claims continues to rise, even as Defence Minister Bill Graham says people were never deliberately sprayed with Agent Orange at CFB Gagetown in the 1960s. Some former soldiers said last week they were purposely sprayed with chemicals at the base when testing of Agent Orange was taking place. But Graham told reporters in Ottawa on Tuesday that people were not being used as test subjects for chemical weapons, or for any other purpose. "There was never any attempt whatsoever of any kind to actually spray individuals or to test any material on individuals on Gagetown," Graham said. "That was not the purpose of anything that was being done." Meanwhile the number of former soldiers seeking compensation for Agent Orange has almost tripled during the past week. Veterans Affairs has now received more than 300 disability applications. The New Brunswick Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission which handles claims by employees of civilian contractors is also getting calls. Omer Robichaud of the commission says it has had two inquiries so far, including one from a woman whose husband died in 1989 at the age of 33. He says the man had worked on the base when he was 20 while attending university and that she intends to provide copies of the autopsy report. A committee of the federal cabinet will meet in Ottawa on Wednesday to continue discussion about how a compensation program could work for people affected by Agent Orange spraying. http://nb.cbc.ca/regional/servlet/View?filename=nb-agent-graham20050628 | 031RCR@aol.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2005 09:10 PM
To: webmaster@agentorangealert.com
Subject: agent orange and purple
A former member of the second battalion.In ref to those barrels being buired i think you will find some were buired right across the road from a artesion well that we drank out of for years god we left a cup there hanging on a tree.Its been along time but i could still take you to three siteswere it is possibley buried. i would love to be with these people who are going to test the soil i would lay money on iti could probley find some today still there.inf 031 rcr @ AOL I think a fellah at the info session the other day mentioned that cup!! -Art ____________________________________________________________________________ June 28, 2005 First Name: Tom
Last Name: Brown
City: Fredericton
E-mail Address: tbrownn628@rogers.com
Comments: My father served his country for 33 years. During that time he served with the Black Watch & the RCR at CFB Gagetown. He has type 2 Diabetes, suffers from dizzy spells, confusion, & forgetfulness. At present he is recovering from cancer surgery. My family has lived within spitting distance of the base since 1963. I now live in Fredericton, my brother in Saint John. My parents still live in a small community that borders the base. What does the future hold? We all fished, hunted, picked berries, & camped in the training area. How much of this crap was ingested? I'm 41 years old & fortunately, in good health. But for how long?
The cancer rate in communities surrounding Base Gagetown, is in my opinion, very high. Why? Exactly Tom...why? -Art _____________________________________________________________________________ June 28, 2005 Art, I am very sorry to hear about your family loses but I am not surprised. I grew up in Central Blissville which was an area that the military expropriated a great deal of property from. We had a large chunk of farmland taken over by the military but we were allowed to use the land for a certain period of time. I remember us playing in the pastures while the military were on manuvers. I also remember the area along the Geary woods Branch Road being sprayed and how dead all the the trees and bushes were for a very long time. I remember the day my sister came in the house crying because all the little birds were laying every where in the yard dead. What killed those birds? I believe it was the result of the spraying by the military. We also lived very close to the Blissville air strip and as kids were fansiated by all the spray planes. We picked the berries along the airport road and played in the fields. So far my family has been lucky and we have not had any illnesses from the spraying but it is never far from our minds. Jean Russell You brought tears to my eyes with the mental picture of your sister crying Jean -Art _____________________________________________________________________ | Department of Veterans Affairs Report | SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ON THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ADVERSE HEALTH EFFECTS AND EXPOSURE TO AGENT ORANGE CLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL STATUS (1) As Reported by Special Assistant Admiral E.R. Zumwalt, Jr. May 5, 1990 NOT FOR PUBLICATION AND RELEASE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC http://www.2ndbattalion94thartillery.com/Chas/Admiral.htm What a great read!!!...Very informative...Thanks Derrick :) -Art _________________________________________________________________________ _June 28, 2005 Gallant Questions Use of Agent Orange on Military Bases Vietnam War Era Chemical Defoliants may have been used at Base Petawawa in addition to its confirmed use at CFB Gagetown Ottawa, Ontario… Cheryl Gallant. MP, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke questioned the Defence Minister in the House of Commons over the use of the “rainbow herbicides”, developed for use during the Vietnam War, and the extent of their use in Canada. Mrs. Cheryl Gallant (RenfrewNipissingPembroke, Conservative): Mr. Speaker, it is now clear that the families of servicemen and civilians living on or near CFB Gagetown have been exposed to the so-called rainbow herbicides, Agent Orange, purple, white, and a variety of other toxic chemicals. There is also the likelihood of exposure at other bases. If the government denies responsibility for all victims of chemical warfare testing, why does the government refuse to recognize all victims including non-military of chemical warfare experiments? In a subsequent point of order after question period in the House of Commons, the Ontario MP drew attention to the conflicting statements coming from the Minister of Defence regarding the extent of testing of these chemical defoliants in Canada and how widespread their use was. Mrs. Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, Conservative): Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. On June 20, 2005, the Minister of National Defence, in responding to a question from the member for Acadie—Bathurst, said the following. I quote from Hansard: | We are of course concerned with the case of Agent Orange which, as I have said, was sprayed seven days a week for two years over Gagetown land. We will continue all our investigations on all our bases to determine whether other agents have been used. | On Tuesday, June 21, 2005, the assistant deputy minister for infrastructure and environment in the Department of National Defence, Karen Ellis, during sworn testimony before the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs, contradicted the minister when she stated that in the case of Agent Orange and Agent Purple, three days in June 1966 and four days in July 1967 were the only days and, to the best of the department's knowledge, were the only times cooperative defoliant testing was to have occurred. This statement directly contradicts the information the minister gave the House on June 20, 2005 when the minister told the member for Acadie—Bathurst that Agent Orange was sprayed seven days a week for two years at CFB Gagetown and that the use of the “Rainbow herbicides” such as Agents Orange and Purple was being investigated on all military bases. As a consequence of the conflicting statements coming from the Department of National Defence regarding chemical weapons testing, I invite the Minister of Defence to either correct the record in the House of Commons or correct the comments of his public servant regarding the use of chemical defoliants and desiccants on or near Canadian military bases. For More Information Please Call Cheryl Gallant, M.P. at (613) 732-4404 Art, this is from today's question period in the House of Commons. ORAL QUESTION PERIOD [Oral Questions] Mrs. Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, CPC): Mr. Speaker, it is now clear that the families of servicemen and civilians living on or near CFB Gagetown have been exposed to the so-called rainbow herbicides, Agent Orange, purple, white, and a variety of other toxic chemicals. There is also the likelihood of exposure at other bases. If the government denies responsibility for all victims of chemical warfare testing, why does the government refuse to recognize all victims including non-military of chemical warfare experiments? Hon. Bill Graham (Minister of National Defence, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is deliberately, and I say this deliberately, seeking to mix up the question of chemical warfare experiments and the use of defoliants on bases which are an entirely different proposition. It is an irresponsible suggestion on her part. She represents military in her riding. It is a disgraceful attempt to sew fear into the military. It is not true. There never were chemical warfare related testing on our forces in connection with the defoliants of Agent Orange or others. We will get to the bottom of this. We are working on it. Let us work together to help the Canadian public, not sew discord of this kind. Mr. Greg Thompson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): Mr. Speaker, the controversial spray program at CFB Gagetown ran from 1956 to 1984 with casualties all over the place. Last week DND confirmed an in-house investigation would take place, but get this, Mr. Speaker, would be restricted to a small scale test area in 1966-67. Would the public interest not be best served with an independent public inquiry removed from the influence of senior politicians in Ottawa and an inquiry that would focus on the entire spray period program? Hon. Bill Graham (Minister of National Defence, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, what the public interest would be best served by is hon. members in the House restricting their comments to the facts. The hon. member knows very well that agent orange and agent purple were tested in Gagetown over a small acreage during two years. The member suggested to the public and others that it expands over another period of time. In fact there were only seven days involved over two years during a limited time. We clearly in the department will be looking at that. We will be doing soil tests. I will be working with other members of the government to make sure that we will find the facts and we will work with the Canadian public to make sure that all people get a proper treatment of-- ¸ (1455) Points of Order [Points of Order] Mrs. Cheryl Gallant (Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. On June 20, 2005, the Minister of National Defence, in responding to a question from the member for Acadie—Bathurst, said the following. I quote from Hansard: | We are of course concerned with the case of Agent Orange which, as I have said, was sprayed seven days a week for two years over Gagetown land. We will continue all our investigations on all our bases to determine whether other agents have been used. | On Tuesday, June 21, 2005, the assistant deputy minister for infrastructure and environment in the Department of National Defence, Karen Ellis, during sworn testimony before the Standing Committee on National Defence and Veterans Affairs, contradicted the minister when she stated that in the case of Agent Orange and Agent Purple, three days in June 1966 and four days in July 1967 were the only days and, to the best of the department's knowledge, were the only times cooperative defoliant testing was to have occurred. This statement directly contradicts the information the minister gave the House on June 20, 2005 when the minister told the member for Acadie—Bathurst that Agent Orange was sprayed seven days a week for two years at CFB Gagetown and that the use of the “Rainbow herbicides” such as Agents Orange and Purple was being investigated on all military bases. As a consequence of the conflicting statements coming from the Department of National Defence regarding chemical weapons testing, I invite the Minister of Defence to either correct the record in the House of Commons or correct the comments of his public servant regarding the use of chemical defoliants and desiccants on or near Canadian military bases. Hon. Bill Graham (Minister of National Defence, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I did not quite digest entirely everything the hon. member had to say, but I understood the thrust of her comment to be that there was confusion between what I had said in the House and what Ms. Ellis, who was the assistant deputy minister, said to the committee when she said that Agent Orange and Agent Purple, which is a matter of concern before the House, were in fact sprayed on a limited area in Gagetown in 1967 and 1966 over a total period of seven days, three days in one year and four days in the other year. I have tried my best to make the House understand that. If the hon. member has not understood that and chosen to interpret that as seven days a week for two years I am sorry for her, but I have tried to make it very clear to the House and it is consistent with what the assistant deputy minister said, that this was a matter of seven days total spraying over two years in a limited area of Gagetown. We are working with all those concerned to find out what are the facts so that we can get the proper response to this terrible problem. We will make sure we do that, but let us get the facts straight first. That is all I ask of the House, that we get the facts. ¹ (1505) Mr. Greg Thompson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): Mr. Speaker, on that same point of order: The minister is inconsistent in the testimony that he provides compared to the testimony that we heard at committee and what the people in Gagetown heard in the community when DND took their travelling road show to Base Gagetown. The point I simply want to make is this: When the Minister of Defence is talking about a limited test area, he fails to mention the broader spray program of those years where they used Agent Orange and Agent Purple over 4,000 acres and hundreds of gallons of the defoliant in those same years that he selectively refers to as the test period. I believe that the member is correct in the sense that the minister is operating on information which is inconsistent with the documents that his department has provided and inconsistent with the evidence that we heard at committee by some of his officials. Hon. Bill Graham (Minister of National Defence, Lib.): Obviously, Mr. Speaker, this has now become a matter of debate, but I would like to respectfully suggest to the hon. members and to the House that if we can have debate with some civil conduct with one another, I would be happy to look into this and I will get back to the hon. members with the facts. My understanding, as I said to the House, is that there was no suggestion of any spraying of Agent Orange over 4,000 acres. That is not testimony that I have ever heard before. I will consult with my officials and I will correspond with the hon. members to exact facts about what I have said and what has been said by my deputy minister to make sure that the facts were entirely clear. We will do our best to get-- The Speaker: I think we have heard enough on this. Is this a different point of order? I have heard enough on this one. The hon. member for Acadie—Bathurst. [Français] M. Yvon Godin (Acadie—Bathurst, NPD): Monsieur le Président, sur ce point d'ordre, cela concerne la question que j'avais posée à la Chambre des communes. L'important est la santé et la sécurité des gens. Depuis des années on demande au ministère de la Défense nationale de faire le nettoyage du Camp militaire de Tracadie-Sheila et on est encore au point où seulement la surface a été nettoyée. Il y a une contradiction. Nous aimerions que le ministre mandate un groupe indépendant pour faire une étude et le nettoyage complet du camp militaire une fois pour toutes. Le Président: C'est intéressant, mais c'est une question et non un rappel au Règlement. Le problème que nous avons aujourd'hui c'est le désaccord concernant les faits. L'honorable député de Renfrew—Nippising—Pembroke a mentionné deux citations qui avaient indiqué un désaccord. [English] We have heard clarification on the matter. The minister said he will clarify any other issues that are raised on it. I am sure if the hon. member for Acadie--Bathurst has continuing problems, he will be able to correspond with the minister directly. We are not going to keep doing question period under the guise of points of order. That is unheard of. _____________________________________________ Gayle, please thank Angela for me. It brought tears to my eyes to know there are Canadians who care that we were all poisoned by our own government. DND is feeding so much misinformation to the public that it's surprising they don't think we're all crazy, e.g. 'soldiers could only have been harmed if they ingested it'. Ingest means to sip, gulp down, swig, swallow, etc. How does DND think the soldiers ingested this, by running around with their heads back and mouths open as the poison rained down, a la chickens in the rain, or did they crawl through the bush licking the leaves? Or how about the one that the poisons evaporated from the leaves - this would be the dead leaves that are falling as a result of the spraying? My ex-husband is dying with leukemia. I'm a life-long non-smoker, only a social drinker, and I have never used illegal drugs. I'm 62 and have lung and liver disease, had three miscarriages, endometriosis, a hysterectomy at 31, pulmonary embolism at 26, cataracts that appeared in my late thirties, frequent bouts of pneumonia and bronchitis (eight times in two and a half years with each bout lasting several weeks). I also have private diseases that nobody wants to talk about. I've been taking tests since February, 2003 and am still undiagnosed although at various times I've been told that I had leukemia, non-Hodgkins lymphoma, and Alpha-1 antitrypsin disease. I've been told that I probably have seven to 10 years left - incredible given that my grandmothers, going back five generations, lived to between 97 and 103. They have taken about 30 years off my life, if the seven to 10 years is correct. By the way, when I went for the dioxin test, I didn't get it because it costs $1,000. The irony is that our government doesn't cover this test under the Canada Health Act, even though they're the ones that caused the problem! Please ask Angela to keep sending her message out. There are thousands of us with terrible symptoms and I'm guessing somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000 people were exposed. If the spraying started as early as they say, then the numbers exposed would be a lot higher. Thanks for sending that to me. Gail Gail is a Calgary resident and she is absolutely correct about the government not paying for the medical test! I have been invited as a guest on "The Rutherford Show" on CHQR 770AM on Friday July 1, 2005 at 11:05 AM Calgary time. This show will also be broadcasted on CFPL radio 980 AM in London Ontario. Please tell all your friends to listen...lets spread the word. -Art _____________________________________________________________________________ June 28, 2005__ | I too was a "army brat" Hi my name is Nancy Belfry (Martin). The first I've heard of agent orange was June 24 2005, on Canada AM. I was born 1962. Gagetown was my home until 1969. A sister born 1964 and a brother born 1966. My father was in the military 25 years, he's had emphseyma now for about 20 years. I've had many many health problems, pancreatitis, I've had a Ileostomy ( removal of the large intestine ).Unable to get pregnant I had to go through invitro fertilization. My tubes where deformed.At 32 I came down with arthrist. I now have Thyroid problems. Now I'm questioning what my government has done to me? I've spoke to my father about this, he said he knew they were guine pigs, when he signed up for the military. But I didn't. I never had a say about anything. From the start of my life it seems "shit" was forced on me. I always felt bad having to move and change schools so much, but that was apart of this life and we just shut up and didn't complain.But the thought of being poisioned from birth until age 8 is beginning to upset me and I would like some answers. Like all things with the government will this to come to nothing?How do I ask or who do I ask about all of this? My mother comes from a family of 10 children all born and live in NewBrunswick. Of all the grandchildren in this family the only ones with health problems are the ones that married military men and lived in Gagetown. I have two cousins, one died of stomach cancer two years ago at age 38. He leaves behind 3 young children. His sister has gone through brain cancer all at the same time. Their mother my aunt was married to a soldier.They lived in Gagetown in the 1960's. Sorry to go on so much, could you please tell me who to contact ? I understand there will be a meeting in Gagetown on Thrusday. What is the next step? Thank you Nancy Belfry __________________________________________________________________________ | From: Mike Christie 38th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION EDITED HANSARD NUMBER 123
CONTENTS Monday, June 27, 2005 Part A
Request for Emergency Debate
+-Defoliant Use at CFB Gagetown [S. O. 52] +-
The Speaker: I am in receipt of a notice of motion under Standing
Order 52 from the hon. member for New Brunswick Southwest. +-
Mr. Greg Thompson (New Brunswick Southwest, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I seek
an emergency debate on the use of chemical sprays, specifically
defoliants, used at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown from 1956 to 1984.
Hundreds of civilians and military personnel were exposed to these
deadly chemicals, chemicals like agent orange, agent purple and many
others which are deadly dioxins.
The government has neglected these people and their communities and
has not taken responsibility for this tragedy. The effects of these
deadly chemical compounds have lingered and will continue to linger
for decades.
As a result of this indiscriminate use of defoliants, there are
cancer and cancer related diseases and deaths to prove the point that
we are making. These chemicals are deadly. The devastation continues
to this day. They simply linger in the ground and in the water supply
for decades.
Only a public inquiry will bring out the complete story, all the
facts and a level of transparency which so far has been missing. This
is not about pointing fingers at government or punishing government.
It is simply about righting a wrong.
Mr. Speaker, the only place where that debate can happen is in the
House of Commons. I hope you will look favourably upon this request.
' +-(1515) +-
The Speaker: I thank the hon. member for New Brunswick Southwest for
his very able submissions on this point. I know there have been a
number of questions concerning the matter raised in the House in the
last few weeks. Clearly it is a matter of some concern, but I do not
believe it meets the exigencies of the Standing Order at this time.
Accordingly I am not inclined to allow the debate at this time.
http://www.parl.gc.ca/38/1/parlbus/chambus/house/debates/123_2005-06-27/HAN123-E.htm#SOB-1373147
Federal Political Experience
Political Affiliation: Conservative Caucus
Constituency: New Brunswick Southwest
Province: New Brunswick
Telephone: (613) 995-5550
Fax: (613) 995-5226
Email: Thompson.G@parl.gc.ca
June 27, 2005
Ex-soldier frets over toxic risks
City man among those exposed to Agent Orange
By SORCHA MCGINNIS, EDMONTON SUN
David Horne, who was exposed to Agent Orange at CFB Gagetown, is in
good health now. He worries that he might one day get sick from the
exposure.
For two days when he was 19, Edmontonian David Horne watched as
helicopters dropped a mysterious substance over the New Brunswick
army base where he was stationed.
The now-retired sergeant eventually learned the unknown cargo was
Agent Orange. Now 58, he worries about the effects the toxic
herbicide once used to clear brush will have on his health.
"We thought, 'Jesus, that can't be too good for us,'" said Horne, who
recalls seeing military personnel at CFB Gagetown loading 45-gallon
drums of the herbicide onto choppers to release into the air in June
1966.
But despite these initial concerns, the young recruit bent on an army
career didn't give the spray much thought until years later, when
many of his buddies became ill - some dying of heart attacks, others
of cancer.
"There's just so many guys getting sick," said Horne. "When we get
together, there's fewer and fewer guys.
"Of course we worry about it."
Horne, of Terra Losa, is not alone in his concern.
At a hearing last week, other Canadians who lived and worked at
Gagetown blasted the government, accusing it of a coverup to minimize
the scope of Agent Orange - and its even more toxic cousin Agent
Purple - and their impact.
They claim the military was spraying harmful chemicals in large areas
of the base from the 1950s on - not just the limited test programs
the government has admitted to in 1966 and 1967.
Horne said he was taking part in defence exercises at the base on the
days Agent Orange was sprayed. The soldiers were told to keep their
heads down and, while they carried gas masks as part of the exercise
they were conducting, none pulled them on.
"We didn't know what these guys were doing," he said, of the spraying.
Horne, who is in good health, is not seeking compensation.
Still, in the event he does become ill and Agent Orange is suspected,
Horne wants his name recorded. This would give others claiming a
related illness more credibility.
"How come when something happens to soldiers, we have to fight so
hard to get anything?" he said. "If these guys are sick and saying
they are sick, why can't (the government) just help them?"
http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Edmonton/2005/06/27/pf-1106628.html
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