Agent Orange Alert Homepage

As Mr. MacKay is currently out of Ottawa, I wish to acknowledge receipt of your letter on his behalf and confirm that it will be brought to Mr. MacKay�s attention at the earliest possible opportunity.

Susan Kyle
Assistant to
Peter MacKay, MP
Central Nova
Deputy Leader Conservative Party of Canada

Thanks Art for letting us know about this. The work you do honours our
vets and service men and women in ways that some in Defense Department
don't seem to understand.

I'll let our news and talk show hosts know about this.

If you've got any leads on Montreal-area families who may have served down
east and been affected, please also let me know about that.

Rick Moffat
Program Director
Montreal's News Talk Leader
CJAD 800

Are there any Montreal families affected? Please let me know. We need to get the story out coast to coast!!

First Name: lloyd
Last Name: teakles
City: saint john nb
E-mail Address: lloyd.teakles@saintjohn.ca
Comments: in 1966 when i was 19 years old i was a member of the Royal Canadian Dragoons stationed at camp gagetown nb Being in a tank regiment we spent a considerable amount of time in the training area.
During at least one of these training sessions in the summer of 1966 i remember very clearly being sprayed.
In 1974 i had transferred to rceme and was attached to the base recovery section. One morning i was told to go out the shirley road by the dump . Just before the dump there were some barrels to be loaded onto a civilian tractor trailer.I cannot remember who was with me but i know that we loaded at least 40 barrels onto this truck.Some were empty and there was liquid in some. we had no protective equipment.
We made the mistake of trusting.I have a skin rash.
Thank you for this opportunity

First Name: Jim
Last Name: Jennex
City: Dartmouth
E-mail Address: jimyrna@ns.sympatico.ca
Comments: You deserve a Medal for putting up this website! I usually can remember what year something happened in the past but can never remember in which month.
I was posted to Camp Gagetown Signal Sqn. on my return from Egypt in 1963. I then went to Cyprus sometime in 1964 then back to Gagetown. At somepoint I went to 1RCHA Signal Troop and went to Germany with 1RCHA in Feb 1967, returning to Gagetown in 1970. I suffer from Type 2 diabetes and arthritis which I wonder could be the result of being exposed to Agentorange. I want to thankyour for providing all the info and links to other sites that can help provide much needed help for people who are searching for answers.

Naaaaah....I don't deserve any medal Jim but what I and everyone in this country deserves from OUR government is compassion, decency and the truth!

First Name: Kenneth
Last Name: Young
City: Nanaimo
E-mail Address: Kentar@telus.net
Comments: Stories like that of the PM Paul Martin, that they have no way of knowing how many troops were in Gagetown in the years in question (Agent Orange spraying in Gagetown) does not have the ring of truth in it. "Press Hard Seven Copies", would be more to the true side, as I remember it anyway. Maybe it's just me but I am having a hard time understanding why the Government and the Military are trying to distance them selves from this problem, with statements that don't even make sense to people that were never in the Army.
Funny thing is that (to my knowledge) no sitting member of parliament was there (in Parliament) when the spraying took place and no one that I know of has tried to blame them of being the one to have ordered the spraying of their own troops. What's the problem here? We the people affected by the spraying are not trying to allocate blame but rather we are trying to get some closure in the form of a pension and maybe some compensation for quality of life that we have lost over the past 40 some years due to the sicknesses that we have suffered because of that same spraying. Is that too much to ask for?
Maybe I just don't get it. I mean they keep saying that very few if any soldier was affected so it would seem prudent to offer Governments fullest support to any and all soldiers that apply with a clam that can be substantiated. That is if their numbers, and remember they say that they don't know how many solders were there during the time in question, are factual. Funny how on one hand they don't know how many troops were even there but on the other they state for a certainty, that very few if any were affected.
There is plenty of money in the pension fund made only too obvious by the attempts at appropriating it by the very same people that don't seem to want any of us to get a pension. Could that be a conflict of interest? No, not on the part of our government, I must be mistaken. Deigning pensions to people that deserve it and at the same time trying to pass a bill (C-78) to in effect steal the pension surpluses, pay into by the very same people that are applying for the (un-received) pensions, in my eyes would be a criminal act, which no government could possibly explain away.
Besides Recce Platoon 1RCR, I don't know how many other RCR were affected by this, but in either case, affected or not, our brothers in arms need our help here and what's more important, they deserve it. Let's get a writing campaign to our MP's going and let's let them know where we stand on these issues.
The civilians, be they the wives, children living in PMQ's or just people that lived near or worked on the base in Gagetown, should also be taken very seriously as to their health problems. They didn't ask to be sprayed then and don't deserve the double talk that they are now getting. Compassion and understanding should be the order of the day. All the Canadians out there that read this should also start a writing campaign to their MP's, news papers, TV and anything else that will hear you. There is an election coming so ask the questions of your MP's and demand answers to them. This can not be left forgotten, or the next time it could be your children or grand children.

I always enjoy reading your points of view - they are thoughtful, insightful and dead bang right on!!

From:	Mike Christie <mikechristie@rogers.com>
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To:	webmaster@agentorangealert.com
Cc:
Date:	Sunday, June 26, 2005 07:31 am
Subject:	Agent Fed - Helping Our Agent Orange Vets

Sun 26 Jun 2005

The Toronto Sun , Editorial

Helping Our Agent Orange Vets

WHO, EXACTLY, is in charge of the file to compensate hundreds of
Canada's military vets and their families for exposure to Agent
Orange at the military base in Gagetown, N.B., in the 1960s?

Is it Defence Minister Bill Graham, who told the Sun's Greg Weston
last month: "We're telling veterans, 'Look, if you are concerned
about this, for heaven's sake get in touch with us, and we'll help
put together a case.' We do have to compensate the people were were
exposed -- there is no question of that."

Or is it the bureaucrats at Defence and Veterans Affairs?

Because in contrast to Graham's statements, they seem to be doing all
they can to downplay the impact of the experimental spraying program
at Gagetown in the 1960s, conducted by the U.S. military. Worse, they
seem to be doing little to help the growing number of vets and their
families who, taking Graham at his word, have contacted the
government for help.

Ironically, our government, after years of resisting the idea, has
now accepted that exposure to Agent Orange -- a defoliant used during
the Vietnam War containing the now-banned chemical, dioxin -- can
lead to a wide variety of illnesses.

As Veterans Affairs agreed in settling a landmark case last year with
retired brigadier general Gordon Sellar, who served at Gagetown in
the 1960s and who retired as head of Canada's land forces after a
storied military career:

"The department is aware that Agent Orange was used as a herbicide
for defoliation on the training grounds of CFB Gagetown.

"The department accepts the medical opinion (of Sellar's doctors) and
the results of published U.S. medical research that establishes a
causitive relationship between Agent Orange exposure and the
development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia."

Sellar, who died last year, won the maximum pension possible on the
basis of this ruling, but Veterans Affairs then did nothing to
publicize the decision or contact other Gagetown vets.

A Sun reader who applied for help for his parents on the basis of
Graham's urgings, told Weston he was shocked when the application
form was sent to him with this stern warning: "If you have not
returned the application package (within 30 days), or provided this
office with a reasonable explanation for the delay, Veterans Affairs
Canada will consider that no application has been made, and the
application process will be discontinued."

Remember, we are dealing here with sick, elderly men and women who
are still being asked to prove not just that they were in Gagetown
during the relevant period, but that they were exposed to Agent
Orange and that this exposure made them sick.

Compare that to how this issue is dealt with in the U.S., where
10,000 war vets are in active treatment for diseases associated with
Agent Orange and another 312,000 are being watched.

Even last week, both in Ottawa and in Gagetown where they were
confronted by hundreds of angry residents, government bureaucrats
continued to downplay the significance of the spraying of Agent
Orange, its even more toxic cousin, Agent Purple, and other spray
programs dating back to the 1950s.

It sounds to us as if what these bureaucrats are most worried about
is people making false claims and the amount of compensation the
government may eventually have to pay out.

Which is why it's time for Graham (and the prime minister) to take
control of this file and, while not being naive about awarding
compensation, erring on the side of compassion and generosity.

Because these vets and their families deserve no less.

http://www.torontosun.com/Comment/Commentary/2005/06/26/1105512.html

=======================

Sun 26 Jun 2005

The Ottawa Sun

Letter of the Day

CONGRATULATIONS TO Stephanie Rubec and Greg Weston of your
Parliamentary Hill staff concerning Agent Orange.

It is not surprising that the DND assistant deputy minister is
attempting to sidestep any responsibility.

What is more aggravating to me as chairman of the 51 member
organizations of the National Council of Veteran Associations,
however, is that the Department of Veterans Affairs is supporting DND.

The question of whether Agent Orange can lead to other complications
such as Hodgkin's disease, myeloma, respiratory cancers, sarcoma and
prostate cancer, has been a difficult problem for the U.S. Government.

The matter appears to have been solved, however, by a successful
class action in the courts which led to a settlement of $180 million
in 1984.

The U.S. Government has accepted responsibility. As a result,
veterans who served in the U.S. Forces are entitled to a "presumption
clause."

This means that former U.S. Forces personnel are entitled to
compensation if exposed to Agent Orange. The only proof required is
that a consequential disease has developed.

This was the termination of a 21-year battle south of the border.
Surely we could save Canadians much worry if, in Canada, we accept
the proven policy of the United States military. Otherwise our forces
who were exposed to Agent Orange can expect compensation only after a
long, hard and difficult battle with our own pension authorities.

Cliff Chadderton, CC, O.Ont., OStJ, CLJ, CAE, DCL, LLD Chairman,
National Council of Veteran Associations

(They've left us little reason to believe otherwise)

oped@ott.sunpub.com

http://canoe.ca/NewsStand/OttawaSun/Letters/

Thank you Mike you are truly on top pf this !!

-Art

Hon. Bill Graham

Just a thought. I was reading some of the news clips and noted that the Army is finally going to do some testing in Gagetown to see if there is still dioxin in the soil, plants, water and the animals of the area. This is of course welcome in the highest degree and more then high time that some testing was done. However, let it be known that although I trust the Army fully and without reservations, somehow I have a feeling that the general public not to mention the sick and dieing soldiers, may not be so generous with their trust. I fear that it won't even matter if the Military under the Governments supervision, does in fact tell us the truth and I mean the whole truth, after they have their findings because no one will believe them. I trust that you understand that this isn't cynicism but just that this is a country where laws and motions are set by president and we the people do tend to learn from our past and lets face it with 40+ years of hearing that it never happened tends to not give us much trust in their "this time I'm telling the truth" as sad as that is. The fact that the Army & Government haven't really wanted to let us know in the first place does sort of make one wonder just where they will actually test, in fact even if they will actually do any testing, is a question that seems to come to mind.

Don't you think that it might (just for appearance sake) be better to have some independent organization do the tests like maybe the International Red Cross, Greenpeace or Amnesty International. They would have the benefit (in the publics eye anyway) of being totally natural and their findings would be taken seriously as long as they had access to all training areas and the personal accounts of soldiers that were there. For some unknown reason the old soldiers memories seem to be more complete then the Military files on this subject but I suppose them missing files will turn up some day.

Well anyway have a nice summer vacation, not all of us will die before you are back to work and so we will still be a pain in the Agent Orange department for you or what ever government replaces you.

Cpl. Kenneth H. Young CD.

Way to go Ken!!

-Art

___________________________________________________________________________

Sheila Woods <sawoods@shaw.ca>
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To:	Anderson.D@parl.gc.ca
Cc:	webmaster@agentorangealert.com
Date:	Saturday, June 25, 2005 09:16 pm
Subject:	Agent Orange

Mr. Anderson:

I am writing to request that you push long hard to bring this to the forefront in Parliament.

I am a citizen of Canada, one with no benefit forthcoming from this diaster, and one who is disgusted and appalled at the way veterans, and their families are being treated by the government. Cut the crap and give these people the help they deserve. They are innocent victims who were only doing the jobs they were told to do, in the name of our country. They did not consent to having their lives and the lives of their families destroyed because of it. They deserve full benefits and assistance - without having to 'prove' their direct connection to Agent Orange. The fact they were there is enough for me, and it should definitely be enough for you. Have you heard any of their stories? Have you heard the heartache and anguish and agony they have endured???? The very least we as Canadians can do is to support them financially. We certainly have no problem supporting YOU and your plush pensions!! I think these families have done more than enough to deserve support from both the government and the citizens of this country. I am writing you to ask you to do what you can to start benefits immediately! These benefits should not only extend to the veterens, but to all civilians who were based there. As far as I'm concerned, there should be no further questions asked other then "Were you in Gagetown?" And, in a perfect world, they would receive approval, our thanks and apologies both at the same time. I realize you were not involved but as my Member of Parliament, you have the honour of representing my wishes there. And I wish to hear that there will be a Bill or whatever is required to pass legislation giving these benefits immediately to all involved. I will be waiting for a response.

Sincerely, Sheila-Ann Woods, Victoria B.C.

Good for you Sheila!!!!!

-Art :)

Sat 25 Jun 2005

The Edmonton Sun

Letter of the Day

AS A retired member of the Canadian Forces, and a veteran of
Operation Desert Storm, I feel nothing but disgust at the use of
Agent Orange and Purple on Canadian soil. Now that the current
politicians are removing their heads from the sand, and are starting
to compensate those that were infected, maybe we should be looking
into who in Parliament at that time signed on the dotted line
allowing our service men and women, along with their families, to be
used as human guinea pigs. If they're still alive, have them tell the
infected and the Canadian public why they thought this type of
testing was such a good idea.

Edward Siteman

(It's an appalling situation.)

http://www.edmontonsun.com/Comment/Letters/2005/06/25/1103845.html
--

Mike Christie

Thanks Mike....We all need to write our local newspapers and express our disgust at this situation. Please people pick up your pens.

-Art

First Name: Kenneth
Last Name: Young
City: Nanaimo
E-mail Address: Kentar@telus.net
Comments: Gagetown Chemical Spraying - Meeting Gagetown June 23, 2005

Yesterdays Meeting could have been a start to healing but another chance to reconcile the contamination of Canada's own troops was once again lost. The people that attended on the part of the Military and Government had little if any answers spending more time deigning that there was a problem at all. Seven days and two types of spray, was all that they would admit to leaving the distinct impression that if them two MP's hadn't tabled the proof of spraying, that their statement yesterday would have been, "What Spraying".

One Government spokesperson actually stood up and talked about some test groups, one sprayed and the other not and the numbers after 40 years of the non sprayed group having more cancer then the sprayed group. How insulting and condescending can one person get without coming right out and calling us, sniveling wimps who would have died anyway and stopping just short of implying that we should be thankful that we were sprayed because it is the dioxins fault that we live longer.

Working with numbers as he did have many problems not the least of witch is the fact that most military personal are the medically fittest people in the world so can not be compared to any test group, for any health results. Numbers and test groups can be manipulated to say or prove anything you want and it is as simple as who you pick to test.

His use of numbers and test groups to explain the deaths and sicknesses of soldiers and civilians involved in the Gagetown Chemical Tests were almost like: if some one was to stand up and tell all the families of dead and wounded US soldiers in Iraq, that they took a same number, or "test group" back in the US and found that more of the test group had died from car, drugs, crime and other accidents, in the same time frame. So that the troops in Iraq are in fact the lucky ones and have a longer life expectancy then if they were at home.

Fact remains that we were healthy, then sprayed, then sick and all the test groups and number shuffling in the world is not going to change that FACT.

What Mr.. Martin must remember is that this (Gagetown Spraying) didn't take place on his watch but it is now out there for the world to see and the way he and his government handles this is on his watch and we and the world are watching.

Cpl. Kenneth H. Young CD

Ken, your observations and comments will let "them" see that they are dealing with intelligent and rational people. This is not going away. from the passion, anger and commitment I am observing in the emails I receive I must warn the government that they have a real problem on their hands. The government has picked the wrong group to mess with!!

Sheila Woods <sawoods@shaw.ca>
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To:	webmaster@agentorangealert.com
Cc:
Date:	Friday, June 24, 2005 08:10 pm
Subject:	Re: Agent Orange

You are very welcome for my comments!!! It's so heartbreaking to read these stories, and so infuriating!!! How unjust!! A letter is the least I can do, if you ask me. That only took 5 minutes of my life, when these families have been in agony for YEARS!! They deserve so much better!!! I was on the phone with my sister, Angela in Calgary (I'm posted right above her) and she mentioned she wrote a letter, and we just started discussing what she saw last night and what I heard this morning, and I said, 'Well, I agree with you!!' and her comment about getting people she knows involved is very true - she is!! :) She directed me to the articles to read, I started reading, and well, you've got the letters. If there's more I can do from home, please let me know. I don't know WHAT that could be - but I'll do my best! I'm sorry that I neglected to thank YOU for this website - how can anyone read these postings and NOT be moved??? I sure hope I get a response from the government. If I do, I'll forward it, if you'd like....

I'll keep reading from your site - it's very motivating!! Thank you again for your kind words, and deeds!!

Sheila :)

Thanks for your kind words Sheila :)

-Art

First Name: Fred
Last Name: Capson
City: Airdrie,Alberta
E-mail Address: dcapson@shaw.ca

Comments: please be advised that Fred was there in 58 and also 66 and is very sick

First Name: Sheila-Ann
Last Name: Woods
City: Victoria BC
E-mail Address: sawoods@shaw.ca
Comments: I was appalled to hear this story while listening to the CBC this morning!!! The nerve of this government!!!! After reading several of your postings, I am disgusted and shocked that the government has only 'approved' several veteran's claims. Where is the dignity that these veterens have earned? Where is the medical attention that they so rightly deserve?? And let's talk about compensation for all the agony and heartaches that they have survived through??? The very least we as Canadians can do is to support them in bringing these horrific issues to light. Get testing to the areas done so that the government can't hide behind the load of b.s. they have been using for far too many years!! The truth needs to be told!! These families are victims of a horrific experiment that never should have happened. They deserve better!! My heart goes out to them, and as a Canadian, I would like to say how sorry I am that they have had to endure such a nightmare. I admire !
their courage in speaking up - and will support them in getting the help and respect that they so rightly deserve. I am embarassed by the government's stance on this issue, and wish everybody involved continued courage and many thanks. Don't give up....

______________________________________________________________________________

Angela Schwartz <angela.schwartz@shaw.ca>
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To:	webmaster@AgentOrangeAlert.com
Cc:
Date:	Friday, June 24, 2005 12:31 pm
Subject:	Civilian Support

It's not much, but I'd like to send an email to everyone I know, and encourage everyone to share it with everyone they know, to write to the appropriate people in government regarding the importance of doing the right thing and supporting these veterans. I watched the coverage last night on CBC, and was brought to tears watching only seconds of clips of those who spoke yesterday. This is an outrage - and as a Canadian civilian with little or no personal agenda involved - I want to do something!!!

Please let me know who you think letters and phone calls from fellow Canadians would be most effectively directed to and I will do everything I can from a grass roots level to encourage support.

All the best to you and your endeavors!

Angela Schwartz

Calgary, AB

Thank you Angela your words are truly encouraging. It was difficult to watch the info session yesterday. It was insulting ....nothing less. The "bullet heads" (military) think the defoliant has affected our common sense. I come home each evening and read the emails that are sent and I usually cry. These stories are heart wrenching. Today I went for lunch and there was a group of 12 high school student having a year end lunch. They were all beautiful kids full of life and laughter.I thought of Ken Dobbie and the 250 kids that sprayed the defoliant as a summer job. I began to weep.

Please write, email and/or phone your local newspapers. Tell them what is going on. This story cannot die. As long as it is in the public eye there is hope something will be done.

Please tell everyone you know to do the same thing.

Call your local member of Parliament. As Ken Dobbie said at the info session, "this is not a Liberal Conservative issue...it is not a political football Both parties have been in power over the years so both are responsible. You can find your MP's contact info at the following link.

http://www.parl.gc.ca/common/senmemb/house/members/CurrentMemberList.asp?Language=E&Parl=38&Ses=1&Sect=hoccur&Order=PersonOfficialLastName

Thank you

-Art

_________________________________________________________________________

First Name: Patrick
Last Name: Shaughnessy
City:. London ON.
E-mail Address: shaughnessyfamily@sympatico.ca
Comments: I am now 51 years of age and as a young boy I recall many times that my father Tim Shaughnessy (retired RSM Base London) went for training tours to Gagetown. Dad was always healthy and there was no evidence of cancer in his family. In 1989 Dad died from prostrate cancer at the young age of 57. I will always wonder.

Dear Sir,

I was working at camp gauge town for a couple of months installing a fire
alarm system in the black watch vehicle hangers in 1967. I was an
electrician apprentice from Ottawa and my employer got the DND contract to
do the work so I was part of the crew that went. . I have no idea if I was
exposed to agent orange because the cbc report said spraying was in 1966 and
I worked mostly indoors in the hangers in 1967. After coming back to Ottawa
after the job was finished I have skin rashes on parts of my body that were
unexplained by a skin specialist at the time. They disappeared in 1971. I
mention this because one of the 5 polymyostis illnesses has skin disorders
with it.

I am emailing you because in 1989 I started to get chest pains that at first
indicated heart trouble. This proved false but my condition was finally
diagnosed as Polymyositis a very rare muscle debilitating disease that has
no cure. It is under the MD umbrella. I was a successful real estate sales
person from 1979 t0 2000. At that time the illness has advanced to the point
that I am permanently disable and can not work anymore. There is no history
of this illness previous to my getting it on either side of my family.My
illness may have nothing to do with my time in gauge town but now I am
starting to wonder and I guess I will never find out.

God Bless,

Bob Barber
Fort McMurray
Alberta.

First Name: DAVID
Last Name: HORNE
City: EDMONTON
E-mail Address: dlhorne@telus.ca
Comments: In 1966 we were in a defensive position on the Argus Road. I was in B coy. 1 RHC 5pL. We watched as the helicopters would load up with agent orange and spray the area.Our section commander would tell us to put our heads down as this is the same stuff they use in Vietnam to kill the foilage so it can't be good for us. I was 19 yrs. old at the time. I served my country for 33 yrs. as a proud Black Watch soldier and a R.C.D. I served in the Watch in C.F.B. Gagetown from 1964-68.I have watched as many good friends died of cancer. No one had to tell us. What the problem was we all new.It seemed nobody cared and in our world we were taught never to wine. I LOVE MY COUNTRY AND I loved the REGIMENTS I served with. I am 58 now and this scares me

First Name: Derrick
Last Name: Williams
City: Moncton
E-mail Address: thewilliams@rogers.com
Comments: I attended the meeting today in Gagetown. I cannot say enough of how proud I am of our veterans whom served there country unquestioningly.
They now pay for there loyalty. For me I took the 2 hour drive drive from Moncton to hear what I expected. The same story about 2 barrels of defoliants over a very short period. It was clear to me the panel was given absolutely no leverage in what they could and could not discuss. They listened and stayed steadfast on there agenda without any deviation, regardless of the FACTS and first hand accounts that were presented today.
I have heard of stories of family tragedies and today I heard many more. I was hoping to learn something today, anything that would explain the illnesses that have fell upon my family. We have always felt there was a connection with Gagetown, I now feel much stronger in my opinion.
To hear the stories first hand and see the faces of the people was incredibly moving.
I will speak on what I learned today in regards to my family. The Doctor who spoke for the DND stated there was a link between Melanoma skin cancer and these defoliants. My brother was diagnosed in 85 with a very rare form of Melanoma cancer. Not external but internal Melanoma cancer which resulted in 2 inches of his spinal cord to be cut out and he later passed awy in 91 where it eventually moved to his brain. We were told it was baffIing how he contracted it and at the time there were only 9 or 10 cases in the world. I am no doctor but to have the same spelling and name would tell me they are either the same cancer in a different form or very closely linked.
My sister had a different type of cancer in her brain in the form of a massive benign brain tumor and also underwent emergency surgery in 85. Amazing the incubation period of both were so close. The good Doctor went on to say how common cancer was amongst the general population and American studies blah, blah. Sorry, but it was clear he was there to do nothing more than downplay anything and anyone who would argue against the sprays used and there potential side effects.
Three other members of my family have Type 2 Diabetes which also has been exposed as an asociated side effect of the defoliants. Americans who served in vietnam and are diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes are automatically given a pension amongst other illnesses regardless of exposure, if any.
The arguement I gave today was my parents both come from large families.
Twenty brothers and sisters all with families. Why is my family the only on plagued with these types of illnesses and none of the others. We all lived similar lifestyles except we spent 8 years in gagetwon starting in 1967.

June 23, 2005

Hi,

I am sorry for your loss. I am concerned that my father may have been sprayed by Agent Orange while working in the woods near Woodstock, NB. I recall my mother saying that Dad told her of aircraft spraying what he felt could have been Agent Orange. He will be turning 67 in October. His Emphseyma has now progressed to COPD - and we almost lost him this past spring. Do you have any idea how a person could find out if this chemical was sprayed off of Base Gagetown?

Thanks for your time and for your website!!

Jackie Johnston

Beardsley, NB

_____________________________________________________________________________

First Name: Wayne
Last Name: Coady
City: Dartmouth
E-mail Address: wcoady@accesswave.ca
Comments: This man was part of a "government " that never gave a second thought about spraying Agent Orange and Agent Purple on Canadian soldiers at Base Gagetown.

To think that he had attached to his name the word Honourable. How honourable can one be Mr. Paul Hellyer?

Now, this very same political party, is saying that agent orange was not such a bad chemical. My god, how is it that political parties can lie, cheat, steal and yes even try to kill citizens in the country they are charged with to govern and get away with it?

I want to see the bureaucrats who were serving in the Department of National Defence called before a public inquiry.
Both the "government"of the day and Former Defence Minister Paul Hellyer along with the bureaucrats were criminally negilence. They all were involved in a gross deviation from the stardards of care expected of a reasonable person or persons that is manifested in a failure to protect others from a risk (as of death ) deriving from their conduct and that renders on criminally liable .
According to the military if they are to conduct chemical warfare experiments on soliders, they must notify and document where the soldier was in agreement. None of this happened in the Gagetown agent orange / agent purple spray program.

_____________________________________________________________________________

First Name: Harvey
Last Name: Millwright
City: Whitehorse
E-mail Address: harvey.millwright@gmail.com
Comments: I spent 3 summers in Gagetown in the late 80s working in the battle school. There had always been 'rumours' the AO was sprayed in the region and it was widely believed that the concentrations used were much, much higher than that in Vietnam.

I have to say that I am a bit horrified when I think back to all those summer days and nights we trained in those fields and forests of Gagetown.

We slept, lived, and worked in that dirt.

We drank, cooked and washed in that water.

We ate wild berries in those rolling open fields.

Not once was there mentioned by senior officers that AO/AP was used in the past and what we may do to minimized contact.

I remember more than one occasion when, from the bank of a river we could actually see fish swimming with large masses and deformations on them.

While the instant affects of AO and AP many have dissipated fairly quickly I find it hard to believe that the toxins have escaped the food chain and water table even to this day.

Now I am left to wonder if one day down the road those 3 summers will have a hand in an illness leading to my death.
___________________________________________________________________________

- The Feds have a moral and ethical obligation to provide full and open disclosure of the entire Spray Program at Base Gagetown since 1956.

- I have heard from far too many people, veterans and civilians, who claim their health issues are related to chemical exposure at Base Gagetown.

- The Feds keep focusing on 7 days of testing Agent Orange in 1966 and 1967, however deadly chemicals were used for defoliation starting in 1956

- The Feds have already confirmed there is a link between Agent Orange and Cancer by providing compensation to at least 2 Veterans

- All victims should be compensated, not just some, including veterans, civilians working at base, and civilians living on the perimeter of the base who have ill health affects due to chemical exposure and spray at Base Gagetown

- The information flow must be two ways

- Today at the public meeting we need to hear about how all those who have been affected will be compensated, we need to know when more public meetings will take place, we need information about the entire spray program at Base Gagetown since 1956 when it started.

Jody Carr, MLA

Thu, June 23, 2005

Cabinet must grab Agent Orange file

By GREG WESTON -- Sun Ottawa Bureau

Wilma Peacock remembers that she was 17 when the American planes first dropped their deadly bombardment over a nearby forest on the Canadian army base at Gagetown, N.B.

On that day, Wilma had no way of knowing the U.S. military had been invited to spray-bomb six kilometres of the Canadian base with Agent Orange and other toxic herbicides, testing the deadly defoliants for use in the Vietnam War.

Even if she had known what was falling from the sky, no one knew about the many horrible diseases linked to Agent Orange and its even more toxic cousin, Agent Purple.

One thing Wilma would soon know: "By the time I was 19, I was diagnosed with cancer."

Not far from Wilma's farm, Art Connolly was only 12 and living on the base when the planes roared overhead.

His brother was born three months after the spraying, and died at age seven from a disease associated with Agent Orange. His mother developed stomach cancer in 1990 and his father died last month after a plethora of maladies.

Today in Ottawa, we have been told, a special group of federal ministers involved in defence and health are meeting behind closed doors to discuss a possible Agent Orange compensation program for sick Canadian veterans and their families.

It's about time.

Earlier this week, Defence officials testifying before a Commons committee made it rather clear that without political intervention, Agent Orange victims will likely face a bureaucratic monster that is both heartless and predominantly mindless. The incredible message from these servants of the public seemed to be that the Gagetown spraying was much ado about nothing.

Heck, the officials said with a straight face, most of the Agent Orange probably landed on the tree leaves, and never made it anywhere near the ground, much less people.

(Memo to DND thinkers: Agent Orange was used specifically to make leaves fall off trees. Defoliant. Get it?)

If nothing else, this week's attack of the bulletheads at committee must have shocked their political masters to take control of this file.

Solving the compensation issue is not rocket science.

The Americans long ago realized that there was no absolute way to link Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam to cancers and other diseases that typically may not manifest themselves for 25 years or more. Instead, the U.S. government chose the humanitarian solution -- the right solution -- and simply declared that any Vietnam vet with a disease linked to Agent Orange was entitled to a disability pension.

In this country, government officials are still talking about the scientifically impossible -- vets having to prove not only direct contact with Agent Orange at Gagetown, but also that the exposure caused whatever disease they are suffering.

Fortunately, for the cabinet ministers meeting today, adapting the U.S. model is not much of a leap.

Indeed, the precedent has already been set for a simple decree that a disability pension will automatically be awarded to any vet who served at Gagetown in the late 1960s, and is suffering from one of the recognized Agent Orange diseases.

That was precisely what Veterans' Affairs ruled last year in the landmark case of Brig.-Gen. Gordon Sellar.

It stated in part: "The Department is aware that Agent Orange was used as a herbicide for defoliation on the training grounds of CFB Gagetown during the timeframe that you were stationed there. It is our understanding that as an officer, you would have been required to be on these training grounds.

"As the evidence establishes your (leukemia) may have arisen ... as a result of exposure to Agent Orange at CFB Gagetown, the department resolves any doubt in your favour and therefore grants disability pension entitlement."

All that's missing now is the political will to make the Sellar case official policy. Wilma and Art at least deserve that.

JimO <frop2b5@tbaytel.net>
	[ add to contacts ]
To:	webmaster@agentorangealert.com
Cc:
Date:	Wednesday, June 22, 2005 09:14 pm
Subject:	WHO on Agent Orange

Hi Art,

Have a look at the following:

World Health Organization (WHO)
Fact sheet N�225 June 1999
Dioxins and their effects on human health
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs225/en/print.html

Good luck,
Jim

Excellent resource Thank you Jim!!

-Art

____________________________________________________________________________

From:	bill.macfarlane@ns.sympatico.ca <bill.macfarlane@ns.sympatico.ca>
	[ add to contacts ]
To:	webmaster@agentorangealert.com
Cc:
Date:	Wednesday, June 22, 2005 08:39 pm
Subject:

i was 3 and like you a base brat when they sprayed that death defoiliant agent orange etc . Im going to file a civil claim in july against crown as i dont want the 2 yr limit to expire while govt does thier "studies".

I am surprised their havent been more talks of civial action lawsuits.

-Art

________________________________________________________________________

From:	Derrick & Michelle <thewilliams@rogers.com>
	[ add to contacts ]
To:	webmaster@agentorangealert.com
Cc:
Date:	Wednesday, June 22, 2005 08:23 pm
Subject:	Wow!!

The stories and similarities are incredible, there will be a lot more to come.

I did not relate my dads death to Agent Orange, but he did have Gout and complained of very poor circulayion for years

before passing on with Massive Coronary.

I will do my best to make it tomorrow. It is very difficult to get out of work on this short of notice we are under some super tight deadlines.

Derrick

Im quite sure they are having the meeting at 1:30 in the afternoon to make it intentionally difficult to get out of work. God forbid they would have a real crowd there!

-Art

___>-----Original Message-----
>From: Mike [mailto:cuvelier@telus.net]
>Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2005 11:50 PM
>To: webmaster@agentorangealert.com
>Subject: Mustard Gas Secret Experiments
>
>Hi
>My name is Mike Cuvelier and I have a web site that I would like you to look
>at and if you don't mind we would like to apply your link on our site and
>vice versa if you think it would enhance your cause...let me know and we can
>put your addy up if you put ours on your site also...thanks and good luck
>
>Mike

No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
_______________________________________________________________________

Here is some contact information for agencies that are involved
in the Agent Orange issue and which might help you get started:

Aaron MacDonald, OMBUDSMAN - (888)828-3620
This is the place to put your name on the list. I'm not sure if it is
vets only or everybody.

VETERANS AFFAIRS - (800)268-7709
This is another place to put your name on the list.

VETERANS AFFAIRS (Widows) - (866)522-2122
Call and ask for New Brunswick district and ask them to send you
the forms.

I thank Ray K. from Veteran Affairs (Peacekeeping) for providing info.

_____-----Original Message-----
From: Cindy Lafreniere [mailto:user950h@dnd.ca]
Sent: June 22, 2005 11:59 AM
To: Carr, Jody (LEG)
Subject: Agent Orange Info Session

MA05-010
June 21st, 2005

CFB GAGETOWN - An information briefing regarding Agent Orange testing at
CFB
Gagetown in 1966 and 1967 will be held at 1:30 p.m. (AST) on Thursday,
June
23rd in the CFB Gagetown Theatre, building F12.

This information session is open to members of the public.

SEANCE D'INFORMATION A LA BFC GAGETOWN

BFC Gagetown - Une seance d'information portant sur l'epandage de
l'agent
orange a la BFC Gagetown en 1966 et 1967 aura lieu a 13h30 le jeudi 23
juin
a la salle de conference du batiment F-1 a la BFC Gagetown.

Cette seance d'information est ouverte aux publiques.

30-

EDITORS NOTE:

Questions can be directed to CFB Gagetown Public Affairs Officers, Lt.
Martell Thompson at
(506) 422-2000 ext. 3364 or Sue Knight (506) 422-2000 ext 3634.

NOTE DU REDACTEUR :
Veuillez adresser toute question a ce sujet au officiers des affaires
publiques de la BFC Gagetown, Lt Martell Thompson, au (506) 422-2000
poste
3364 ou Sue Knight (506) 422-2000 ext 3634.

Thanks for the heads up Jody!!! I know that some of our friends will be there raising hell.

Hello.My name is Patricia Takahashi.In 1974 my brother Philip Walls,
then 19, worked for the N.B. Dept of Fisheries collecting spore samples
in the swamps at Gagetown Army base.He waded up to his waist every day
in hipwaders to collect these samples.Philip was a student at U.N.B.
and was doing this for a summer job. He worked from May until part way
through August. He started to get sick in August.First fever and
chills,then Abd.pain.He was too sick to return to school in
September.He was hospitalized in Moncton in Sept.and in October doctors
performed exploratory surgery and discovered 9 tumors on his
liver.There was nothing they could do.Philip went from a 180 lb.healthy
youth to 65 lbs.when he died November 23,1974. The cancer seemed to eat
him alive.
Ever since the 1981 announcement we have suspected he was exposed to
Agent Orange. Do you know of any other students or people who may have
worked there that summer and what has happened to them?
Sincerely,Patricia Takahashi(nee Walls) ptak@telus.net

Hi Art:

My name is Helen and my late husband suffered many years of bad health:

heart, ulcers, cancer, etc.

He passed away in September, 1999. he always claimed that a lot of his poor health was due to Agent Orange but no one would listen to him.

I am trying to apply for compensation on his behalf but so far have been not successful with finding out how to go about doing it. I have placed some phone calls.

I too, am an asthmatic and have had poor health through many years ( pneumonias, bronchitis, pleuracy, even one year encyphiliatic pneumonia). Have not looked into anything regarding myself as of yet.

Any suggestions? Thanks for your work involved in this.

Have a nice day.

Cheerio,

Helen

Check out the link to Veternas affairs Helen. Good luck :)

For more information about VAC's Disability Pension Program, click here.

Art:

My name is Carolyn Werner, my husband Larry passed away in 2002: he was 52 years old. I believe his death was directly related to Agent Orange. Larry was diagnoised with gallbladder, colon, stomach and liver cancer 2 months before his death. Can you tell me if these cancers are caused by Agent Orange ? Is there any information that links these cancers with Agent Orange? Any help that you can give me is greatly appreciated.

The horrible suffering and pain that Larry had to bear torrments me day and night.

Thank You ....

Carolyn

Carolyn please check this link. At the end of the info sheet are links to various sites that may help you with your search. Good Luck

Agent Orange Info Sheet

-Art

As a 16-year-old in 1970, I was a Junior Forest Ranger, part of an Ontario
government program which was little more than cheap labor for planting
commercial trees.

One of my tasks was to spray stumps in logged areas with either 24d or 245t,
I can't remember which.

Three years ago at 49 I was diagnosed with early onset prostate cancer,
which is suspected to be linked to pesticides and herbicides.

Sound familiar?

Since then I've been fighting to have PSA screening tests covered under
health insurance. I think in NB you already have that. My website is
www.epcdo.ca

Hope that helps, jp

John Peck, Peck Associates Communications

416-487-1012
cell: 416-802-2917
fax: 416-487-5476
______________________________________________________________________

I was exposed to agent orange in the summer of 1974 when I worked as a student for Ontario Hydro in the Forestry department in southern ontario. We were required to carry gas engine driven sprayers on our backs. The tanks containing the agent orange and deisel fuel mixture were on our stomachs supported by chains from our necks. The tanks leaked constantly, drenching my genitals with the mixture. When I complained to the foreman, he thretened to fire me.
Today I suffer from depression and anxiety attacks. Since I turned 50, this condition has worstened.