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Backgrounder
Government of Canada Approach to Fact-Finding on the Use of Herbicides at CFB Gagetown
BG–05.021 - August 16, 2005
The Government of Canada is committed to identifying and reporting on facts surrounding the use of Agent Orange, Agent Purple and other herbicides during the specific test periods in June 1966 and June 1967. It is also committed to identifying and reporting on facts surrounding the use of all herbicides sprayed at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Gagetown from 1952 to present day. This approach is based on historic and scientific research that will gather a clear and consistent set of facts and allow the Government of Canada to make responsible decisions on future action.
As part of this process, the government has developed an approach to identifying military and civilian personnel who were present at CFB Gagetown during the testing of Agent Orange, Agent Purple, and other herbicides during the specific periods in June 1966 and June 1967. In addition, the Government is committed to identifying military and civilian personnel who were present during the eight to 12 weeks per year when spraying of herbicides occurred each summer from 1952 to present.
Fact-finding Approach
The government understands and acknowledges that citizens in the area surrounding CFB Gagetown are concerned about the long-term and cumulative impact of the use of these herbicides on the environment and on their health. As a result, it will provide an opportunity and means for citizens, as well as current and former CF members and DND civilian employees, to identify themselves and their specific concerns to an external Fact-finding and Outreach Coordinator in the CFB Gagetown area (see The Role of the Fact-finding and Outreach Coordinator).
In addition, the Coordinator will work with government officials responsible for coordinating three fact-finding tasks, which will be conducted by contracted, non-governmental experts.
The first task involves collecting information regarding people who were present at CFB Gagetown during the spraying of the herbicides. This task will involve the determination of when they were present and in what capacity. The contractor completing the paper review will share the findings with the Coordinator on a weekly basis to facilitate his outreach activities.
The second task is a review of the history of the spraying of herbicides at CFB Gagetown from 1952 to present day and an assessment of their environmental fate and impacts. This task will also incorporate the results of the soil, water, air and vegetation testing conducted at CFB Gagetown in the summer of 2005.
Task 3 is divided into two parts: Part 1 is a health study that will assess potential risks to human health from the herbicides used at CFB Gagetown, based on the properties of these products and the probability and degree of exposure (type, volumes, concentrations, application conditions, and frequency of use, etc.). Part 2 is a descriptive epidemiological study, which would determine whether there is a higher incidence of illnesses in the population in the area surrounding CFB Gagetown, versus a control population from elsewhere. This study will include illnesses that the scientific and medical communities have previously associated with exposure to the types of herbicides used at CFB Gagetown.
Work Underway in the Government of Canada
The Department has initiated a soil, vegetation, air, and water sampling program in the range and training area at CFB Gagetown. The results of these tests will be made public.
To date, with the records available, there is no indication that Agent Orange and Agent Purple were tested on bases elsewhere in Canada. That said, as a related and longer term due diligence project, National Defence will initiate research to determine whether Agent Orange, Agent Purple or other herbicides tested in 1966 and 1967 at CFB Gagetown were ever tested at other Canadian Forces military bases. This project will also involve a factual review of all other herbicides used at military bases across Canada.
Disability Pension Program
Veterans who were present during the testing of Agent Orange or Agent Purple at CFB Gagetown during the 1960s may be eligible for a disability pension from Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC). The department has been encouraging veterans who think they have a service-related illness to call for pension information. Since June, VAC has received over 700 calls related to this issue and has set up a special review team to handle the applications.
Veterans who think they have a service-related illness can call VAC at 1-866-522-2122 (English) or 1-866-522-2022 (French) for pension information.
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