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News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Military Ombudsman reacts to compensation package for victims of Canadian mustard gas experiments

OTTAWA (February 19, 2004)— André Marin, Ombudsman, Department of National Defence and Canadian Forces, today released his report addressing complaints made to his office regarding chemical testing conducted on Canadian soldiers by the Canadian military during World War II.

The report was presented to the Minister of Defence on January 26, 2004 and called for immediate action by the Minister of National Defence to accept the demands of the victims regarding pensions; appropriate care for medical problems linked to the chemical experiments; additional compensation, beyond Veterans’ Affairs Canada pensions; and an apology.

“After years of secrecy and delay, the package announced today by the Department of National Defence (DND) may in some small measure remedy the wrongs done during World War II to Canadian soldiers by their own military,” said Mr. Marin. “I am pleased to acknowledge the leadership that has been shown by Minister of National Defence David Pratt on this matter.”

During the War, between 2,000 and 3,000 soldiers volunteered for a secret assignment. Participants were not informed of the nature of the experiments in which they were to take part. Later, over a six-week period in Suffield and Ottawa, an unknown number of young soldiers were exposed to mustard gas. Some were made to stand in fields while planes rained chemicals down on them, others crawled through bomb craters contaminated with the gas and then sat in their drenched uniforms for hours, breathing the vapours and letting the liquid score their skin. All the while, researchers recorded the effects, sometimes even denying the soldiers medical treatment. Since then, the report states that subjects of the tests have suffered serious associated health problems, including cancer, that have rendered them unable to work and in some cases have caused death.

Over the years, most victims did not disclose their experiences because they had agreed to an oath of secrecy and feared prosecution if they did. Those who did attempt to bring their situations to the attention of authorities often were met with indifference or rejection. The report discloses that long-standing secrecy about the project and an almost complete lack of official records, combined with military intransigence, made it virtually impossible for the victims to substantiate their claims. As a result, their attempts to get pensions under the Pensions Act were mostly denied.

“I commend the veterans for their courage in coming forward and I hope that this brings some closure to the test subjects and their families. We must ensure that such a terrible injustice can never happen again,” said Mr. Marin.

The report is available online

Media Contact DND/CF Ombudsman:
Barbara Theobalds
Director, Communications
Tel.: (613) 992-6962

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