Agent Orange Payments by the Canadian Government
The Government of Canada is offering a one-time, tax-free ex gratia payment of $20,000
related to the testing of unregistered U.S. military herbicides, including Agent Orange, at
Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Gagetown in New Brunswick during the summers of 1966
and 1967.
The deadline for applications is April 1, 2009.
EligibilityDelivering on Commitments Related to Herbicide Use and Testing at CFB Gagetown
Technical Briefing
Delivering on Commitments Related to Herbicide Use and Testing at CFB
Gagetown
Commitment
September 12, 2007
A commitment was made to respond to concerns raised by Canadian Forces (CF)
members, Veterans, civilians and area residents about the health and environmental
impacts of herbicide use and testing at CFB Gagetown.
Public Concerns
Public concerns relate to two distinct components of herbicide use and testing at CFB
Gagetown:
Longer-term annual use (since 1956) of registered herbicides to clear brush from
training areas to ensure safety of military personnel. These same registered herbicides are widely used in Canada; e.g. agriculture, forestry, utilities, airports, railways, private industry, golf courses, parks, lawns, etc.
Small-scale testing of unregistered US military herbicides, including Agent
Orange, over 3 days in June 1966 and 4 days in June 1967 in cooperation with US
military This is the only known time and place where Agent Orange was sprayed
in Canada.
Government Response
Public concerns are being addressed by Government in two ways:
Results of the Research Program
Provided information on the history of herbicides used and tested at CFB
Gagetown from 1956 to the present day, and the potential risks to human
health and the environment. Research tells us that the Base is safe and that the vast majority of people on the Base and in nearby communities have not experienced long-term health effects.
Ex gratia payments on a compassionate basis related to the testing of unregistered
US military herbicides, including Agent Orange, at CFB Gagetown in 1966 and
1967 For some, research cannot take back the years of uncertainty.
Because of lack of information, and time gone by, people have lost the
opportunity to demonstrate how they may have been involved or affected
by the testing.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Agent Orange Payments in Canada
