Veterans Affairs Committee on March 21st, 2013

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

As my colleague Mr. Zimmer has noted, everyone here wants to ensure that our veterans receive adequate care and high-level treatment, and focusing on treating the symptoms can be a higher priority or can be a better service than trying to attribute those chronic symptoms to a general cause.

Can I have one last question?

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

You're right at the cusp, my friend.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

Okay. Finally, I was just very interested in your deployable health hazard assessment team. I found it very interesting. When was that unit formed, and what was its first deployment?

[Dr. Janick Lalonde]

The first deployment was in the late 1990s.

[Erin O'Toole, Conservative, Durham, ON]

So the Bosnia—

[Dr. Janick Lalonde]

It was in Croatia.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Thank you very much, Mr. O'Toole.

Thank you, Dr. Lalonde.

We now move on to Ms. Papillon, please, who will be sharing her time with Ms. Mathyssen, for five minutes.

Ms. Mathyssen go ahead and start, please.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Merci beaucoup, Madame Lalonde. I appreciate you being here.

I have some questions in relation to those American veterans who were exposed to depleted uranium. Are they exhibiting any of the symptoms described by Monsieur Pascal Lacoste and Madame Richard, which we've seen in Canadian veterans? ?

[Dr. Janick Lalonde]

Actually this cohort of victims of friendly fire from depleted uranium, despite their degree of exposure, do not exhibit any DU-related adverse health effects. The scientific publication that reports on their results is specific to depleted uranium and potential uranium adverse health effects. They do not list what their other ailments are, for example, so the comparison would not be possible.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Has anyone considered doing some kind of comparative analysis? It seems odd that there wasn't an effort made to compare and see if there's any commonality.

[Dr. Janick Lalonde]

I can't comment on that.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

And yet it's very clear that our veterans are coming home with debilitating, chronic illness. There is this persistent chase after DU. You have said very clearly DU is not an issue. To your knowledge—and I want to pick up on what Mr. O'Toole was saying with regard to finding out and pursuing some help and support for these veterans. We're hearing from Mr. Lacoste and Madame Richard that they feel abandoned. Is work going on right now to address what happened to these veterans and how we can support them?

[Dr. Janick Lalonde]

I can't comment on Veterans Affairs policy.

[Irene Mathyssen, NDP, London—Fanshawe, ON]

Thank you.

Madame Papillon, go ahead.

[Annick Papillon, NDP, Québec, QC]

I would like to know whether you have read the report and agree with what it says.

[Dr. Janick Lalonde]

Are you talking about the committee’s report?

[Annick Papillon, NDP, Québec, QC]

I am talking about the report submitted by Dr. Morisset.

[Dr. Janick Lalonde]

I have read it and, yes, I agree with it.

[Annick Papillon, NDP, Québec, QC]

Why do you say it is unlikely that the health problems of Canadian military personnel are related to depleted uranium when Dr. Morisset specifies that it is most unlikely that this is so. A certain nuance between your two points of view may be noted. Do you agree that this a very important nuance?

[Dr. Janick Lalonde]

I do not see a significant difference between these two formulations. To my mind, depleted uranium is not at issue.

[Annick Papillon, NDP, Québec, QC]

One veteran who came here as a witness told us that these reports mostly stated what was not considered to be the causes, but that they did not try to find out more about what were the causes. To my mind, however, it is important to know more about what affects our Canadian military personnel and veterans.

It is important to know what we could do to make changes right now in the military milieu, especially for coming generations. As for the current generation, some tell me it is too late, that they have lost confidence and their health is so ravaged that they no longer know what might be good for them.

For the coming generations, what tests could be done immediately to ensure that military personnel do better and get better treatment? Would it not be possible to take advantage of the ties you have with the universities to develop more elaborate programs for studying the causes of our veterans’ health problems in greater depth?

[Dr. Janick Lalonde]

Actually, my role here is to comment on the report submitted by Dr. Morisset. I agree with what the report says.

[Annick Papillon, NDP, Québec, QC]

You definitely have no more to add concerning a deeper analysis that would enable this committee to determine whether some action might be taken to improve things?

[Dr. Janick Lalonde]

Unfortunately I do not think this is my role or that my background enables me to help you in this area.

Still, I wish you good luck.

[The Vice-Chair, NDP, Peter Stoffer]

Ms. Papillon, thank you very much.

We now move on to Mr. Hayes, please.