Thank you, sir and honourable committee.
I joined the forces in 1985 and dedicated my career to protecting lives and training others as a firefighter. After completing my basic firefighter training at Borden in 1986, I served in Moose Jaw, Borden and on the west coast, responding to emergencies and training on countless fires. Back then, we used what was available: thousands of gallons of flammable liquids and thick layers of foam to simulate real-life scenarios. Safety and readiness were our focus. We never imagined the long-term health risks these materials posed.
Decades later, I now face the personal cost of those practices. In the fall of 2022, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and cardiac amyloidosis. These illnesses have drastically affected my strength and vitality, reducing me from someone who once ran daily and lifted weights to someone who struggles to walk 100 metres. The toll has been immense not just physically, but also emotionally. I'm grateful for the support I've received from the Saskatchewan Workers' Compensation Board for my present public service role, but I have yet to hear anything about my VAC compensation for military service.
My story raises serious questions. Why weren't the risks we faced as firefighters and military personnel more fully recognized? Why weren't steps taken to protect us even as we put ourselves on the line to protect others? This isn't about my personal journey. It's about a broader issue of accountability and transparency, especially regarding environmental safety.
Just a month and a half ago, an incident occurred that highlights these concerns. During a hydrant repair near hangar 6, workers unearthed soil with an extremely strong smell of fuel. The odour was so potent that it could be detected 20 metres away. Samples of water and soil were collected, but no one seems to know where these samples went and what the results are. Who is ensuring accountability for these testing processes? This was not an isolated case. At hangar 7, we had a pile of contaminated dirt that initially failed environmental tests. It was covered with plastic and tires to seal it, but this covering deteriorated, leaving the pile exposed to the elements for nearly a year. Workers expressed concerns about their health, and the pile was eventually moved behind the mess hall, out of sight. Following the relocation, a new test was conducted, and suddenly the contamination passed.
This raises troubling questions. How are these tests being conducted? Are the criteria being adjusted to meet convenience rather than fact? We have also noticed a pattern: Contaminated sites sometimes disappear from records after buildings are demolished or hazards are moved to less visible locations. Are these sites cleaned up properly, or are they simply being hidden from view? These are legitimate concerns that deserve clear and honest answers.
I have served this country proudly for decades. We trust that our institutions will protect not only us but also our families living on base. Canada is a democracy built on fairness, accountability and human rights. Yet, the lack of transparency in occupational health and safety meetings undermines these principles. How can we protect ourselves when we aren't even informed about the risks? How can we have meaningful safety discussions when critical environmental assessments are withheld? Our health, trust and well-being are at stake.
I ask all of you today to help ensure these issues are investigated thoroughly and transparently. Let us demand a system where contaminated sites are properly addressed, not just relocated. Let us push for environmental testing that is consistent, credible and reliable. Most importantly, let us make sure no one else has to face the challenges so many of us already are due to health effects from past practices, or from living and working in unsafe conditions today. I've given my life to serve Canada. All I ask in return is that we honour the commitment to protect those who serve and their families. It's not just about accountability. It's about trust, safety and doing what's right for us and future generations.
Thank you.