No worries, Mr. Chair.
What the witnesses are saying is very important and touching. That said, I would like to take 30 seconds to introduce a motion on behalf of Ms. Normandin. Right after that, I am going to address the witnesses. The motion reads as follows:
Given that the Bagotville military base is responsible for the PFAS contamination of the drinking water sources of nearly 8,000 residents of the La Baie area, and that the $15.5 million granted to the City of Saguenay by the government to ensure the treatment of these waters will be completely exhausted in July 2025, with the treatment of the waters requiring six times as many filters as planned, the Committee believes that the Minister of National Defence should enter into a formal agreement with the City of Saguenay to ensure that all costs associated with the temporary treatment of PFAS contaminated water and the establishment of a permanent treatment plant at La Baie are covered by the federal government, failing which the citizens of Saguenay will have to assume these increased costs through an increase in their municipal taxes of more than $7 million annually, and asks the Chair to report back to the House as soon as possible.
We will be able to debate this later, Mr. Chair.
I am now going to turn quickly to the witnesses. I'm sorry, I didn't want to be cavalier, but I had to introduce that motion.
Ms. Zimmerman, what I very clearly understood from your testimony is the lack of transparency and the difficulty in getting occupational diseases recognized for members of the military who are exposed to contaminants and toxic substances or chemicals on bases.
When you are a civilian employee, there are mechanisms for having occupational diseases recognized. In Quebec, it is the CNESST, the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé et de la sécurité au travail, which can recognize these diseases. Health Canada can also determine what types of chemical substances have an impact on health. And there is certainly a medical service on the various bases.
How do these three types of services coordinate among themselves? Is there sufficient coordination for you to be able to have your occupational diseases recognized?