Good afternoon, members of the standing committee. Thank you for the opportunity to address this critical issue regarding the National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces current and legacy contaminated sites.
My name is Eileen Beauchamp, and I appear today to share my personal connection to this issue. My father, a Korean War veteran, served in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1951 to 1975, including at CFB Gagetown during the 1960s. Our family lived in PMQs at CFB Gagetown from 1962 to 1969 and participated in recreational activities. Many of these activities occurred in areas later identified as spray zones for harmful chemicals, including Agent Orange.
Tragically, my family has endured severe health challenges over the years, including multiple cancers and other illnesses. Throughout my lifetime, I have been diagnosed with multiple illnesses related to the endocrine system, including autoimmune diseases. In October and November 2017, I was diagnosed with three individual cancers, melanoma, breast cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a recognized presumptive illness linked to chemical exposure.
This experience is not unique; countless other military personnel, veterans, families and civilians with ties to CFB Gagetown have faced similar struggles and illnesses.
CFB Gagetown's contamination history spans decades. From 1956 to 2004, extensive herbicide spraying had been conducted, involving chemicals like Agent Orange, numerous other dioxins, DDT and present-day use of glyphosates. Many of these harmful chemicals, especially dioxins, are known carcinogens.
While the 2005 fact-finding project investigated some of these exposures, significant gaps remain. The focus was predominantly on Agent Orange applications in 1966 and 1967, despite evidence of chemical spraying occurring before and after these years. Between 1956 and 1984, over 6,500 barrels of harmful chemicals were sprayed on approximately 181,000 acres, with minimal attention given to broader environmental and health impacts. Analytical methodologies omitted crucial factors such as measuring dioxins in the fatty tissue of consumed species where these toxins accumulate. The fact-finding project addressed some contamination concerns but left critical gaps. It largely overlooked the chronological and environmental scope of exposure, limiting its ability to identify all affected individuals and long-term impacts.
In 2007, a one-time ex gratia payment program was implemented; however, the sunset clause ended claims in December 2011, excluding individuals who developed illnesses later. Discrepancies between DND and Veterans Affairs in recognizing and compensating illnesses of exposure have added confusion and frustration for claimants.
The federal contaminated sites inventory does not fully capture the scope of legacy contamination at CFB Gagetown. This lack of integration prevents effective tracking of exposure-related health outcomes, undermining efforts to study long-term impacts and to offer support to affected military personnel, veterans, families and civilians.
Through advocacy efforts with groups like Brats in the Battlefield and learning from international practices, I have identified a potential solution, the U.S. PACT Act. This legislation provides expanded benefits to veterans exposed to toxic substances, streamlining health care and compensation. Canada could adopt a similar framework to improve support systems. Studies, like the one by New Zealand's Massey University, of Vietnam veterans reveal genetic and multi-generational effects of exposure, emphasizing the importance of sustained research and policy updates.
The legacy of contamination at CFB Gagetown has left a profound mark on military families, veterans and civilians. These individuals deserve recognition, accountability and justice. Addressing these challenges requires an integrated, compassionate and forward-thinking approach.
I urge the committee to prioritize this issue, fostering transparency, better support systems and legislative solutions to address contamination at CFB Gagetown and beyond.
Thank you for your attention.
I am pleased to answer your questions.