The most important one to me is the apology, because as you said, $20,000 is nothing. There wouldn't be any amount of money anyone could give me to compensate for my husband, so an apology is very, very important to me.
But here are our demands:
One, compensate every widow fairly for the early death of their husbands who died with agent orange-related diseases.
Two, immediately convene a public judicial inquiry into the agent orange tragedy at CFB Gagetown.
Three, remove Mr. Thompson as Minister of Veterans Affairs, as he has not fulfilled the mission statement of the Department of Veterans Affairs, which states and I quote:
To provide exemplary, client-centred services and benefits that respond to the needs of veterans, our other clients and their families, in recognition of their services to Canada; and to keep the memory of their achievements and sacrifices alive for all Canadians.
Four, apologize to each and every widow, whose loss cannot be measured, to admit to us that the Canadian government did a great disservice to all victims of the spray program.
Five, launch an immediate investigation into the dispersal of ex gratia payments—that is, decisions as to who received the cheques, who was denied, and why. Why were the years 1966 and 1967 designated when we know spraying took place between 1956 and 1984?
Six, investigate the Department of Veterans Affairs itself, as it has shown it is a bureaucracy comprised of people who regard us as unworthy and treat us in an undignified manner.
Seven, let proven illness and diseases be qualifiers, not only those listed on the agent orange ex gratia application form.
Eight, give an acknowledgement and a display of respect for all husbands—military and civilian—who died, and who died before the Harper power date.