Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Welcome to all of you today. I realize you've come back a second time, but sometimes you have to come back many times until justice is done. I applaud your perseverance and your dedication. It is admirable.
Before I ask the questions, I want to take a moment to again recognize your courage and determination, not only for yourselves but for thousands of other people who are out there and are suffering, who just don't have the strength and the voices that you have. I'm so glad for what you are doing. Many have lost a partner or friend, and the children have been robbed of having a father. The fact is that agent orange, chemicals, have clearly entered our water and our air and seriously caused major problems not only in New Brunswick but in surrounding areas.
For me today, having you here is not about assigning blame. It's not about pointing fingers at who was in government, who is, and who wasn't. It's about trying to right a wrong and starting a beginning of a process that would ultimately give you the satisfaction of knowing that the issue has been thoroughly examined and looked at by whoever is necessary within the government today. CFB Gagetown and all of those on it, I believe, were used as guinea pigs. The government of the day permitted the testing of agent orange, a chemical that we know now to be incredibly dangerous. It's time that we all see that a fair restitution is paid and an apology is given to all of those who lived in Gagetown at the time and who continue to live there.
I do hope that today you will get a fair hearing, that you will leave here feeling that you got a fair hearing, and that this could be the beginning of a process that will help all of us understand the issue better and do what's necessary to make sure this never happens again.
I've tabled a motion with the committee, to be dealt with at the appropriate time, calling for a public inquiry. I understand that's an issue you have been asking for and that you feel very strongly about. I'd like you to elaborate a bit more on why you feel so strongly that we need to have a judicial inquiry on the whole issue of the agent orange.
Whoever would like to address that issue can speak. Do you want start, Ms. Hudson?