House of Commons Hansard #234 of the 36th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was environment.

Topics

Division No. 542Private Members' Business

8:35 p.m.

Some hon. members

No.

A motion to adjourn the House under Standing Order 38 deemed to have been moved.

Division No. 542Adjournment Proceedings

8:35 p.m.

NDP

Gordon Earle NDP Halifax West, NS

Mr. Speaker, it appears that U.S. A-10 Warthog jets are deploying depleted uranium shells in Kosovo. Since this is being done under the NATO umbrella, to which we are a partner, we bear responsibility for this atrocious act.

Turning a blind eye to the use of depleted uranium in Kosovo is not only unacceptable but also unforgivable.

Depleted uranium is 7.7 times more dense than lead. For this reason it is used in shells fired by the Warthog's Avenger Cannon. The weight allows the rounds to penetrate deeply into concrete, such as bunkers, as well as metal, such as tanks. Jane's Information Group also describes the enhanced “incendiary effects” of depleted uranium since it is a natural agent that ignites on contact with air.

The famous epidemiologist, Dr. Rosalie Bertell, has the following to say about depleted uranium:

DU is highly toxic to humans, both chemically as a heavy metal and radiologically as an alpha particle emitter which is very dangerous when taken internally.

Upon impact, the DU bursts into flames. It produces a toxic and radioactive ceramic aerosol that is much lighter than uranium dust. It can travel in the air tens of kilometres from the point of release, or settle waiting to be stirred up in dust and suspended in the air by human or animal movement.

It is very small and can be breathed by anyone from babies and pregnant women to the elderly and the sick. This radioactive and toxic ceramic can stay in the lungs for years, irradiating the surrounding tissue with powerful alpha particles. It can affect the lungs, gastrointestinal system, liver, kidneys, bone, other tissues and renal system.

The A-10 Warthog is capable of firing 4,200 rounds of this abomination every minute. The U.S. government has suggested that almost one million rounds of this radioactive toxin casing were fired in Iraq during the gulf war. Iraq has witnessed explosive rates of stillbirths, children born with defects, childhood leukemia and other cancers, in particular near the Basara region where these shells were fired.

Dr. Bertell states the following about DU:

It is most likely a major contributor to the Gulf War Syndrome experienced by the veterans and the people of Iraq.

I understand that Pentagon spokesperson Major-General Chuck Wald admitted to the BBC on May 7 of this year that A-10 Warthogs were indeed deploying this evil in Kosovo.

NATO has already launched potentially devastating environmental offensives in Kosovo. It bombed the largest medical factory in Yugoslavia when it bombed the Galenika pharmaceutical complex, releasing highly toxic fumes. On April 15 NATO bombed the petrochemical complex in Pancevo releasing huge amounts of chlorine, ethylene dichloride and vinyl chloride monomer. The same day it hit an ammonia supply company.

NATO is not a foreign power. It is we. It is the people in this House. The Liberal government has not only the power but also the moral, ethical and humane obligation to speak out with force. Using DU is an abominable atrocity. It can be stopped. The Liberal government can do something about it.

Canadians, Yugoslavians and especially pregnant women and children in the region being bombed have the right to know that this government will not stop until it can assure all of us that any and all use of DU is stopped.

Division No. 542Adjournment Proceedings

8:40 p.m.

Pontiac—Gatineau—Labelle Québec

Liberal

Robert Bertrand LiberalParliamentary Secretary to Minister of National Defence

Mr. Speaker, our on-going commitment in Kosovo is important for this government and for all Canadians, not only because we are members of an alliance, but because of the moral issues at stake.

Our contribution has been recognized as significant and worthy. As we speak, members and planes of the Canadian forces are taking part in NATO air operations over Yugoslavia.

We are sending some 800 members of the Canadian armed forces to the former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia as part of our commitment to an international force that will help implement a peace accord.

The members of the Canadian forces deserve our recognition and our support for the most important job they have taken on on behalf of all Canadian citizens.

There are no munitions containing depleted uranium in the Canadian forces' inventory. There are no plans to purchase or use such ammunition in the future. Canada does not allow any foreign testing or use of depleted uranium ammunition on Canadian soil.

Some of our NATO allies are using this type of ammunition. The use of depleted uranium is not restricted by any international arms control treaty or convention.

Exposure to depleted uranium has been investigated as a possible cause for illness, in particular in gulf war veterans. None of the scientific work published to this day supports a link between exposure to depleted uranium and illnesses in gulf war veterans, including cancer and birth defects. American investigators followed gulf war veterans with depleted uranium shrapnel in their bodies and have not found any illnesses compatible with heavy metal or radiation poisoning.

Division No. 542Adjournment Proceedings

8:40 p.m.

The Deputy Speaker

The motion to adjourn the House is now deemed to have been adopted.

Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until tomorrow at 10 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 8.44 p.m.)