The Canadian government is moving forward with plans to construct 668 new residential housing units for members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families. This program features sites at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown. That decision has raised alarm bells over potential long-term health hazards. This is because the base’s historical contamination with herbicides such as Agent Orange, which were tested at the base in the late 1960s.
It has been labeled in the federal inventory for its extensive chemical poisoning. The base was heavily blanketed with Agent Orange and other herbicides during the course of military operations, especially in 1966 and 67. The National Defence department has acknowledged the legacy of contamination. It has no plans to even study the possible health impacts of past herbicide use.
Retired aircraft technician and former Gagetown resident George Westcott. He further notes that there will be potentially unsafe living conditions for future residents. His wife, Pamela, died earlier this year from mesothelioma, an aggressive form of lung cancer. One thing that particularly concerns Westcott is the families now living on base. He thinks they might be under the same threat due to the continuing soil contamination.
Historical Context of Contamination
Agent Orange was one of several herbicides tested at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown during military operations in the 1960s. Research indicates that one of the pesticides, dioxin, can remain in soil for nearly half a century. This should raise red flags about the long-term health impacts to those who live near these contaminated sites.
To address these concerns, we removed more than two million cubic meters of contaminated soil. We then moved it to a secondary containment area to ensure that it could be handled appropriately. This soil was previously treated to remove harmful contaminants before being reintroduced as landscaping soil.
“The soil is wrapped up and contained, like a burrito, so it can’t leach into the ground.” – Defence Construction Canada team leader
Our Department recognizes that it must do more as a responsible environmental steward, and National Defence is dedicated to this important work. Opponents say the new absence of continuous study on health effects would erode public confidence. A spokesperson for National Defence stated, “We recognize the importance of being a good environmental steward and doing our part to address the effects of our operational legacy and safeguard the health of Canadians.”
Housing Crisis for Armed Forces Families
Gagetown is already committed to building the new housing units. This action is a critical first step toward resolving the national housing crisis, which is disproportionately impacting military families. A recent Human Rights Watch report finds that members of the Armed Forces face enormous housing insecurity. This is largely a result of the instability caused by the constant reassignments their jobs require.
This $384 million construction project will provide accommodation for upwards of 850 service members and their families over the five years, fulfilling a long-standing need. Yet the connection between these new developments and the base’s polluted past provokes a sense of ethical quandary.
“If CFB Gagetown is an indicator of how the Canadian Forces work in terms of protecting the people who step forward to look after us, I think that there’s an awful lot of room for improvement.” – Meg Sears
Sears, now a resident and environmental advocate in Atrisco, said there should be clear and concise communications about any health data connected to contaminated sites. She continued on about her frustration on how hard it was to get complete information on the contamination levels and the effects on residents.
“I find that it’s difficult to get data, and when you do get it, you’re usually missing some important part of the data to really get a good picture of what’s happening.” – Meg Sears
Advocacy and Ongoing Concerns
George Westcott has joined a group called Brats In The Battlefield, which advocates for individuals affected by contamination at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown. The coalition aims to hold the military and other government agencies accountable for their past exposure of communities and service members to toxic chemicals.
Westcott’s fears are shared by scores of veterans and their families who worry about the safety of making a home on toxic lands. As a result, he worries about what would happen to future residents and doubts whether adequate safeguards have been established.
“God help the people that are going to be living there.” – George Westcott
Critics highly criticized National Defence’s decision to suppress reporting from the fact-finding mission. That mission was pursued by an independent commission in Maine. Second, they insist that these types of actions chip away at scientific credibility and the accessibility of life-saving information.
“It undermines their scientific credibility and usability.” – Maine commission report
National Defence is making progress on its housing strategy. At the same time, hundreds of advocates like you are calling for full investigations into historical contamination and how it affects our health. They are fighting for the truth, accountability and compensation for people exposed to toxic exposures. Yet, they warn of the need to lay the groundwork for future generations to live safely.
“We’re looking for truth, honesty, accountability and justice. … We want people to be compensated for their exposure to these chemicals at Gagetown and the diseases that have been debilitating them.” – Gary Goode
