Do justice to our soldiers
In a recent statement commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic, Prime Minister Harper said, "Let us never forget those who served Canada with pride."
Does this include the soldiers who served in the old Camp Gagetown training area and got poisoned by such wonder chemicals as Agent Orange, Purple, White, etc. ?
When Mr. Harper and Veteran's Affairs Minister Greg Thompson were campaigning during the last election, both promised to do justice to these soldiers and to order a public inquiry into the whole mess. After they got elected they forgot these promises completely.
They had the gall to call the fact-finding mission started by Mr. Blaney and finished by Dr. Furlong an inquiry, which it certainly wasn't. The restrictions placed on that fact-finding committee limited it to the point where they couldn't even interview people living in Fredericton. Other restrictions led to the whole exercise being a complete failure, and did absolutely nothing to reassure those soldiers and civilians sprayed in this mess that they were safe from disease and death.
They then offered a compensation package to a very small group, with a very small amount, again with restrictions that prevented most people from qualifying for it.
They had to have an illness listed in an outdated American list to qualify.
That meant the Canadian Government did not have the knowledge required to produce such a list in Canada for Canadians. They also placed date restrictions that were and are almost impossible to meet. What does the date the Conservatives came to power in Ottawa have to do with the spraying of poison chemicals in Camp Gagetown back in the 1960s?
Mr. Harper should hang his head in shame rather than stand on a podium and make such statements as the one quoted above.
Mr. Thompson was in Halifax, strutting around as if he really knew what this was all about and also making rash statements. He too, should stand with Mr Harper, head bowed in shame for lying to the Canadian public.
Lorne D Amos Sr.
Gray Rapids
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