Gilles Bisson, the member for Timmins-James Bay, said during question period at Queen's Park in Toronto that an email sent to him by the officials indicates the substance was sprayed along the side of the highways to curb the growth of grass and shrubs.
"It would appear that there was a good chance that if you were an employee, you were exposed," said Bisson. "And if you were the travelling public walking along the roads - blueberry picking, doing whatever - you might have been exposed to these chemicals."
Ken Graham was a highways supervisor in Cochrane, north of Timmins, Ont., in the late 1970s.
"We would drive along the shoulders of the highway, and spray out there," he told the CBC.
Graham said he and his co-workers wore no protective respirators.
Ontario Transportation Minister Kathleen Wynne acknowledged in the legislature that "questions are being asked" about the role of her ministry regarding the use of Agent Orange. Wynne said she had only been briefed about the matter Thursday morning, and that she doesn't have the details yet.
The governing Liberals launched a probe last week into the province's use of Agent Orange after former workers came forward saying they'd been exposed to it.
Archive documents also confirmed that forestry workers were exposed to toxic herbicides while helping to clear massive plots of Crown land in northern Ontario in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
Wynne said after question period that she was "concerned" when she first heard about the news.
"I did not have any information about how the herbicide had been used in the [Ministry of Transportation]. We're just asking those questions now. And we're going to work closely with [the Ministry of Transportation] to make sure we get A, the right questions asked and B, the answers," she said.
Agent Orange, a defoliant best known for its use during the war in Vietnam, has been linked to birth defects and deadly illnesses. Its use was banned by the federal government in 1985.
The only documented case of Agent Orange use in Canada occurred at CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick during the 1960s.
The federal government compensated thousands of people who lived or worked near the base at the time. Those compensated were diagnosed with one of 12 medical conditions linked to Agent Orange exposure.
Graham said he plans to get tested by doctors to find out if there is any trace of the chemical in his body.
"If I've got that in my system, somebody is going to have to pay some compensation somewhere along the line," he told CBC News.
He is also talking to his former colleagues about the possibility of a class-action lawsuit.
Once you have finished reading the above article, go to this website:
Post your feelings/reactions/respond in 250(ish) words.http://www.ffrd.org/agentorange.htm
Agent Orange is one of the most harmful chemicals in the world, it was used by the U.S. army during the Vietnam war to eliminate enemies, the human reactions were horrifying, Agent Orange caused death, disease, and birth defects to thousands of people who came in contact with the chemical. It is absolutely disgusting that government officials would have allowed their workers to be in contact with this chemical, knowing the consequences and harms. Also, Agent Orange is a strong chemical, and could have been replaced by a much less potent pesticide to eliminate weeds. Not only would Agent Orange have temporarily eliminated the plants, it would have killed off an entire ecosystem of plants and animals as well as caused harm and disease to living species. Though Agent Orange hasn’t been used since 1980, there would still be traces found in the land and air today, which would still be harming the land, and people who came in contact with the chemical, like workers, and local citizens who passed by the areas that were sprayed, and potentially their children who could have been born with a disease, or defect due to their parent coming in contact with Agent Orange. Whoever is responsible for this terrible decision needs to face serious consequence for their actions, obviously the government was not concerned about the health of their citizens, and environment when they decided to use Agent Orange on highways to control plants. This issue, though over 30 years old should not be put to rest until there have been questions answered, and the right people punished for the stupid decision to use Agent Orange as a plant controlling substance.
ReplyDeleteIt is quite surprising to me that such a harmful substance was allowed to be used by the Ministry of Transportation. Canada has always been a country that seemed to do what is best for their people. I can’t believe they thought using something that was used during the war in Vietnam, would be a good substance to use in Canada. Especially on the side of roads which their citizens use each and every day. People in Vietnam and now people in Canada can suffer from birth defects, skin diseases, cancer, and many more diseases. Not to mention the effects it will have on the land. Areas with high residual dioxin exist today, and it was tough for the land to re-grow and become reforested. Also the animals living in the area will also be intoxicated with this horrible substance. There will be animals suffering painful deaths that did not need to be suffered. The people who were exposed to Agent Orange do deserve compensation from the company that used Agent Orange. They have now made possible effects on the lives of those people that cannot be reversed. The company needs to take responsibility for what they have done and do what is right to fix as much as they can. No, they cannot change the effects on the people but they can ensure they are compensated to show that they are sincerely sorry for what has happened. Hopefully future companies will look into substances they plan to use and make more knowledgeable decisions that are best for the whole country.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that this substance was used in places where mass amounts of people interact with was a huge mistake, not only putting all those people's health in danger but now that the government is the cause of these problems they will have to pay for the health care of these people. This is tax payers money that could have gone to different uses. On the other hand, we are only looking at the effects that this substance has had on humans. The environment that has come into contact with this substance will be forever effected, and the chemical will stay in food chains for a huge period of time due to bio-accumulation. This simple stupid mistake has created health problems, economic problems and environmental problems.
ReplyDeleteSince we are unable to go back in time and fix the mistake that we have made, there are really only two things that can be done. Give complete aid to those who need it, and learn from our mistakes. Throwing toxic, un-tested chemicals on to plants and areas that people live or are around is never a good idea. If we did not turn to chemicals to fix everything, we would not see the birth defects and problems that we see, and all the fresh water that is getting contaminated would still be useable. This right here is only one chemical that was used and has done harm, but we still are using chemicals in our plastic and chemicals on crops, and who knows if down the line we find huge problems with these chemicals.
Wow. Hey Canadian government! Thanks for letting us know what you’re up to. 40 years ago or not, using a product for weed extermination that causes birth defects? Do you have no soul? Or brain? I mean really, this is disgusting. Was research not done on this product? I sure feel safe in your hands! Your are sure lucky that nobody in my community was affected by this or you’d have quite the lawsuit on your hands, because I would be informing them on what you’ve been up to. This product was used for warfare, for destruction, all with malicious intent. So why this same product would be used for getting rid of some non-ideal plants is beyond me. There should have been safety procedures and cautionary measures taken. Gloves, face masks, anything for the people who were using it. Actually, scratch that. It doesn’t matter what precautions you could’ve taken, there still would be effects. This chemical should never have been used. Shame on the government who condoned it’s use. You should be ashamed of yourself. But not only that, you should be held one hundred percent accountable for taking care of anyone and everyone who was harmed as a result of these chemicals. I hope you have learned your lesson and think about the citizens of this country before you make such a foolish and costly mistake again.
ReplyDeleteI think that anyone who has been exposed to the Agent Orange chemical should be compensated. All chemicals, especially those that are exposed to people, should be tested so that they are not harmful to breathe in or come into contact with. If the company knows that the chemical is dangerous, they should protect their employees with proper protective gear. The fact that there were no precautions taken before using this chemical shows that the health and safety of the workers was not taken into consideration. Therefore I believe a lawsuit is in order.
ReplyDeleteAn incident like this causes a loss of trust not only between the company that used Agent Orange and its workers, but also people who work with chemicals for other companies.
I believe there is a cycle that happens with people who work with health and safety. Workers are generally safe, perhaps the odd injury here and there, and then all of a sudden a huge pandemic occurs. This causes a great deal of panic and now everyone wants an increase in safety in their workplace.
The Agent Orange incident was an unfortunate event, but I believe it has brought more safety regulations to the workplace which has helped prevent more injuries. The workers who have experienced suffering on account of the chemical accident should be compensated, and precautions should be taken so that nobody is harmed from a chemical like this again.
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ReplyDeleteI feel that the use of agent orange as a weapon is dispicable. It ruined so many lives in Vietnam, and killed countless human beings. It gives many kinds of cancer. It is sad that as humans, we spend so much time trying to create new ways to kill and maim people, instead of using our intelligence to create for the good of the world. Instead of finding a cure for cancer, or other major life threatening diseases, we create chemicals that end and destroy lives, all for the advantages of winning a war. In order to change the world, we have to change ourselves. The killing of other human beings for another nations advantages is completely wrong. The world would be a much better place if we used our power for good as opposed to using it for evil. But why don't we use it for good? A lot of human beings are very greedy, and evil. Leaders of countries would do anything for their own personal gain, even if that includes killing many innocent people. Human compassion has no place on the agenda of these leaders. We must all let our voices be heard. We must stand up, and do our part to make sure these crimes against humanity never happen again. Its all up to us. If we dont do it, who will?
ReplyDeleteWhy is it that just about every single advancement in human technology is just another step in the direction of “How can we kill each other easier, cheaper, or faster?” Agent Orange is just one more weapon to add to the bottomless arsenal, chemical or otherwise, of weapons and tools that have ever been used to kill other people on a large scale. It can now proudly be featured in the same category as mustard gas and nuclear weaponry, which, need I remind you, were first used in World Wars 1 and 2, respectively. But, like retired war veterans, after their usage in killing, they eventually find practical uses in everyday life. Whilst nuclear energy is now harnessed as a source of power, and the chlorine from mustard gas is used as a cleaning agent, Agent Orange was used as a herbicide on the side of highways in Ontario, and it is just as hotly debated in moral and worried discussions about whether or not its usage should be continued. Of the three, it is the second in terms of how long lasting its effects are, only being outmatched by nuclear radiation. However, when it doesn’t kill, its side effects are incredibly gruesome, mainly disfiguration and mutation of body parts, like the face. The effects can even go into the offspring of those affected by it, giving them similar symptoms and disfigurations. In my opinion, the usage of Agent Orange should remain discontinued, both on and off the battlefield.
ReplyDeleteI feel this situtation was very sad and easily avoidable. Extreme saftey measures should have been involved in the distribution of this chemical. This chemical was used even though the harmful effects it has on humans were known.
ReplyDeleteThere should have been more research on other possible chemicals or natural substances with a healthier effect on our enviroment.
In my opinion this was a HUGE fail by the government. They could have put the money spend on this to much better use.. Like I don't know, to things like health care, education, maybe even cancer research. Rather than spraying chemicals that CAUSE cancer. The people it effects should not be blindly facing situations like this with no facts. Due to the poor decison of the government, many babies are now born with severe defects. People living among the chemical are also at high risk for very rare types of cancer.
I feel really bad for all the people affected by this. I hope all the people involved in allowing this chemical to be used get the most disgusting harmful form of cancer and I hope there babies are born with feet for hands.
THE END !
-andreanna
Killing plants on the side of the highway with a toxic spray, and causing birth defects, and other health concerns? Or, killing the plants naturally and not causing health problems to people? That is not a very hard choice to make. Yet, provinces in Canada sprayed the sides of the highways with Agent Orange. This spray which is highly toxic, causes major health problems for people who breathe it in. This poison was sprayed along some of the countries highways until the 1980's, then was banned by the federal government in 1985. It is good that they don’t use it anymore, however, for how long it was being used, it did have massive effects on Canadian’s health. Even the people who were spraying the toxins weren’t wearing protective respirators, so they had the most exposure to these chemicals. It is like they didn’t research the effects of the chemicals before they used it. The minister of transportation eve said, “I did not have any information about how the herbicide had been used”. They are just asking these questions now, and finding out the effects now. It is outrageous and repulsive. Before spraying chemicals into the air, the government and companies using it should know everything about it. Not spray it, then realize the negative effect it has on humans after the fact. Who ever had the right to spray this toxin into the air better be ready to have a lot of lawsuits thrown at him, because people deserve justice for what happened to them. Someone has to pay for the pain and suffering of the innocent people who developed defects due to this spray.
ReplyDelete--Brynlea--
Ignorance is bliss. It’s amazing how so innocent a phrase can have such deadly implications. Agent Orange was a chemical used during the Vietnam War, spread over land to cause crops to wither and die. You know, mankind is an interesting species. We enjoy finding new ways to destroy one another. We don’t call it “enjoy”, however. I think we call it “war” or “strategy” or some such equivalent nonsense that’s just a means of covering up our own sick, twisted, sadistic nature. If one were to type “Agent Orange” into a Google Images search, the pictures that come up can only be described as horrifying and utterly tragic. Actually, tragic doesn’t even being to describe the prenatal deformations and stillborn children in the time after Agent Orange was released upon the Vietnam landscape. How does one go about reconciling something like that? Government compensation consists of financial aid, but it can never take away the pain of what such a vile chemical has done to so many people. The government can never give those deformed children what they would have had if Agent Orange hadn’t touched their lives. The government can never bring back the stillborn babies. This chemical destroyed lives. You know what’s sickening? They were also testing it dangerously close to home. Not only was the Canadian government testing Agent Orange in New Brunswick forests, it was using it as a means of clearing vegetation on Ontario highways. A chemical that was used to ruin Vietnamese lives has been allowed to be tested on Canadian soil? Our government committed an ultimate betrayal by subjecting its citizens to a chemical like that. I am sickened by the fact that Canada ever let that kind of chemical be tested in our country. I am sickened by the fact that any people at all have been exposed to it. People need to get it together. This kind of thing is unacceptable. Bad intentions or no, Canada’s government should have been intelligent enough to keep something like Agent Orange away from its people. To subject anyone to the repercussions of exposure to that chemical is a cruel, cruel thing to do. It should be punishable by law, and we should all see the government that allowed it as absolutely, undeniably, and criminally negligent to its people.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think the continual use of this harmful pesticide is an astonishingly irresponsible act, and it makes me incredibly worried for the safety of all citizens under the 'protection' of their government. Not only did they not test, or heed the test results, on the effects of Agent Orange before they applied them to foreign and native soil, but even after they realized how detrimental it was to humans and unborn children they continued it's use.
ReplyDeleteThey didn't even care to warn their citizens, the ones that drive down Canada's highways everyday, that this deadly chemical had been sprayed all around them. This is the first time I've ever heard of Agent Orange being used, and I could have easily driven down one of these highways recently. Even worse, the workers that have been exposed to this in their everyday job now have fear for their health, their lives, and the lives of their children. All of this preventable fear, sickness and death for the sake of keeping some weeds from growing to high. Is the killing of weeds more important to our government than the lives of it's citizens? It seems so.
The only way for our government to redeem themselves from such a fall in grace would be to right as much of the situation as possible. The damage has definitely already been done, but forest can be regrown, animals can be aided, and humans can be treated for all the ailments caused by the unleashing of this chemical. Hopefully this will be the course of action the government chooses, and in time the effects of it will wash away. However, the choice, apparently, isn’t ours to make.
Agent Orange was originally used to kill vegetation in the Vietnam War so the Americas could see their enemies better. Little did they know this chemical had an extremely toxic substance called TCDD. This toxic is said to be useless, so why use it? It has only caused damage such a cancer and birth defects. Although it was banned in 1985, not all traces of it have been lost. Transportation sprayed it across highways in 1980 to control the growth of plants but, even them as workers were exposed to it, pedestrians who walked the highway and if they had children afterwards were all exposed. The government still hasn’t pressed charges against anybody who used Agent Orange and they only continue to investigate it. I believe the answers to all the questions are hidden away in the years that have past and we should only move forward with our lives. The government already took action when they banned it, and they can continue to ask questions, but truthful answers will never truly come out. The government should drop trying to find the sick people behind using this toxin and only help and support the innocent people who have been exposed to the chemical because there isn’t much they can do. In the future, I think they should look more into what they use so we can remain positive that our health and safety is the governments number one priority. If our government fails to do so, I believe we should elect a more concerning government.
ReplyDelete-Taylor Newlove
Honestly, I really thought that our government knew much better than that. Must you use a toxic herbicide just to kill or curb vegetation and plants along highways? Was there no other safer alternative? Or were you to impatient and wanted a chemical that would work faster? I applaud your “intelligence” and “judgment”. I’m appalled and sickened by your actions.
ReplyDeleteThink about it, Agent Orange was banned by the federal government in 1985 for a reason. You'd think that ministry would be aware of the harmful effects of Agent Orange, and would bother to do the research and straightforwardly see that Agent Orange is connected to fatal illnesses and birth defects. Was the effort too much for you? How could you fail to see that such a chemical was being used in public?
It upsets me how this chemical was used in countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and even my home country, Laos. All reasons pointing to war’s sake. Now, that really aggravates me and emotionally hits me a little harder than expected. Family members of mine have lived in Laos for many years, and I’m worried about them. I wasn’t even aware that such a chemical existed and has been used on those countries, let alone at home in Canada. I feel so oblivious to what our government is up to.
People to this day most likely still suffer the effects of Agent Orange. They probably endure the aftermath of Agent Orange. Young children are also sick and deformed from birth. How could you do that to somebody? Yet, how could you use this carelessly along our highways? People are unknowingly exposed to this dangerous herbicide. Yes, people affected by this most definitely deserve compensation. But honestly, this whole ordeal wouldn’t have happened if Agent Orange was never invented and/or sprayed along our native soil. I’m now really questioning the safety in our own country. Were the people involved in this thinking straight?
Great job, I hope you’re proud. You deserve a slap in the face. Actually, a slap in the face is being way too nice and generous. It’s not enough to make up for the possible damage done and violation of trust and safety.
In my opinion, it is simply outrageous that the government officials would allow workers to be and to continue to be in contact with this harmful chemical. Especially knowing potential outcomes of coming in contact with Agent Orange. The worst part is that the company knew all possible outcomes from this chemical, and did not even try to protect their workers in the slightest way. They did not make the workers wear any type of protective gear. There were no precautions taken before the chemical being used, the company showed they did not care whatsoever about the health and safety of their workers. This toxic chemical was sprayed freely over highway grass areas. People are openly exposed to this harmful chemical. So, while you’re thinking you are taking your family out for a nice day of blueberry picking, you are at the same time taking in a very dangerous chemical. This chemical causes birth defects, and other deadly illnesses. Agent Orange could eliminate the unique ecosystems of plants and animals, it could also kill or harm living species. It’s sickening that the government would allow this toxic chemical to be used, and allowed workers to use it, knowing the harms and effects. The company needs to take responsibilities for the action they took. Especially knowing the outcome of the usage of this chemical, they are the only ones to blame. Although we cannot go back and change something that has already happened, we can eliminate all potential chances of the problem reoccurring in the future. This stupid, dangerous mistake should not be made again. Learn from the past, learn from mistakes.
ReplyDeleteAgent Orange is an extremely hazardous chemical that was used in the Vietnam War. Used as a supercharged weed killer, it was sprayed near highways across the province until the 1980’s. It is really disturbing that the Ministry of Transportation thought this chemical was necessary when it has been linked to birth defects and deadly illnesses. The government made a huge mistake in not only using this chemical, but spraying it on highways. There is a good chance that the employees or anyone walking near the infected area might have been exposed to these chemicals. This shows that the government did not take any safety precautions when deciding to use this chemical. The fact that we are not hearing about this until years later is bizarre. Every single person that was aware of the use of this chemical and didn’t have the moral decency to stop it or do something about it should be ashamed of themselves. This isn’t a problem that can just be fixed. You cannot fix health conditions with a simple “sorry” or “it won’t happen again”. These victims should be compensated for everything. The Ontario Transportation Minister stated, “I did not have any information about how the herbicide had been used in the [Ministry of Transportation]. We're just asking those questions now.” Now? YEARS later? And you didn’t know about it? The questions that should be being asked are how responsible is the government if they had no idea how the herbicide was being used? This is a serious issue and although we cannot fix the past and what has happened, the government should be more aware, cautious, and responsible when making decisions that could have a major impact on the lives of people in the community.
ReplyDeleteAgent Orange was a chemical compound originally used by the United States in 1961 to defoliate forests in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It would continue to be used by the United States until 1971 and the remaining Agent Orange was used by the Vietnamese until 1974. I think it was irresponsible and negligent of the Canadian Government to allow this harmful chemical into our country, let alone be used. There were cases of birth defects, premature birth, stillbirths and instances of uterine cancer in women and high rates of skin diseases, cancers, and digestive ailments on Vietnamese civilians who were in areas which were heavily sprayed. American and international scientists started investigations and requested there be a stop to the use of chemicals. That was in the 1960's. Canadians began using Agent Orange in the 1970's. Why would we start and continue to use this extremely harmful substance if it had been researched by scientists who knew it was dangerous and advised against its use? It is ridiculous that the government was more concerned by the weeds on the highways than the well being of its workers and civilians. They knew Agent Orange was harmful and yet did nothing to protect the unsuspecting workers. They were not given any sort of masks or gloves to protect themselves from being exposed. Finally an investigation was launched after workers came forward saying they had been exposed. People who worked on the only documented case of Agent Orange use in Canada who have been diagnosed with one of twelve medical conditions had been compensated. While I definitely think they should be reimbursed, compensation does little to alleviate their pain and suffering. Those medical conditions will never go away. The government has cause irreversible damage. Agent Orange should never have been used in Canada. The government knew the risks of using Agent Orange and decided to use it anyways. There are weaker pesticides now just like there were back in the 1970's. Why didn't the government use a safer alternative to defoliate our highways? Something needs to be done about the government's thoughtless decision.
ReplyDeleteI’m honestly quite surprised that agent orange would be allowed to be used, seeing as how it was used as a lethal weapon during the Vietnam War. Whether or not they thought they were doing good by destroying plants along the highways, they were putting people at risk. It causes birth defects and illnesses, which get passed on through generations, all because they wanted to kill some plants on the side of highways. It just seems like they took the easy way out to destroy the plants, using what they knew would work, regardless of the affects it has on nature and its inhabitants. Not only does agent orange affect plants and humans, but the animals that inhabit the sprayed areas too. So it comes down to the fact that agent orange seemed convenient at the time, but its affects have caused much greater issues, then if they were to have found a different solution to the problem, such as using less harmful chemical products, or some other form of solution that includes no chemicals and is environmentally friendly. I think the fact that they continued spraying agent orange for years up until the 1980’s is quite irresponsible and sickening. Yes, they did stop in the 1980’s, but the damage had already been done, and it’s not like you can undo the negative effects it had on people and the environment. Now that we’re well aware of the dangers of using strong chemicals, this should be a mistake of the past that should not be repeated again for any reason, or with any other potentially fatal chemical.
ReplyDeleteWhile the effects of Agent Orange on land were known, and the chemical was indeed used for herbicidal warfare in Vietnam, the long term medical effects on humans were not fully understood until around the 1980's-1990's, hence the lack of respirators used by those Canadians spraying it on our highways and its eventual ban. While people were being born with and developing health defects in Vietnam, the defects were not fully linked to Agent Orange and it was therefore not realised what the long term effects could potentially be on human beings. Recent reports say that the Canadian Government used Agent Orange as a means of curbing grass and shrubs along our highways, as it was very effective which made it an attractive substance. Today, those Canadians who were directly involved with the usage of the chemical are considering a class action lawsuit against long term health risks that were not widely understood at the time. Based on this logic, the current generation would be able to bring a class action lawsuit against Apple Inc. in twenty years for any potential hearing loss caused by their iPods. The principle is the same; Society looking for a means of abdicating their individual responsibility towards personal safety, choosing instead to place the blame on a higher authority. The entire case has become somewhat of a crutch for those involved, and it would seem as if it were motivated more by personal gain than for concern over their health. I think that using Agent Orange today would be an irresponsible act, but the usage twenty years ago can be justified by saying that the Canadian Government at that time was not fully aware of its threat to its citizens. I fully believe the Government would not have intentionally put the people of its country at risk on purpose, and blaming them for Agent Orange usage here is nothing more than a symbol of our over-liberalized, bleeding heart Western society.
ReplyDeleteOne would think after spraying over 20,000,000 US gallons of Agent Orange over Vietnam in the late 60's and early 70's their would be some sort of study done on the product including it's side affects. Because there was a lack of this, people were exposed to it for many years, all the way up to 1985 in fact, before it was banned. These people now have to suffer from it's side affects for the rest of their life. The government says they will compensate any victims, but knowing that you're child will now have birth defects, nothing can compensate that. In the article it talks about people who used to spray along the sides of roads and highways to prevent weed and shrub over growth, now not only the people spraying are affected, but now we find out that anyone that did any activity near the spray sight is now affected by the toxin. Although it was many years ago, i feel that if a company can create a product such as agent orange, they should know all of the side affects before the product goes into use. Monsanto should be the responsible party compensating everyone, not the government. The worst part in my mind is that all those Vietnamise solders and civilians that got infected with agent orange and have probably the worst side affects out of everyone, and a majority of them get no compensation.
ReplyDelete