|
|||||
| Return to 2005 News Releases | |||||
|
|
News
Release |
||||
|
Barrett calls on public to come forward with information to
assist Agent Orange investigation November 2, 2005
|
|||||
|
Percy Barrett, Opposition Environment and Conservation Critic and MHA for
the District of Bellevue, is calling on members of the public who have any
information about past use of chemical sprays in this province to come
forward and present the information to government.
"I believe there is a strong possibility that dangerous chemicals such as commercially available varieties of Agent Orange were used in this province in the 1950s, 60s or 70s," said Barrett. "There are likely people out there who were involved with the spray program or have information that could confirm which chemicals were used or what areas were sprayed. "After raising concerns that were brought to my attention regarding possible usage of Agent Orange in the province, government has agreed to initiate an investigation to determine what spraying may have taken place. As an opposition, we have a role to play in seeing that this issue is dealt with in a responsible manner. I have concerns about the possible health impacts that spraying may have had and I am hopeful that if members of the public come forward, the Minister will start to pursue this issue with added vigor." The Liberal MHA says it is his understanding that the use of Agent Orange along New Brunswick power lines only received attention when a former worker with NB Power brought forward a memo from 1961 indicating the chemicals that were used. "People may have information to assist government to investigate possible uses and help the department assess the possible dangers which may exist in this province." Earlier this month, Barrett provided the Minister of Environment and Conservation with information related to newspaper articles from the 1970s indicating that chemicals had been used in this province at that time. He also called on the Minister to release the terms of reference of the study which government will undertake on this matter. At this point the government has not released the terms of reference or said if any testing will be done to determine if there are any possible lingering impacts of these chemical sprays. |
|||||
|
Media Contact: |
|||||
