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Topic spans: 1954 - 2003
Canada's Secret War: Vietnam
Vietnam may have been America's war but Canada was heavily involved — for and against. Canada harboured American draft dodgers and helped supervise ceasefires. But at the same time, about 30,000 Canadians volunteered to fight in southeast Asia. And there was Canada's involvement in secret missions, weapons testing and arms production. CBC Archives looks at Canada's role in the Vietnam War.
10 television clips
10 radio clips
Agent Orange
Broadcast Date: Jan. 23, 1981
Agent Orange is one of the most infamous and dirtiest legacies of the Vietnam War. Ottawa always denied that it cooperated with the United States in testing chemical warfare agents for Vietnam. A recently released report states that in June 1966 the American army tested Agent Orange at Base Gagetown in New Brunswick. As two NDP representatives uncover the facts, CBC's Brian Stewart wants to know why it took the Canadian military so long to investigate.A 1970 report from national defence to parliament stated that "no research carried out by the Department of National Defence has affected the use of chemicals in Vietnam." Former defence minister Paul Hellyer says such tests were actually routine, but he attempts to downplay the issue by pointing out that Agent Orange was tested as a tactical weapon, not a chemical weapon.
Agent Orange
• Agent Orange was a chemical defoliant used in Vietnam for nine years. An estimated 19 million gallons of Agent Orange were sprayed in South Vietnam during the war, exposing thousands of soldiers and civilians to this harmful chemical.• In a process deemed "territory denial," Agent Orange was sprayed on the dense jungle foliage, revealing the position of the hiding Viet Cong.
• The code name Agent Orange comes from the orange labels that were found on the storage drums. It is made up of the two chemicals 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T mixed with kerosene or diesel fuel.
• The dioxins found in Agent Orange can cause cancer, birth defects, immune system disorders, liver problems and genetic abnormalities.
• The Uniroyal plant in Elmira, Ont., was one of seven suppliers producing Agent Orange for the U.S. military.
• NDP defence critic Terry Sargeant questions defence minister Gil Lamontagne about the government's denial of Agent Orange testing for Vietnam.
Agent Orange
Medium: Television
Program: The National
Broadcast Date: Jan. 23, 1981
Guest(s): Simon de Jong, Paul Hellyer, Terry Seargent
Host: Knowlton Nash
Reporter: Brian Stewart
Duration: 3:46
Last updated:
Nov. 12, 2010
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20 clips in this topic . page
Television
10:04
The face of war in Vietnam summons more questions than answers in a conflict growing deadlier by the day.
Television
12:18
May 18, 1995
The man who devised Vietnam War strategy for JFK and LBJ discusses his book about America's great mistake.
Brian Stewart has presented crucial issues and crimes against humanity in clear, well researched, compassionate. This excellence in reporting news makes Brian Stewart among the GREAT Correspondents at CBC.
There is no doubt if you wanted the truth on an issue you read and listened to Brian Stewarts' articles.
When I want the scoupe on an issue, I pay close attention to what Brian Stewart reporting. He is among the most respected journalist that CBC has ever had.
Thank you for this opportunity to send my comments in regards to a great journalist who is retiring.
Have fun in your retirement, you have worked hard for it and you deserve it.
God's Blessings to you and Thank you for your heart driven reports.
Submitted by: Sandra Boswell