Discussion · Oral Questions
Jeff Kibble Conservative
“In 1992, the government made Canadian soldiers take an unlicensed drug that caused severe mental health problems. Veterans have fought in court for 25 years, but the government is trying to shut their case down. I want the Prime Minister to settle the lawsuit, reopen the inquiry, and apologize to these veterans.”
“Mr. Speaker, in 1992, Canadian soldiers deployed to war-torn Somalia were ordered to take mefloquine, an anti-malarial drug developed by the U.S. military and unlicensed in Canada. The Canadian government knew that the side effects included anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations and psychotic behaviour, yet did not follow trial safety protocols. For many, those side effects never stopped. For 25 years, they have been fighting in court for the truth, yet in June, government lawyers moved to shut the case down. Will the Prime Minister immediately settle the court case, reopen the Somalia inquiry and apologize to Canadian veterans?”
Official Hansard
Mr. Speaker, in 1992, Canadian soldiers deployed to war-torn Somalia were ordered to take mefloquine, an anti-malarial drug developed by the U.S. military and unlicensed in Canada. The Canadian government knew that the side effects included anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations and psychotic behaviour, yet did not follow trial safety protocols. For many, those side effects never stopped. For 25 years, they have been fighting in court for the truth, yet in June, government lawyers moved to shut the case down. Will the Prime Minister immediately settle the court case, reopen the Somalia inquiry and apologize to Canadian veterans?