Mr. Speaker, I wish to update Members on the government's investigations into concerns raised by Mr. Pudluk and Mr. Allooloo about alleged bombing incidents that occurred in the High Arctic during the 1950s. This update will outline the nature of the incidents and address Members' concerns about the relationship between these incidents and illnesses among North Baffin Inuit during this period.
During the past year, the government has conducted extensive investigations, including written and oral communications, including senior federal government officials involved with the issue during the 1950s and Inuit, or the relatives of Inuit, who witnessed or experienced the alleged bombings.
Mr. Speaker, individuals from the federal Department of National Defence and the Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development have confirmed that military exercises, involving low-level "thunderflash bombing runs" were conducted by the United States Air Force near the Admiralty Inlet region of Baffin Island. These exercises only occurred in this area during the winter of 1955-56.
According to federal officials, these low-level exercises involved dropping magnesium flares by parachute to light up the earth for purposes of photographing targets. Military sources say that the exercises involved no explosions, concussions or shocks. Inuit who witnessed and experienced the exercises said the opposite.
Prior to the thunderflash testing over the Baffin, the United States Armed Forces received the necessary approval from Canadian authorities to conduct exercises in the Admiralty Inlet area.
From the evidence gathered by the government, it is apparent that neither Canada nor the United States were aware of Inuit camping in this area. It is also apparent from the government's interviews with Inuit hunters and/or their relatives that neither the families camped in the Admiralty Inlet area, nor Hudson Bay officials at Arctic Bay, wore given any advance notice that the tests would be conducted. As a consequence, Inuit camped in the Admiralty Inlet area were naturally terrified by the thunderflash bomb tests.
After being advised that Inuit were camping in the Admiralty Inlet area, military authorities relocated the testing to an unoccupied region of the High Arctic.
Mr. Speaker, the government's investigation, including a review of relevant medical records, has provided no evidence of injury or illness that could be directly linked to the thunderflash tests.
I should also note that during the course of the GNWT's investigation, evidence concerning unrelated biological warfare tests in different regions of the United States, including Minnesota and Alaska, as well as Canadian tests in Manitoba, were examined.
Although the United States Armed Forces has admitted to biological testing in these areas, there is no evidence indicating that the thunderflash exercises in the North Baffin region involved biological agents.
Mr. Speaker, I noted earlier in my remarks that Inuit who witnessed or experienced the thunderflash exercises have different memories of their impact, which may mean that other types of testing took place in the Admiralty Inlet area. The government will continue its investigations to determine if there is any proof to this statement.
In conclusion, the nature and conduct of this type of military activity is as unacceptable now as it was at the time the tests were conducted.
In the 1990s, while we still have to encourage the Department of National Defence to provide NWT residents with plans for military activities, procedures are now in place to ensure that these activities are no longer conducted without proper consultation with the government and communities.
Finally, the government has made representations to federal committees on national defence and foreign affairs to ensure that the views of NWT residents are part of the public record in establishing new federal defence policies.
Our success in having cruise missile testing stopped is a case in point. Thank you.
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