Question Period Note: Contaminated Sites At 15 Wing Moose Jaw

What is this Government doing to address employee health concerns at 15 Wing Moose Jaw?

• National Defence takes all employee health concerns and safety complaints seriously.
• As soon as employee health concerns were raised at 15 Wing Moose Jaw, National Defence took immediate action.
• This includes ongoing air quality monitoring and an industrial health analysis of the building.
• We will continue to ensure all Defence employees have a safe and healthy workplace.

If pressed on fear of reprisals:

• Individuals can come forward in any fora – including parliamentary committees – without reprisals.
• There are also established mechanisms in place for military members and civilian employees, respectively, to disclose wrongdoing.
• This means that when a Defence Team member comes forward, their complaint is acknowledged and addressed appropriately.

Responsible Principals: Assistant Deputy Minister (Infrastructure and Environment), Assistant Deputy Minister (Review Services), Royal Canadian Air Force

Quick Facts

Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Moose Jaw

• Three Defence employees at 15 Wing Moose Jaw appeared before the Standing Committee on National Defence (NDDN) on December 5, 2024, where they expressed apprehensions about the health and safety of Building 143.
• Specific concerns include air contamination and allegations that this has caused an increase in employee deaths and illnesses. National Defence was first made aware of these complaints in Spring 2024.
• In response, National Defence initiated a transparent and evidence-based analysis—which is currently underway.
  • This analysis includes both current air quality monitoring and an ongoing survey that will examine the building from an industrial health perspective.
• Until there are results of both activities, along with a professional interpretation of those results, there is insufficient data to inform further comment currently.

Disclosure of Wrongdoing

• There are legislated processes for Defence Team members to bring attention to disclose a questionable or illicit activity.
• Defence employees and Canadian Armed Forces members are encouraged to report a wrongdoing when they become aware of it.
• Public servants can submit a protected disclosure under the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act (PSDPA), while CAF members can submit a protected disclosure using the Canadian Armed Forces Disclosure Process (CAF DP).