After fifty years of drinking water laced with the cancer-causing chemical trichloroethylene, commonly called TCE, the residents of Shannon, Québec, population 4,000, welcomed the announcement made by the federal Minister of Defence, David Pratt, on Friday, April 23, that his department will provide $19 million toward the cost of a new water system for the town.

The full story of the fight by the people of Shannon to secure safe drinking water was told in the Canadian Vindicator in March "Outrage in Québec" and on television and in other media reports. As stated, it was of interest because Shannon was originally known as "an Irish town", birthplace of legendary U.S. Marshal, Bat Masterson, and is home to many other descendants of Irish emigrants.

On Monday, April 26, the matter was raised during Question Period in the House of Commons, as reported in Hansard:

Mr. Claude Duplain (Portneuf, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, today I admit I must take my hat off to the Minister of Defence.

Since the year 2000, I have been defending the people of Shannon in the issue of the high TCE contamination of the groundwater. Since that time, the government has been seeking a long-term solution to this problem. Last Friday, the minister came to make an announcement at Shannon.

Could he tell the House all about this announcement?

Hon. David Pratt (Minister of National Defence, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, the Department of National Defence is very committed to the health and welfare of people living in the vicinity of Canadian Forces bases. We are also very much committed to the principle of sound environmental stewardship.

That is why, on behalf of the government, I announced $19 million for a new water system for the residents of Shannon.

I would like to pay tribute as well to the tireless efforts of the member for Portneuf, without whose efforts this would not have been possible.

This is a good news story. Both the Member and the Minister deserve plaudits.

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