Bren Keetch has a few adversaries in his quest to bring about what he feels is fair compensation for radiation-exposed Canadian military personnel. Adversaries include the Canadian government (several governments, actually), several Defense Ministries... and the clock because the longer the issue drags on – the fewer surviving veterans remain.

Keetch was part of a group of soldiers dispatched to clean up a flooded nuclear reactor in Chalk River Ontario in 1958. He and his comrades were poorly outfitted and prepared for the task, and wound up being exposed to very dangerous levels of atomic contamination.

The latest inkling of a settlement came in the form of an offer of about $20,000 to be paid out to the personnel or their heirs. This was in the last year, and would have supposedly not negated the opportunity of the ex-service personnel to take other measures. Keetch said there has been no bill passed for the payment, and he feels the subject was little more than election propaganda on the part of the government.

Much more is known today of the perils of radiation, enough that it comes as little surprise to hear from men like Bren Keetch of the large number of colleagues who have died or become ill over the years since the incident.

Keetch is campaigning on behalf of himself and all Canadians who were present, either at the site of a nuclear accident or test.

In mid-November he took his one-man protest to Ottawa where he was unsuccessful in an attempt to meet with Defense Minister Peter McKay. He did, however, gain an audience with NDP MP for Sackville, NS, Peter Stoffer in which he was able to air some of his concerns.

“He seemed like a very determined fellow on this regard,” said Stouffer by phone from Halifax on November 28. “What happened at Chalk River was very unfortunate, and I admire his tenacity in making sure that any of those men and women who are left, or their survivors, are treated properly.”

Stoffer gave Keetch credit for making the effort of coming to Ottawa at his own expense and advancing the cause of the veterans.

He answered a couple of questions on the scope of what is being fought for.

“The number of the military who participated in cleaning up Chalk River’s 1958 nuclear reactor melt down is questionable,” said Keetch, “because of the secrecy surrounding all nuclear development/tests and making munitions. My group, 1st Canadian Guards Depot, numbered around 200. Other  military persons numbered many more hundreds.  As for how many vets were supposed to have gotten the payments, the federal government has kept that a secret from us.  However, it has been my experience that Atomic Energy Canada Limited (AECL) has records indicating who was there.”

Keetch continued, “Unfortunately, most of the clean-up crew are either dead, suffering acute ill-health or out of contact with the real world. My plan is to make application, under Canada’s Freedom Of Information Act,  naming AECL as the holder of all information regarding the May 1958 incident. We do know that the U.S.A. and Britain gave (each of) their atomic veterans $75,000.00.”

The advocate from Sooke said he had a good response from security and from public passersby on Parliament Hill. Many, he said, had been unaware of the predicament faced by this particular type of “veteran.”

While declining to comment on his recent personal conversations with Keetch, local MP Dr. Keith Martin said he supports the efforts of Keetch and those like him.

“I think it’s fabulous... those who are working to get compensation for the atomic vets. It’s wonderful. They deserve a payment.”

Requests for comment from the Department of National Defense were unsuccessful as of press time.