"Agent Orange Used Widely in Ontario Over Decades, Minister Says"

"It’s clear that Agent Orange was 'very widely used' in Ontario for more than three decades and may have been used in other provinces and territories, the Ontario government said Monday.

A provincial probe into the chemical mixture that has been linked to certain types of cancer is now looking at its use by the provincial utility, municipalities and even farmers, said Natural Resources Minister Linda Jeffrey.

The herbicide 2,4,5-T – a dioxin-laced component of Agent Orange – wasn’t banned by the federal government until 1985, which means it was widely used in Ontario, she said."

Maria Babbage reports for Reuters February 28, 2011.