It’s fitting as we approach Remembrance Day week that I have the opportunity to speak on third reading of Bill 65, the Honouring Our Veterans Act, which amends the Remembrance Week Act, 2016.

I’d like to acknowledge the support of this proposed legislation by my caucus colleagues, the members of the official opposition, independent members and those who appeared before the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs: the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 112 Whitby; Wounded Warriors Canada, including Steven Boychyn and Philip Ralph; Chris Leahy; from the town of Whitby, Deidre Newman; and Penelope Williams. Thank you all for your participation.

At its core, the nobility and the majesty of Remembrance Day can be found in the story of ordinary Ontarians who become extraordinary for the simplest ways and reasons. They loved their province and country so deeply, so profoundly, that they were willing to give their lives to keep it safe and free. The fallen we memorialize gave their last full measure of devotion, not so we might mourn them—though we do; not so that our province might honour their sacrifice—although it does. They gave their lives so that we might live ours; so that our sons and daughters might grow up to pursue their dreams; so that a wife might be able to live a long life, free and secure; so that a mother might raise her family in a province of peace and freedom.

Rightly, each year on Remembrance Day, we say thank you to all those who gave their lives for our country, for our freedom. It is when we pay tribute to the names of those etched on the cenotaphs in towns like Whitby, cities and hamlets situated in the region of Durham and other parts of Ontario, so generations who follow remember the price of their duty.

Speaker, our hearts also go out on Remembrance Day to the families left behind: young mothers who raise their children alone, and mothers and fathers who face perhaps life’s greatest heartbreak: being told that their son or daughter has died in combat. It’s also when we honour those who served in conflicts past and current and have returned home to towns, villages and cities across our great province, their service complete.

As Ontarians, we have never looked for conflict, but we always rise to the occasion when asked to defend our ideals. Speaker, now more than ever, I think it’s important to listen to veterans, to hear their stories, to remember.

I regularly visit Whitby’s long-term-care and retirement homes at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as Remembrance Day, after the main ceremony at the cenotaph in the centre of the town of Whitby. It provides me with an opportunity to meet with veterans and, in some situations, sit at their bedsides and listen to their stories. I’m inspired not only by the bravery they showed all these years ago but how that bravery continues to shine in their eyes.

While the nature of war has changed over time, the values that drive our brave men and women in uniform remain constant: honour, courage, selflessness. Those values live in the hearts of everyday heroes who risked everything for us, men and women who now rest forever. My Uncle James is one of them, killed in a battle in France during World War I. Speaker, in addition to his name, the words on James’s dog tag were also those of scripture: Greater love has no other than this, than to lay down your life for your friends.

It is a debt, Speaker, we can never fully repay, but it’s a debt that we’ll never stop trying to fully repay: by remaining a province worthy of their sacrifice, by living our own lives the way the fallen live theirs, a testament that greater love has no other than this, than to lay down your life for your friends.

Speaker, Penelope Williams, who served with the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserve’s 734 Communication Squadron and also as a member of the NATO Veterans Organization of Canada, region of Durham chapter, had this to say during her delegation to the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs:

“The act of remembrance by honouring those who died serving their country through a two-minute silence in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario is a powerful act of inclusion and recognition. The commitment of Canadians who died to preserve peace and security extends beyond our borders. Their efforts not only embody Canada’s commitment to international diplomacy, but they also demonstrate our commitment to humanity and justice.”

Our wars have won for us every hour we live in freedom, but our wars have taken from us the women and men and every hour of the lifetimes they had hoped to live. Again, that testament, that greater love, has no other than this, than to lay down your life for your friends.

God bless our veterans. God bless those who continue to serve. Lest we forget.

Today, I stand before you humbled and moved as we discuss Bill 65, the Honouring Our Veterans Act, 2023. It is a moment that provides space for reflection, that provides space for gratitude. It is a moment that calls upon us to pause and consider the immense sacrifices made by those who have donned the uniform in service of our country.

In the shadow of the rich heritage and the histories of this Legislature, we are afforded the privilege to debate, to legislate and to lead. Yet it is crucial that we never lose sight of the sacrifices that have paved the way for our democratic freedoms. This bill, the Honouring Our Veterans Act, 2023, serves as a reminder of our duty and our obligation to remember and honour those sacrifices. The bill proposes a simple yet profoundly meaningful opportunity for members of this chamber to observe two minutes of silence on the last sessional day before Remembrance Day each year.

In the province of Ontario, we are home to over 149,000 veterans, as reported by Veterans Affairs Canada as of 2021; 11,000 of those served in the Korean War or the great wars. This is an astounding provincial sacrifice, as it accounts for almost half of the living veterans who survived in those earlier wars are from Ontario. These brave men and women, who have served in various capacities, from World War I to peacekeeping missions around the globe, have stood on the front lines defending our values, protecting our freedoms and ensuring the safety and the security of our nation.

Remembrance Day and recognizing our veterans is not specific to gratitude from us to the ones who have sacrificed; it is about teaching those values of gratitude and history to our children and the next generation. It is a responsibility that is of utmost importance in our schools, where the next generation of leaders will come from. According to the 2021 census, over two million children are enrolled in elementary and secondary schools in Ontario. It is important that we provide spaces for reflection in these chambers so that we lead by example and that spaces of reflection in our schools can be seen as important and vital to honour the sacrifices made by our veterans, as they are to the leaders in our community.

The Royal Canadian Legion, a stalwart advocate for veterans and remembrance, has long championed the importance of teaching Remembrance Day in schools. It goes beyond passing our values; it exceeds that. It’s about instilling the importance of gratitude. But why is this so important? It is important because remembrance is the foundation of gratitude, and gratitude is the foundation of community. It is the bridge between the past and the present, a bridge that allows us to understand and measure the true cost of our freedoms and our values.

In Ontario, we are fortunate to have a rich military history, a history that is woven into the very fabric of our province. From the battlefields of Europe to peacekeeping missions in distant lands, Ontarians have always answered the call to serve. It is this history, this legacy of service and sacrifice, that we must pass on to our children. So as we approach Remembrance Day, let us make a collective commitment to honour our veterans not just with words but with action. Let us commit to teaching our children about the sacrifices that were made, about the true cost of freedom and about the importance of gratitude.

Speaker, Remembrance Day is a moment for us, as representatives for the people of Ontario, to stand in unity, to lower our eyes and to remember—to remember the bravery, to visualize the courage, to recognize the sacrifices of those who have served in wars and peacekeeping efforts around the globe.

It is with a heavy heart, particularly in reference to the unstable landscape of our current international conflicts, to reflect on the people who sacrificed for the privileges we have here today. Speaker, it speaks to the robustness and the importance to which we should interpret and provide a lens to all conflicts going forward, by ensuring we reflect on the conflicts we have previously engaged in.

It is about ensuring we understand that the sacrifice has had a human cost and it deserves much empathy. That is why I see this bill as more than a call for silence; it is a call for reflection, for gratitude and for action. It is a call to ensure that the stories of our veterans are told, that their sacrifices are remembered and that their legacy is always honoured.

Speaker, I have had the distinct honour of representing the vibrant community of St. Catharines in this Legislature for over two decades. In that time, I have witnessed first-hand the profound impact that our veterans have had on our community. From the cenotaphs that stand as silent sentinels of remembrance with the name of soldiers that are engraved, that will never go old, to the Royal Canadian Legions that serve as hubs of support and camaraderie, our community is rich with reminders of the sacrifices made by our veterans.

Speaker, in Niagara, it is our veterans that are leaders on our community boards and not-for-profits. They advocate for mental health support. They encourage our city to provide places for reprieve and support. I am so proud to call Shawn Bennett my friend, one of the leads at the Valhalla Project that provides support for veterans. I am proud to have added my voice to his and the chorus of veterans that created the labyrinth in our community—a safe place for peace of mind and for help with healing.

I am proud of veteran-owned Arrowhead Coffee Co. in St. Catharines, which has great coffee. All funds of coffee that is sold goes to our veterans. In mentioning this work, what I see is that our veterans make a difference and that their sacrifice never stops. They may no longer serve in the military, but they continue to work to make our communities that much better. They are often—and I mean this sincerely—the best part of all of us. They reflect Canadian values about hard work, inclusivity, sacrifice, community building and gratitude. These are the same values I see all throughout Ontario, particularly in St. Catharines.

Speaker, when honouring our veterans, we need to honour the work that organizations do on their behalf: the great work at the Royal Canadian Legion; the great work of Ontario Command—Pam Sweeny and her team; the great work that occurs across all of their volunteers and Legions; the great work of all the non-profit moves that dial forward, that both sides of the House need to meet to try and make life better, more accessible, more fair for our veterans.

Speaker, it needs to be said that any legislation that increases space for honouring our veterans must come with support for supporting the work of our veterans. If all we action is space for memorialization, without real and profound conversations on reviewing and supporting their work, then we are doing a disservice. That work is commendable, as I see it. It includes ending homelessness, emergency support, mental health, better housing, combatting senior isolation. I see it in my community, and I know we all we see it within all of our communities.

Legions are often the hub in our communities for this work, and while this legislation will allow for recognition to increase in this chamber, that is to only ensure that our local organizations, our local Legions, know they have our support to increase the recognition in our communities.

In St. Catharines, we are home to four active and vibrant Legions: downtown Branch 24, the Polish Branch 418, Port Dalhousie Branch 350 and, of course, my home Legion, Merritton Branch 138. These Legions are more than just social clubs; they are sanctuaries of support, pillars of our community, and guardians of our collective memory.

Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not provide an example of why St. Catharines does such an exemplary job in honouring our veterans. If you want to know where to go to in St. Catharines to honour our veterans, then it is important I highlight it for you now, as I stand here during the debate on legislation to honour our veterans.

The journey in my community is a similar one that I know is shared in all of our communities. While I know everyone in this chamber will take the time to participate in their own community tributes, in St. Catharines, I have attended the events that pay tribute to our veterans—the beautiful tributes that are set up by our Royal Canadian Legions in our community, the veterans and all of the volunteers. As we debate this bill to honour our veterans, one that I suspect will receive all-party support, I would like to invite all members of this chamber to come to my community in St. Catharines and participate and honour the sacrifices of our veterans together, on October 27, with the Poppy Kick Off Parade, a vibrant procession that will weave its way through the heart of our city, beginning at our lovely mall, the Pen Centre, at 11 a.m. This parade is not just a march; it is a powerful statement, a collective declaration of our unwavering support for our veterans. It marks the beginning of the poppy campaign, a time-honoured tradition that calls upon us to wear our poppies with pride, and a worthwhile opportunity to volunteer with our Legions.

As we move through Veterans’ Week, our city will be showered with poppies and volunteers—seniors and children coming together, handing them out at nearly every grocery store and every corner in our community—each one a silent yet powerful tribute to the sacrifices of our veterans. And on Remembrance Day, November 11, we will gather as a community to pay our respects and to honour our heroes.

Legion Branch 24 is always well attended—a parade and a wreath-laying ceremony, commencing at St. Catharines City Hall and culminating at the Memorial Park cenotaph at 6 St. Paul Street West, beginning at 10:15 a.m. This ceremony is a cornerstone of our Remembrance Day observances—a time for us to stand shoulder to shoulder in reflection and heartfelt gratitude. I would like to recognize the Lincoln and Welland Regiment members and band that always attend the parade on November 11.

Not far behind, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 138 will host their own parade and wreath-laying ceremony, starting at Merritton Legion Branch 138, 2 Chestnut Street East, and marching proudly to the cenotaph at 343 Merritt Street, beginning at 10:40 a.m. This parade is very personal for me as it is in my own community, Merritton, and it is a powerful call to all of us to honour the legacy of our veterans. The Branch 138 Legion happens to be where I am a proud member.

The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 350 will lead a parade in the north part of our city, and a wreath-laying ceremony, starting at 57 Lakeport Road and proceeding to the Port Dalhousie cenotaph at Main Street and Ann Street, on November 5 at 11 a.m. This ceremony, set against the backdrop of our beautiful city, is the moment for all of us to come together and to remember and to give thanks.

And let us not forget our Polish club, still a symbolic home to Legion Branch 418, which will host its own parade and wreath-laying ceremony on November 5 at 11:30 a.m., and the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, which will lay wreaths in honour of the fallen on November 5 at 10 a.m.

Throughout this sacred week, our city will also play host to a series of armistice and remembrance dinners, culminating in the Lincoln and Welland Regiment gala on November 4 at 6 p.m. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO will be an honorary guest. I am going to be honoured to be attending.

The Lincoln and Welland Regiment has a storied and valuable history that has impacted our community and the Niagara region as a whole. We all hold the memory of Warrant Officer Dennis Brown, who laid down his life in the ultimate sacrifice, and for his friends.

I know that the ceremonies and events that will unfold in St. Catharines over the upcoming days are not just obligations; they are opportunities for us to come together as a community, and it is similar across all our communities. It is why I see the value in improving the ways in which we can honour our veterans in the chamber, because we are and should strive to always be a reflection of the honour our communities work so hard to place on our veterans throughout Veterans’ Week.

Speaker, as we discuss this bill, we must also reflect on the diversity of our veterans community. Canada’s military history is rich and varied, and it’s important that we recognize and honour the contributions of all veterans, regardless of their background. In the First World War, more than 4,000 Indigenous people served in uniform, a contribution that we have recently honoured with the cadet award. In Niagara, we annually celebrate the contribution of Black Canadians and veterans, ensuring that their stories are told and their sacrifices are always remembered. In Ontario, we are home to a diversity of Indigenous peoples, each with their own unique traditions and histories of military service. The Ojibwe, Cree, Mohawk and many others have always answered the call to serve, often at a proportional level that exceeds many other communities.

It’s vital that we strive to be as inclusive as possible in our remembrance. Our veterans come from all walks of life, from every corner of this great, great province. In the spirit of reconciliation and remembrance, let us commit to ensuring that, through legislation that provides more space and time for reflection, we use it to reflect on the contributions of Indigenous veterans. Let us work together to create a legacy of recognition, respect and gratitude for all who have served.

I speak today not just as a member of provincial Parliament but as someone who has family members who have served this great country. Both my grandfathers were in the Canadian air force, and I give great pride to my grandparents. My father was in the Royal Canadian Navy. And while I know many of you in this chamber will be honouring family members on November 11, many of you know already I am the proud mother of a veteran. My son, Jonathan Lindal, petty officer first class in the Royal Canadian Navy, serves our country with dedication and bravery. I am proud to see his progress—very proud, actually. I recognize the sacrifices he has made, and not only himself but his family. My daughter-in-law, Sarah, and his two beautiful daughters, my granddaughters, Josephine and Hazel, have given up their father at times for six months.

Honouring our veterans—this comes from the heart—is not only about individual sacrifices; it’s about recognition of sacrifices that come from families, from communities, a reminder of how connected we all are.

While I stand to move policy forward in the Ontario Legislature today, legislation to honour veterans, it is a reminder about why it is important. It is a reminder about my family and families of others in this chamber. This is an important message to receive.

Speaker, it is my loyalty to family and my duty to my community that has always driven my personal commitment to our veterans, both retired and active, both older and younger, and those that have taken the ultimate sacrifice. It is this connection that contextualizes my world, provides context to my work and gives meaning to my efforts to honour and support our veterans.

In this Legislature, I have strived to close the gaps that might cause a veteran to fall through some cracks. Even before becoming an MPP, I successfully pushed for free parking for veterans in St. Catharines. I successfully pushed for free public transportation for veterans within St. Catharines, making life easier and offering recognition to the sacrifices of our veterans.

I will continue to work to ensure that our veterans have the support they need, that their sacrifices are recognized and their legacy is honoured within this House, whether through pushing for younger veterans to be included in emergency funding programs from the province or ensuring no veteran has their disability awards clawed back.

It is a reminder to all of us in this chamber that memorials and reflection and recognition are important to honour our veterans, but so are real actions—a provincial commitment to abolish all homelessness for veterans, ensure there are robust support systems, housing and health care and so much more.

In conclusion, I’d like to thank the member from Whitby for all of his continuing support of our Canadian military and service members, to our Legions across Ontario. I will be supporting the Honouring Our Veterans Act, 2023.

I know I’m out of time, but I’ve just got one little line to say. Let us remember them, let us honour them, let us teach gratitude, let us strive to provide more real support to our communities and let us ensure that their legacies live on for generations to come. I thank you for your time.

I will be splitting my time with the member from Kanata–Carleton. It’s a great honour to speak this afternoon in support of Bill 65, the Honouring Our Veterans Act. I want to thank very much the member for Whitby for bringing it forward.

The bill introduced by the member from Whitby is a simple one, yet it is an extraordinarily meaningful way to show our gratitude and respect for the sacrifices of our veterans. It is a way to acknowledge the debt we owe to those who fought for our freedom, for democracy and for human rights. It’s a way to honour their legacy and ensure that their stories are never forgotten.

Madam Speaker, generations of young men and women travelled abroad to defend our way of life and our allies from tyranny and oppression. In fact, more than 100,000 Canadians have made the ultimate sacrifice in armed conflict and many, many more have been wounded, many with injuries we can see and, as we learn more and more about trauma, many more with injuries we cannot.

We mustn’t forget the sacrifices of these brave men and women and we mustn’t also forget the sacrifices of their families. Families feel the pain of absence, the stress of the unknown, the potential for danger and, of course, they must manage the challenges of injuries and the anguish of death. By observing two minutes of silence in this House, we are joining millions of Canadians across the country who pause at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to pay tribute to our heroes.

As many of you know, the community of Orléans is affectionately referred to as CFB Orléans—Canadian Forces Base Orléans—because of the great number of residents who are current or past members of the Canadian Forces, as well as those dedicated public servants who work at the Department of National Defence. Our community is proud and honoured to be home to so many active reserve and retired members, many of whom have served in both peacekeeping and active conflicts overseas.

These men and women are our neighbours. They coach hockey and football. They volunteer at the resource centre or at their church, their temple or their mosque. They contribute to our vibrant community life in innumerable ways. For this, I and all Orléans residents are extraordinarily grateful.

In fact, it might be suggested that Orléans was founded by a veteran. In 1830, François Dupuis, who was widely believed to be one of the original if not the original settler of Orléans, was granted 100 acres by the crown in recognition of his contributions at the Battle of Châteauguay in the War of 1812. From that, he and his wife and his 10 children encouraged francophones from across the Dominion to settle in Orléans and establish what is now the vibrant bilingual community that I’m so proud to represent.

I would suggest, Madam Speaker, that most Orléans residents have a family member or close connection to the Canadian Forces. I personally would like to thank my neighbours Gord and Dot, both of whom served in the Canadian Forces and who are the most generous, thoughtful and friendly neighbours anyone can hope for. My family is very proud of my brother’s own service. He joined the reserves in college. He fought in Afghanistan, served in peacekeeping operations in the Middle East and has built a career in the Canadian Forces, like so many of our neighbours.

Madam Speaker, in recent years, east Ottawa, Orléans, and Cumberland have seen first-hand the professionalism of our reserve army. During the devastating flooding in 2019, reservists were deployed from across Ontario to help residents in Cumberland protect and save their homes from the devastating flooding of the Ottawa River.

As we approach Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week, I’m very proud to say that the community of Orléans is home to the second largest Remembrance Day ceremony in eastern Ontario, only outdone by the national ceremony which takes place at the National War Memorial. Thousands of Orléans residents attend the ceremony hosted by Royal Canadian Legion Branch 632. Our Legion in Orléans is a vibrant one, with dedicated volunteers and leaders. They play a critical role in supporting our veterans, and I can’t forget the incredible work that they do to distribute poppies in our community and ensure that our neighbours and friends never forget.

Madam Speaker, Remembrance Day is not just a date on the calendar. It is a solemn occasion to reflect on the costs of war. So let’s remember the courage and commitment of those who have served and continue to serve in uniform, and the grief and hardship of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice and that of their loved ones. It’s time to renew our pledge to say “never again” and that we’ll never forget.

It’s an honour today to rise and speak in support of Bill 65, the Honouring Our Veterans Act, and I want to express my deep gratitude to the member for Whitby for bringing this bill forward. It’s an appropriate bill to bring all members of this House together to honour our veterans, and I think it’s important for us as members of this Legislature to observe two minutes of silence to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice serving our country and make the opportunity available for members to give speeches.

I know one of the most memorable things I’ve had the honour of doing in this House as a party leader is to rise and be one of those members who have the opportunity to honour our veterans on this floor. I think it’s important that all members have that opportunity to show our deep gratitude to our veterans and to their families. So I want to thank the member from Whitby for providing us with that opportunity through this bill.

Remembrance Week and Remembrance Day are truly meaningful moments each and every year, and it’s always an honour to stand with our veterans, our first responders and their families to honour them on Remembrance Day as we pay tribute to the sacrifices they’ve made, both seen and unseen.

I’m particularly honoured to be representing the riding of Guelph, the home riding of Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, who was born on November 30, 1872. Last year, we had the honour of honouring the 150th birthday of John McCrae, and we’re blessed in Guelph to have our Royal Canadian Legion branch named in Lieutenant Colonel McCrae’s honour.

He volunteered in World War I at the age of 41 and was quoted as saying in a letter, “I am really rather afraid, but more afraid to stay at home with my conscience.” So, at 41, he went to Europe to fight for Canada, to fight for all Canadians.

In 1915, on May 3, he witnessed one of his best friends being killed in battle. He woke up in the next morning and he wrote this famous Canadian poem, and I’ve always had moments in the House to read bits and pieces of it, but I’ve never had enough time read it in full, I’m going to today in honour of Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Speaker, when I put my poppy on this Friday and go to the Legion for the annual raising of the poppy flag and the launch of the poppy campaign in Guelph and in communities across Ontario and around this country, I’ll of course be thinking of Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae and all veterans, and I ask all Ontarians to support and participate in the poppy campaigns because the money that our Legions raise through those campaigns are more than an offer of wearing something to honour veterans, but they provide funds to support veterans and their families.

As many of us know, fewer and fewer veterans are now members of our Royal Canadian Legion, so I also want to let my fellow Ontarians know that you don’t have to be a veteran to join the Legion. I’m not a veteran myself, but I’m a proud member of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 234. I encourage all Ontarians to join their local Legion and participate in the friendship and fellowship that our Legions offer their comrades.

I’m also a member of the Red Chevron Club Branch 4 in Guelph. There were four Red Chev clubs founded in the province of Ontario, in Toronto, Peterborough, London and Guelph. They were formed in World War I for veterans to have friendship and fellowship and a gathering place. I encourage all Ontarians to continue to support clubs like the Red Chev. Even though there aren’t many, we still have ours in Guelph.

I’m also going to think about my granddad, John Boyd. My middle name is John, named after my granddad. Sorry, I get emotional. He was a World War II vet. He was in the navy. He never wanted to talk about his service because it was too traumatic. I can’t imagine what he experienced, what he went through. I was lucky, because right before he passed away, I took the time, and he granted me the opportunity to tell his stories. So I recorded his stories, and I understood, in those moments when we talked, why he didn’t want to talk about it too much with his family, because he did not want them to know the horrors and the pain and the trauma he experienced. Even though my granddad was the gentlest, nicest person you would ever meet, he didn’t want people to know the anger he felt about what he saw and what he went through. And I think of so many veterans from so many wars and peacekeeping operations and military operations that have had that exact same experience.

So, when we remember and when we remain silent on the 11th day of the 11th month in the 11th hour, I’m going to be thinking and praying and offering gratitude to all the veterans and their families, because we also know their families made tremendous sacrifices. My grandma talked about the fact that she had never left home, and she went with my grandfather to his base for training and they got married right before he left. She’s like, “Jeez, how crazy is that? I’m going to marry this gentleman and he’s going to leave, and here I am stuck all alone in a little tiny apartment somewhere where I don’t even know anyone. But I wanted to be there for him. I wanted to be there to support his service. I wanted to be there to honour him.”

I know what kind of sacrifice families go through, and we as Ontarians and as Canadians benefit from that sacrifice. We live in the best province in the best country, the best place anywhere in the world we could live. We have democracy. We have freedom. We have the opportunity in this House to disagree and debate each other and have our moments. The reason we have those opportunities and the quality of life that we all have here is because people were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect us, to protect this place, to protect what we stand for and what we value.

I want to thank the member from Whitby for bringing this bill forward, and I hope all members in the House today and in years to come take the opportunity to tell their stories, to tell their families’ stories and express their gratitude for the veterans who have sacrificed so much so we could enjoy so much.

I want to thank the member for Whitby for bringing this forward to us to debate today, and it’s been to committee and such. This is a great opportunity to do something that is absolutely right for our veterans and those who serve.

I must say to my friend from Guelph, he’s not making my job any easier with his personal reflections because if I go that way, I’m going to have a little challenge myself. But I do want to say that Canadians and our record of standing for freedom and democracy and human rights and all of those things that we take for granted today, as the member from Guelph said—the freedom to differ in this chamber, the freedom to debate, the freedom to disagree, but also to be together on those issues where there is no disagreement.

I say, from Amiens to Afghanistan, from Passchendaele to peacekeeping, we have so much to be proud of for the men and women who have served in our armed forces. Particularly, we need to honour those who paid the ultimate price, made the ultimate sacrifice.

Quite frankly, Speaker, there is absolutely nothing we can do to repay them for what they have done, but this is an important and a significant gesture, to take a special time on the last sessional day before we recess for Remembrance Day to pay that tribute, to have that two minutes of silence and to then have representatives from each political party speak on behalf of their members to honour our veterans.

Of course, when I was a young boy, we were right on the main street of Barry’s Bay. The parades on Remembrance Day were something very special. We weren’t, at that time, dependent on current-serving members of the armed forces to come and populate the parade; we had enough veterans right at home. In fact, I remember that we actually had—I’ve been around long enough—veterans of the First World War marching in those parades. Of course, my father, who was a World War II veteran, was marching in those parades as well. He was, relatively speaking, a young man at that time.

So I’d see those parades, and then we’d have the wreath-laying ceremonies after that. After my dad passed away, I kind of lost maybe a little bit of a connection with that. He never, ever talked, as you said about your grandfather. But you did have that opportunity to sit down at some point. Maybe if my dad had lived longer, he may have softened to the point that he would have talked about it. But he didn’t, and I kind of lost maybe a little bit of a connection.

So how blessed am I to have been in a position where I could run for this office, run to be an MPP? Because during my first campaign and in the subsequent years since—I’m here 20 years now—I learned more about my father’s service in the Second World War certainly than I ever did from him, because I was graced with the opportunity to meet men who actually served with him overseas. Those were special moments, to sit down and talk to those other soldiers who served, particularly in the Glens, the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, of which my dad was a solider.

But of course, when I’m speaking to those veterans, they’re already in their eighties at that point. Most of them are gone now. But it gives you an insight maybe as to why your own father didn’t want to talk about it. As you said, maybe they just wanted to spare us from some of the most difficult parts. I know he did tell us one time that his best friend was killed next to him. That’s about all I ever got.

In those 20 years now, I’ve had that opportunity to rub shoulders, as my dad used to say, and interact with so many veterans. As the member for Kanata–Carleton said, there are fewer than 20,000 left—and, by the way, Roly Armitage, he’s a legend, not just for his military service, in other ways, as well. I was there, at the ceremony, when he was bestowed the Order of Ontario, so give him my best when you see him next. We’re all very proud of Roly Armitage.

But the other Roly Armitages of the world, those that I got to know in Renfrew county, and the veterans that didn’t serve with my dad, but, as you got to know and see and feel them, you understood how challenging and difficult it was—the life that they accepted, the life that they volunteered for.

If you look at the numbers, in the First World War, we sent almost 700,000—at that time, men—overseas. Our population was less than eight million. If you were of a certain age, on the high side, you weren’t going; if you were not above a certain age, on the low side, you weren’t going, and if you were required for essential industries—the country still had to run. So think of the sacrifice and the commitment of Canada at that time, out of that population, that almost 700,000 people volunteered to go for service.

So then you ask yourself, “What can we do to make it special?” Well, something that is happening today is what my friend from Whitby is doing. When I look at my Legions today—there’s eight of them in my riding and I’ve been at every single one of them for more than one remembrance service, because I’ve been around for a while—and you have that moment and those ceremonies, when you do reflect on the approximately—there’s no exact numbers—but the 65,000 that were killed in World War I and about 45,000 that were killed in World War II, and what that sacrifice has meant for us—not just the freedom to debate in this chamber, but the privilege of living in what is, I think in the minds of all of us, truly the greatest country in the world and the best country in the world to live in, and we owe so much of that to those people who came before us.

In the last couple of years, or few years—in some areas, maybe sooner—and post-pandemic, our Legions have had some struggles. They were really, really, really hurting through the pandemic. And, post-pandemic, it’s been harder to regenerate that atmosphere, and to bring back the people to the Legion.

So I certainly want to encourage everyone to get out there and support their Legions. They’re such a vital part—and they are, specifically, that group whose main focus is our veterans and their families, yet they are so involved in other things in our communities, as well.

But a few years ago, in Barry’s Bay, where I come from, they started the banner program. It had been in other communities prior to that, but over the last few years, it has just grown and grown and grown. And I think what it shows is that there’s a resurgence of what people are—so when we had our tours in Afghanistan, it was hard not to focus on our military, hard not to focus on what our military was doing and how we could help them and support them. But, with the end of our tours in Afghanistan, it gets off the front burner as well.

I think what’s happening in our Legions now is a resurgence of that kind of feeling that is so important for us, as individuals, to take that opportunity to thank those who are left and those who are the new veterans of today. Remember that it is not just the veterans that have served years ago, it is also the veterans that are serving today, and we have to be grateful for the fact that they are standing up and ready, if called upon.

This banner program that just continues to expand—this year, it also was adopted by the Legion in Eganville. And I brought a picture of the member for Niagara Centre’s grandfather, who actually is on the banners in Eganville, because on his mother’s side—I don’t know all the connections; I haven’t had a chance to have a deep discussion, but Mr. Burch and his family have roots in the Eganville area. I guess what I’m saying about that, Speaker, is that—and I read the transcripts from the committee, and I saw the impact that it has had on the member for St. Catharines and the member for Hamilton West–Ancaster–Dundas. We hear about your commitment, member for Kanata–Carleton—who has served in a dignified way herself in the armed forces. I don’t think there’s anybody in this chamber, or a lot of us, that don’t have some kind of connection with somebody who has served. That’s why I think it means so much, and we are so fortunate to be able to stand here and talk about this today.

So I’m looking forward to Thursday, whatever date that is, before we leave, the 2nd of November—it just clicked. On the 2nd of November, we will hopefully have royal assent, this bill will be through, we will be able to see it through to fruition on November 2 and bring that honour to the veterans that they so rightly deserve. It is the least we can do. Lest we forget.

I’m honoured to be able to stand in this place, in the Ontario Legislature, and to be able to honour our veterans, as we do each and every year, and, now, to have another opportunity I think just makes it that much greater.

I wanted to take this time to really bring the voices of some of my local veterans and folks who work with veterans in my community to the legislative floor today because, as we know, there are definitely serious concerns with veterans’ time and life after war, after serving, the struggles they face, the lack of services that are available to them and the thoughts and ideas that they think would benefit the communities. These ones specifically I know are big volunteers in the community that spend a lot of time with other veterans that work with many organizations locally to support veterans. So, today, I would like to raise their voices and thank them for allowing me the privilege and honour of sharing their voices with all of you today.

Sean states that more municipalities police forces need to adopt the Military Veterans Wellness Program that was started by Aaron Dale of the Toronto Police Service—he said that was definitely something that would help veterans within the police force—and help veterans and families that are transitioning from service to securing a family doctor because there is no road for them to be able to get a family doctor.

We know currently in the province of Ontario that thousands of people are going without a family doctor and so they are asking for a streamline to a family doctor. They need the family doctor to be able to fill out VAC paperwork that requires doctors’ reports and also to get into specific clinics, like the operational stress injury clinics in London or in Toronto. They need family doctors to be able to access those services to help them on their journey to wellness after seeing some of the most horrific situations and scenarios that anyone could possibly imagine. Provincial mental health services have to be a priority for veterans and their families, as well as housing.

Thank you, Sean, for sending me that that.

Lino DiJulio is the founder of the Ruck to Remember. The Ruck to Remember travels across the province to raise awareness and raise funds for other veterans’ groups, and these were his thoughts:

“MAID services available for veterans with only mental health diagnosis is really being received poorly and veterans are concerned that this will result in a spike in veteran suicide that will go unreported. From experience, it’s hard enough counselling a friend that is seriously considering suicide. This would make it even more difficult.”

Another one was: “There’s a lot of good results emerging from PTSD treatment using ketamine. If we’re looking for alternative ways to treat mental health, particularly in veterans and first responders, spending some time and resources in this direction is likely a winning solution.”

Third: “We need to find a way to proactively identify veterans on the streets. Whether that means outreach run by VAC”—which of course is Veterans Affairs—“in combination with calling shelters or some other method. Then get those people in touch with the many resources available and off the streets ASAP. It’s an embarrassment that we have people that served that will be watching us celebrate Remembrance Day from their home because their home is an alley with a good view of the cenotaph.”

The last one he shared with me: “Recognizing the Military Veterans Wellness Program launched by the Toronto police”—we also heard from Sean that this would be a good one. It’s a “tool that was conceived by two police officers (Aaron Dale and Jeremy Brown) that also served in the CAF, that will help equip police services around the country to deal with vets in crisis.” Some great stuff there—thank you, Lino.

Matt shared his story. He says that he goes and he does his best to speak to schools, and this is his quote: “One year, I spoke to St. Thomas More high school students in Hamilton. I shared how I wasn’t from a military family, so for my whole life I found myself going through the motions of Remembrance Day. Remembrance Day 2008, I was in Afghanistan and we had been called out to disarm a roadside bomb in downtown Kandahar city. When we got back, we were told to clean up and get ready for the camp’s Remembrance Day ceremony. I had complained, saying, wasn’t being in war enough? That’s when my mentor, Corporal Tom Hamilton, reminded me I’m new in the army, but some day this day will mean a lot more to me.

“December 13, 2008, we were called out to disarm another roadside bomb. Unfortunately, this morning, one of our vehicles would hit a roadside bomb. When I had gotten out of my vehicle to go to work on the injured, I came to see one of the bodies was Corporal Tom Hamilton, and he was deceased.

“I finished my speech with the students at St. Thomas More saying that if they were someone going through the motions of Remembrance Day, they now had a fallen soldier they can think of to remember.”

Thank you, Matt, for sharing that with us.

This is from Phil Howie. Phil is the president of the Green Knights motorcycle chapter number 71 in Hamilton. These guys are literally a motorcycle club. They’re veterans, and they wear green. They’ve chosen green because green represented the old green-style uniform that our services had worn in the past. They do exemplary work throughout the community. They’re chapter number 71. They were formed in 2018. They’re a not-for-profit. They’re growing in a positive way with members and supporters. They support multiple charities and give big donations to veterans and first responders, but they also support causes for homelessness, autism, bullying and brain cancer. They have 20 members and many chapters around the world. Some of the groups that they support are Helping Heroes Heal; Corporal4Life; Cracked Armour; Mad Hatter; Ruck for the Homeless; Ruck 2 Remember; Bush Wookie; woundedwarriors.ca; Veterans and Everyday Heroes; Tactical Canuck Battle Group; Chedder Charlie; Boots on the Ground; and CannaConnect. Those are some of the amazing organizations locally that the Green Knights support and fundraise for on a regular basis.

I’ve had the opportunity to meet many of these local veterans and many more through the process of working on a Homes for Heroes project in the city of Hamilton. I spoke to the previous minister of housing, and he was very willing to have that program come to Hamilton due to the high numbers of homeless veterans on our community streets. Now, this was last year, and at that time—I think the numbers were even a little old at that time—we had 97 identified veterans just in Hamilton alone, and in the Hamilton surrounding area, we had over 300. You heard from Lino that having a program to actually track more veterans was really important, but the Homes for Heroes project would be able to serve that need.

Homes for Heroes began in Alberta, in Calgary. We have a Homes for Heroes in Kingston that is new, and I’m not sure how far it is in. I have to get an update on that because I’m quite excited about it. We really, truly need that Homes for Heroes in Hamilton. The unfortunate part is that we need land. We need an acre of land to be able to fit that need. There was a property that I thought was a perfect fit; it was ministry-zoned and, I believe, was in the middle of a purchase for long-term care, but it’s 9.3 hectares of land—