Canadian Heritage committee  Quite frankly, it is the cornerstone of the ceremonies, and in the funeral business it is placed on the casket, when it comes to other presentations in the colour party of a marching group, if you will, or it is front and centre at a dignitary's arrival or departure. I think th

Canadian Heritage committee  Who would produce such a document?

Canadian Heritage committee  It would make sense that it would come under the office of the chief of protocol. However, it seems that the focus of that particular office is on international visits and those types of things. It probably should be under the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Canadian Heritage committee  May I make a further point? The ceremony is part of it. The funeral planning guide in Toronto is about this thick, and it starts the moment of the death. It involves the transportation of everybody there. For Sergeant Ryan Russell, for example, 14,000 police officers attended his

Canadian Heritage committee  There may be some variation.

Canadian Heritage committee  If I may briefly add to that, I see them being developed in the form of a framework, initially, where there are commonalities of the types of incidents we're talking about. You're going to have VIPs. You're going to have to look after the families, the seating arrangements, guard

Canadian Heritage committee  We definitely need diversity. One of the largest things facing us right now is that the vast majority of Canadians are opting for cremation.

Canadian Heritage committee  I could briefly speak to that. Quite frankly, that is the reason we're here and it is the reason we've been formed. It is by individual organization initiative and trying to maintain our history and our traditions of the past, because it is not codified anywhere. I may say the Ca

Canadian Heritage committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Madam Clerk, committee members, ladies and gentlemen, I feel privileged to be here today, and I thank the committee for inviting me to speak to this important issue. I apologize, but I am not proficient enough to give my presentation in French. I would