Bill C-333

Peacetime Service and Sacrifice Memorial Day Act

An Act respecting a national day of remembrance to honour Canadian Armed Forces members who have lost their lives in peacetime in Canada

This enactment designates the 22nd day of October, in each year, as “Peacetime Service and Sacrifice Memorial Day”.

Recognizing Canadians in Uniform

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize veterans, a community I hold in very high regard.

At the end of summer, I participated in the third annual Vancouver Island Run for Homeless Veterans, for the men and women who faithfully served our country in uniform and now find themselves on the street.

Last week, the annual vigil was held at the Cobble Hill cenotaph to honour Corporal Nathan Cirillo and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and all those who have lost their lives on Canadian soil in non-combat situations. I introduced Bill C-333 to formally recognize October 22 as peacetime service and sacrifice memorial day in their memory. I urge the government to adopt this legislation.

Veterans Week will commence next week. We will honour Indigenous Veterans Day on November 8. I will be joining my community for Remembrance Day at the Duncan cenotaph, with representatives laying wreaths for me at the other four ceremonies in my riding.

As we wear our poppies in honour of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, let us also commit to standing with those who remain.

Peacetime Service and Sacrifice Memorial Day Act

[Alistair MacGregor, NDP, Cowichan—Malahat—Langford, BC]

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-333, An Act respecting a national day of remembrance to honour Canadian Armed Forces members who have lost their lives in peacetime in Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to introduce my private member's bill, the peacetime service and sacrifice memorial day act. I would like to acknowledge and thank the member for Courtenay—Alberni for seconding the bill.

I have always had incredible admiration and respect for the men and women who serve and have served our country in the Canadian Armed Forces. In addition to Remembrance Day, October 22 has taken on significant importance for the veterans community in my riding, particularly for those who are members of Malahat Legion Branch 134.

This day is recognized every year in my riding of Cowichan—Malahat—Langford in honour of Corporal Nathan Cirillo and for the more than 2,400 Canadian Armed Forces members who have lost their lives on Canadian soil during peacetime. Since 2013, more than 54 members of the CAF have died as a result of PTSD alone, and yesterday was the three-year anniversary of the crash that killed Snowbirds Captain Jenn Casey in Kamloops. The bill I am introducing today would formally recognized October 22 as peacetime service and sacrifice memorial day in their memory.

In closing, I want to recognize Bob Collins as the driving force behind this bill and thank him for his continuous efforts to give this day formal recognition and for standing guard at the cenotaph in Cobble Hill in remembrance.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)