Veterans Affairs Committee on Sept. 25th, 2006

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Do you wish to have feedback from the committee on the letter?

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Inasmuch as we have a few minutes, if the others will indulge me, I'll read it out.

This is a letter drafted by Rob, separately addressed to each of the parents. The information has been given to Rob's office. The letter says this:

On behalf of the Members of Parliament who make up the Veterans Affairs Committee we want to offer you our sincere condolences. We were extremely saddened to hear the news of your son's passing. His loyalty and dedication to his country will always be treasured and he leaves a legacy which will never be forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you mourn your loss and celebrate Glen's

--or David's, as the case would be--

remarkable life.

The letter is signed by Rob Anders, the chair.

I don't think it needs to be embellished, Rob. I think it's straight and to the point. I'm fine with it. I will keep this copy, but if you would have your office finalize that and get me the original, I will deliver those letters to the families at the appropriate time.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Fair enough.

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

I thank you and the committee for your support of our two lost soldiers in my riding.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Mr. Perron.

[Gilles-A. Perron, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Do you have the French version?

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

Yes. I am going to read it, if you like.

On behalf of the members of Parliament who make up the veterans affairs committee, we want to offer you our most sincere condolences. We were extremely saddened to hear the news of your son's (Glen or David) passing. His loyalty and dedication to his country will always be treasured and never forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers are with you as you mourn your loss and celebrate XXX's remarkable life.

What do you think?

[Gilles-A. Perron, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

Perfect. It is very well written.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

That's good to know.

We also have the letters for the president and the immediate past president of the Royal Canadian Legion. I'll read the one from the immediate past president first so we'll be in chronological order. You will all be receiving this. It's to Mrs. Mary Ann Burdett:

Dear Mrs. Burdett:

On behalf of the Veterans Affairs Committee, I would like to take this opportunity to commend you on all of your hard work and dedication as Dominion Immediate Past President of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Your contribution on behalf of Canadian Veterans was and continues to be greatly appreciated. It is our understanding you have held all but two Legion Branch offices and were the first woman in the Royal Canadian Legion to hold the office of Dominion President; these are accomplishments to be extremely proud of.

We thank you again for all you've done on behalf of Canadian Veterans.

Sincerely,

Rob Anders

Chair

Veteran's Affairs Committee

We have the en français version as well. I hope my colleagues from the Bloc have those. Forgive me, but I won't butcher the language by trying to read it. You can read it in front of you.

Yes, Mr. St. Denis.

[Brent St. Denis, Liberal, Algoma—Manitoulin—Kapuskasing, ON]

I'm sorry to be a stickler on the grammar, but I don't think we should use the contraction you have at the end of the letter to Ms. Burdett. On the bottom line, it might say: “We thank you again for all you have done on behalf of Canadian Veterans.”

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

That's fine. Fair enough.

[Betty Hinton, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Now you're going to hear from the second grammar teacher. I agree with what Mr. St. Denis said, but I would also suggest you might want to consider saying “On behalf of the Veterans Affairs Committee, we would like to take this opportunity...”.

I have no problem whatsoever with your being listed as the signatory, but you might want to list the rest of the members. That would also apply to the letter that's going to the families of the soldiers.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I think that's a grand idea. Do other members of the committee feel copacetic with that?

I don't see any opposition. That's great, and I appreciate both those comments.

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

Mr. Chairman, I'm starting to think on a more macro basis here. I attended the funeral of Mark Anthony Graham two weeks ago and was thinking I would like to see a letter like this sent to his parents as well. That led me to think about others who will not be receiving a letter, and that concerns me. Although we're initiating something where we want to communicate heartfelt feelings, the corollary is that there will be some who have not received these feelings from the veterans affairs committee. I thought I'd put that out there for discussion. We've had a number of fallen soldiers.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I'll take the opportunity to respond to that. I think it would be nice if we could send it out to as many as we could. It comes down to maybe a logistical issue. I don't know if we have an easy way for the committee to know.

Mrs. Hinton.

[Betty Hinton, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

I don't think it would be that difficult. I agree with the sentiment that was expressed. Each and every one of these soldiers laid their life down for a greater cause and each family deserves to have the same sort of recognition. Unfortunately, we were gone for that entire summer, and this is something that was simply not raised until Mr. St. Denis raised it and gave us that opportunity.

I would have no problem with that and I don't think there would be that much difficulty getting the names and addresses of the parents. I'm sure that the defence ministry could supply us with that.

[David Sweet, Conservative, Ancaster—Dundas—Flamborough—Westdale, ON]

We already started a partial list before, and they simply asked the parents if they could release the address. We shouldn't have an issue.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I'm fine with that.

Mr. Rota.

[Anthony Rota, Liberal, Nipissing—Timiskaming, ON]

I would have no problem with it if it is from when we were in operation. I think going retroactive doesn't sit well. Going from now on, or from whenever we started sitting, say, in September, or whenever we decide to do it, I would have no problem with that whatsoever.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Let me pose that question to the committee.

Do people wish it to carry forward from this date, or to carry forward from September?

Mr. Valley.

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

This committee, for the first time, is stand-alone from when we first sat. Is that not correct?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

We were stand-alone right from the beginning of the session.

[Roger Valley, Liberal, Kenora, ON]

That's what I meant. Since our last election, that's what we're talking about. Are we talking about from when we first sat in April? That's our first position.

[Some hon. members]

Yes

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

So now the question is whether or not it's April or today. Is that fair?