Veterans Affairs Committee on Feb. 7th, 2008

[The Clerk]

Yes.

Actually, we fly commercially back from Calgary to Ottawa afterwards.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

If you can stay at the Crown Isle, it's a nice place, with a beautiful golf course. I actually shot a 90 on that golf course.

[A voice]

For nine?

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

I did not cheat. I had four witnesses. They saw it, and I didn't even keep the score. It was great.

[Ken Epp, Conservative, Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB]

How did you do on the second hole?

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I'm sorry, there is a bit of a logistical issue here.

From what I understand, we had initially wanted to stay on Comox, the base itself. I understand the base commander is somewhat resistant on that issue. I understand it's a rare thing, and they may feel their accommodations are not up to snuff.

Are the accommodations for the members of Parliament up in the air, then?

Okay, we've reserved at the Crown Isle. It's up to the committee to decide. They're reserved.

Sir, I'm sure, if you lobby your colleagues, you'll get your way. I don't doubt this.

Are there any other questions, comments, or thoughts?

Now we go to Mrs. Hinton.

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

Thanks very much, Mr. Chairman.

I mentioned earlier Guy Gruwez. We have new members on this committee and we have some substitutes. If you'd just indulge me for a minute, I can give you a bit of background on this gentleman.

Mr. Gruwez is the honorary chair of the Last Post Association in Belgium, and he served as the chair for 40 years.

For almost 80 years, members of the Last Post Association have been responsible for what I would have to call a remarkable ceremony that honours those Canadians who fought and died in Belgium in the First World War. Every night at sunset, without fail, before hundreds of local citizens and tourists, members of the association play the Last Post at the Menin Gate Memorial.

Listed on the memorial are the names of 7,000 Canadians who gave their lives in the Great War and who have no known grave. That's what this is all about.

If you're not familiar with the Menin Gate and ever have an opportunity as an individual or a member of a committee to visit it, I would strongly suggest that you do. The time I was there.... There's a huge open dome at the top of this facility, and literally thousands of poppies floated down during the Last Post. I'm just talking about it now and every hair on the back of my neck is standing up.

So if you ever get an opportunity and you want to see how grateful other countries are for Canadians, the brave men and women who served in the war, that's something you'll never forget.

Thank you for that indulgence.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

I think it was a useful indulgence.

Mr. Epp sent me a note asking whether we should be in camera for this.

Mr. Epp, I'll just let you know in front of the committee that I almost never go in camera for anything. I figure, what's the point?

[Ken Epp, Conservative, Edmonton—Sherwood Park, AB]

Some committees I have attended do that when they have internal committee business like this.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

Understood.

I think the only time we've ever done that was for national security reasons.

Mr. Stoffer, your question toward the end about psychologists who had experience reminds me of a scene out of a Rodney Dangerfield film where Sam Kinison, who's a comedian, is playing a Vietnam veteran professor at a university. The young student asks him a question about Vietnam, and this guy jumps back and says, “Were you in Vietnam? What you were doing there?”, etc. The kid freaks out and says no, and then he says “All right”. Anyhow, it reminded me of the Sam Kinison role.

[Peter Stoffer, NDP, Sackville—Eastern Shore, NS]

I did like her answer. You don't necessarily have to be embedded to be able to assist someone who's had a traumatic experience. I thought that was a good answer.

[The Chair, Conservative, Rob Anders]

That's a very fair answer.

Thank you. The meeting is adjourned.