Evidence of meeting #23 for Veterans Affairs in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was medal.
A recording is available from Parliament.
4:25 p.m.
Liberal
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Thank you, Madam Chair.
I want to thank the Legion for coming forward today. I have to confess that originally my position on this legislation wasn't arrived at, and I have found this a very interesting conversation today.
To begin with, I think we need to clarify a few things. Mr. Schellenberger was the chair of the culture and heritage committee, but this has been his bill that's been coming through this process the entire time. I think it is incumbent upon all of us to thank Mr. Schellenberger for the passion and commitment he's had for educating Canadians on this. I know for myself I've learned quite a bit when it comes to medals and insignias.
I guess my comment to Mr. White is that I'm a little confused with your presentation today. Are you against this bill because it is your right as a veteran and veterans have the right to do as they want with their medals? Is the Legion against this bill because of that, or does the Legion recommend a whole bunch of changes that should be made to this bill?
4:25 p.m.
Dominion Secretary, Dominion Command, Royal Canadian Legion
Primarily the Legion is against this bill because it infringes on the rights of a veteran to determine how his medals will go forward.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
4:25 p.m.
Dominion Secretary, Dominion Command, Royal Canadian Legion
That is the basic Legion position.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
It's not that you would be interested in a whole bunch of changes.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
This bill, though, does allow veterans to do what they want with their medals as long as they are not going to a non-resident, is that correct?
4:25 p.m.
Dominion Secretary, Dominion Command, Royal Canadian Legion
Suppose I have a medal of significance. I can give it to my son, and if he moves out of the country he can do whatever he wants with that medal outside the country.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
Yes, but that wasn't my question. My question was that this bill allows you to do whatever you want with your medals, and it allows my grandfather to do whatever he wants with his medals, as long as it's to a resident, as long as it's not to a non-resident. Correct?
I have it right here. It says, “No person shall transfer an insignia of cultural significance to a non-resident unless....“ And then it gives you a whole process. It's basically saying that Canadians should have first right of refusal on any medals that are sold to a non-resident. Is that...? That's correct.
4:25 p.m.
Dominion Secretary, Dominion Command, Royal Canadian Legion
There are all sorts of implications there. What happens if I'm married to a foreigner and say I will my medals to her family? They live outside of the country. Maybe they're British and they have as much affinity and knowledge of heritage of what this is--
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
And I'm not disagreeing with that. But my point is simply that the bill doesn't prohibit you from doing that.
4:25 p.m.
Dominion Secretary, Dominion Command, Royal Canadian Legion
But it doesn't enable me to do it either.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
It allows you to continue to do it as long as you give Canadians first right of refusal to any...if you decide to give it to a non-resident.
4:25 p.m.
Dominion Secretary, Dominion Command, Royal Canadian Legion
What happens if my wife's family are non-residents of Canada and they are the only people I could will the medals to?
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
That's a legitimate concern, sir, but that is a concern that can be addressed through amendments. It's not a reason to be against the bill outright. Correct?
4:25 p.m.
Dominion Secretary, Dominion Command, Royal Canadian Legion
It still infringes on my right to determine where my medals go. Correct.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
So then I can.... I don't want to put words in your mouth, but I can legitimately summarize that the Legion's position is that Canadians, as in the Canadian populace, shouldn't have first right of refusal on Canadian medals.
4:25 p.m.
Dominion Secretary, Dominion Command, Royal Canadian Legion
The Legion's position is that Canadian veterans should have their own right to determine how their medals are moved forward. That's the Legion's position.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
October 19th, 2010 / 4:25 p.m.
Service Bureau Director, Dominion Command, Royal Canadian Legion
And also, you should be fair in continuing to read clause 3. It says the option that can be exercised is that you have to make an offer to the Canadian War Museum, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, or the Department of Canadian Heritage. These are the only three organizations you can offer to transfer your medals to, other than to, as you pointed out, a non-resident.
4:25 p.m.
Conservative
Brian Storseth Conservative Westlock—St. Paul, AB
What it says is that you have to make an offer to them. If they don't respond within 120 days, you can do whatever you want with the medal.
