Veterans Affairs Committee on Oct. 4th, 2011

[Brian Storseth, Conservative, Westlock—St. Paul, AB]

One of the things this committee is going to be debating and struggling with over the next couple of weeks is going to be commemoration. You've obviously put a lot of thought into this. What's your view on connecting with the younger generation through social media? What would you like to see?

[Don Meredith]

Absolutely.

I'm so glad you raised that. Our young people are on Facebook 24/7. I have two teenagers, and they're on it. It's important that we tap into social media. That is the medium of the day and it's a way to get our message out, to talk about when a wreath has been laid, why it's been laid, and we can tweet that. You engage the young people right across this country. Our world has shrunk because of technology, so it's important.

It puts...not only from this conference that I attended with Senator Oliver and others...the fact that there are individuals.... There's a crossover with our major partner, the United States, and the rich history that exists with the British Loyalists and so forth who came across and served in World War I and defended Canada, and the War of 1812, and so forth. So you tie these museums together and you talk about the recognition and the contributions of these individuals in real time. It's important that we tap into that to connect to our young people. It would inspire them--wow, they did this; this was the first black pilot; this was the first Korean pilot. Or there's Jeremiah Jones, who fought hard for Canada in Vimy Ridge. Individuals like those will inspire hope in these young people.

A lot of the young people across the country feel marginalized and inadequate. By recognizing those heroes you will inspire them to become something and contribute to this country. I think it's important that we use media as a way to do that.

[Brian Storseth, Conservative, Westlock—St. Paul, AB]

How much time do I have, Mr. Chair?

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

You have about 30 seconds.

[Brian Storseth, Conservative, Westlock—St. Paul, AB]

I'll be quick, then.

[Don Meredith]

I'll try not to be such a preacher.

[Brian Storseth, Conservative, Westlock—St. Paul, AB]

Each military unit preserves its own history. That's something that you may want to look at as well, to make sure that the black soldiers are recognized within those unit histories. It's something that they all hold very near and dear to their hearts.

[Don Meredith]

That's a valid point.

The air force recognizes their captains and so forth. In my research.... There are a couple of names, which fail me right now, in terms of individuals who were the first ones. Again, I must raise the point that our military has come a long way in that they have allowed various individuals now to join. Before, blacks weren't allowed to even serve side-by-side while they were making contributions. Some of them lied just to serve their country. In reading this I said, wow, here is dedication, where somebody wants to put their life on the line and they would hide their age to make sure they serve. They found some way, whether it was just to clean the yard or clean a piece of equipment, to dedicate their lives to the service of the armed forces.

We definitely need to continue to make this recognition of these individuals. It's important for our youth going forward.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Thank you very much, Senator.

We'll now go to Ms. Papillon, for four minutes.

[Annick Papillon, NDP, Québec, QC]

First of all, thank you very much for having come today.

[Don Meredith]

I only speak a little French, madam.

[Annick Papillon, NDP, Québec, QC]

I hope the translation works properly.

I think we do need to increase awareness of this. This history is not well known at all. Given the situation, perhaps we should create something or find a way to really promote this more.

Do you have examples to share with us? Has anything been done in this area in the United States, for example, that could serve as an inspiration and that could allow us to continue this discussion?

[Don Meredith]

Thanks so much for that question.

One of the things in terms of Washington, D.C.--I'm doing some more research on this and I will be able to come back with quantitative data--is that they have started to recognize, through their monuments, the contributions. Museums are going up. One gentleman spoke to me at the conference. They're starting to recognize the contributions that blacks have made to the American armed forces, and it is widespread. Obviously, we're talking about 40 million to 45 million blacks across the United States, so it's in terms of the autonomy they have to make sure that these things actually get recognized.

In Philadelphia, one of the museum contributions that individuals made was a home that one of the soldiers lived in. There was real estate development and they wanted to rip down a particular house. The community fought against it, because the house reminded them of the individual who served in the war. So that was preserved as history. There are various examples, and my office can certainly come back to you on that with respect to specific locations. Those are the two that I can cite right now.

Thank you.

[Annick Papillon, NDP, Québec, QC]

Thank you.

[Don Meredith]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Is there anybody else? You have a couple of minutes left if anybody....

[Réjean Genest, NDP, Shefford, QC]

Thank you for your presentation.

In Quebec, black people have historically been concentrated in the Montreal region. However, given the new form of immigration, instead of staying in ghettos in Montreal or elsewhere, the black community is increasingly settling in the province's towns. In my riding, there is a municipality where a major black community is becoming increasingly integrated, and I think that is good.

Regarding this black community, what approach should we take with associations to show them that black people in Canada are not just those who arrive with current immigration, but rather that they are part of our history? Do you have ideas to show youth and people who come from across the Atlantic or South America that they too have a history in their new country? Do you have an idea as to how to integrate that into our community?

[Don Meredith]

Honourable member, I thank you so much for that important question.

I keep going back to education. I keep going back to our institutions of learning. When I was in high school, I'd learned about Samuel de Champlain and Mathieu Da Costa. I didn't know that Mathieu Da Costa was a black man. So the issue is really one of being transparent and making our history relevant, making our history clear. Our history books are there; we need to make sure that the faces of these soldiers, who are on our Veterans Affairs website.... I'm seeing some of these faces for the first time, and I've been in this country over 35 years. So it's important that we continue through the educational institutions to talk to our young people. I think that's the medium.

Our faith community and our youth organizations have a responsibility with regard to the information they receive, but again it has to be coordinated. So I think Veterans Affairs has to make an effort to make sure our schools are supplied with the necessary resources to be able to talk to these young Canadians who are coming in, so they are aware of the true history of this country instead of not seeing themselves represented in the military. They'll see the contributions of Canadians from the past who have been involved in exploits and done great work. I think that has to come to the forefront now.

I think we start with our education system. We start with our community centres. Again, they would receive a package from Veterans Affairs to say, “This is the true mosaic of Canada; these are the contributions of various individuals, whether you are from India, whether you are from South America. You've come to this country and you've contributed. Whether you're from China or Korea, you've made contributions to this country.” I think it's important that those recognitions be brought forward.

What has to be put forward is an education piece that is concise and accurate and that is not missing information. It must be clear and consistent with the website information that gets transferred, and I think it's easily done. I think if the information is already there, it has to be packaged and marketed so individuals can, on a daily basis, pick up a book or go to the website or be inspired in some way by seeing some sort of a plaque or by going to a commemorative event that recognizes these contributions. These things will engage our young people and encourage them.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Thank you, Senator.

I know we're running up next to your timeframe.

[Don Meredith]

That's okay. I can take a couple more. I'm enjoying this.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

I can tell, and that's good.

We'll go over to Ms. Davidson for whatever time we have left.

[Patricia Davidson, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Thanks very much, Mr. Chair.

Senator, thanks so much for being with us this morning.

This isn't my normal committee, so I'm finding it quite interesting. One of the things I always remembered when growing up was that my dad was a proud veteran of the Second World War and he spent five years fighting in Europe. I always remember him saying that it didn't matter who you were fighting beside, who you were fighting with; you were aligned with them, they were Canadians, and they were all fighting for Canada so they were all seen as equals. There was no division among the people who were actually in the forces.

You talked about the Korean War vets who have been honoured, and of course they have been, as have lots of others. We're starting to see now the ceremonies to commemorate the Afghanistan veterans, which include everyone who was there, whatever their ethnic background. You referred to some people who lied so they could serve their country. That's been historical and has always happened. Kids who were 16 years old lied in the Second World War and probably in the First World War too. I know that friends of my dad did and were able then to serve their country.

I understand what you're saying, but what kind of a reception have you received? Have you talked to veterans groups? Are the veterans themselves supportive of this? What kind of communication have you had with them?

[Don Meredith]

I have not had extensive communication with the veterans groups specifically, just those around them—vis-à-vis Kevin Junor, who was decorated, as I said—who have been calling for this recognition. There's the detachment in Regent Park in Toronto, where he hails from, and also the soldier, Mr. Dyer, who was killed in Afghanistan hails from there. There is also another gentleman, whose name has just escaped me. There is consensus from the various groups across the country. The Victorious Legacy organizers have, again, been champions of this cause, saying that we need to recognize it.

It was great to hear the PM and Peter MacKay make these statements in 2009. Coming from the Prime Minister and the Government of Canada, it speaks volumes across Canada.

I think it's important that other groups are going to come on board as they see something. Sometimes out of frustration folks just give up, because they feel that it's not going to happen, so why even bother. But if you know my history, I don't give up easily. There is this sort of fighting spirit that's within me. I've fought for the rights of young people in our city to have a quality of life and to stay away from gun violence, and so forth, and that same spirit will take me into this battle. Hopefully it's not going to be a huge war, but we're going to be victorious in the end.

I think it's an important commemorative thing. And I've been supported by others in this room, and Senator Downe, Senator Oliver, and MP Joe Daniel have also been very supportive of this initiative moving forward. I think it's important that as we reflect the diversity in this room, the diversity in this country, we need to reflect that within the military and the contributions also need to be reflective in the same way.

Thanks very much.

[Patricia Davidson, Conservative, Sarnia—Lambton, ON]

Thank you. That's all.

[The Chair, Conservative, Greg Kerr]

Actually, that runs you very nicely up to where you want to be.

I just want to say, Senator Meredith, thank you very much for the presentation. Certainly your passion and your commitment to this obviously mean it is going to continue. And I think there's a lot of interest, as our Ms. Eve Adams, parliamentary secretary, has pointed out, in following through and making sure the government and the country do the proper thing as we move down the road. Your insight and participation this morning is very welcome, so thank you.