Oh, oh!
Evidence of meeting #43 for Veterans Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was may.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #43 for Veterans Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was may.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:45 a.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
9:45 a.m.
MGen Richard Rohmer
That night.... I have to tell you this. This is off the record, of course.
9:45 a.m.
Voices
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9:45 a.m.
MGen Richard Rohmer
That night there was a reception on Brittania. I had a connection with Paul Martin at the time—I had worked with Paul—and I had to get an invite onto Brittania. I'm a foreigner, but it worked, and somehow we got on. I was in my mess kit, and so forth, and I was the last one, with my contract, through the line to meet Her Majesty and Prince Phillip.
We got through, and she wanted to talk. She dismissed Prince Phillip. She had been in Canada for the celebration of her anniversary as Queen, and she was very upset about the prime minister of the day, who will be nameless at this point—we all knew who he was, a great fellow—because he had kept her in Ottawa during her time to visit Canada for the celebration of her 25 years.
She talked to me in great terms and never called the prime minister “Prime Minister So-and-So”; it was not even “Mr.” She was upset about the fact that he had kept her in Ottawa.
9:50 a.m.
MGen Richard Rohmer
I don't do anything political. You know that, Chairman.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Royal Galipeau
When you say Paul Martin, you actually mean “the” Paul Martin, not the “Junior” who came later.
9:50 a.m.
MGen Richard Rohmer
No, this is the real Paul Martin.
9:50 a.m.
Voices
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9:50 a.m.
MGen Richard Rohmer
He's Windsor; I was Chancellor of the University of Windsor for 13 years, and Paul....
No, I can't tell you a Paul Martin story. I could, but I won't.
March 31st, 2015 / 9:50 a.m.
MGen Richard Rohmer
Anyhow.... In reality, we had a wonderful conversation, and she was still steaming.
I've met her several times since. At Juno Beach in 2004—I ran the organization to put that together, and there's a great picture—when she came, she was followed...and on the other side of the car I'm there, leading a little group to meet her. Then “himself”—I call him the “Old Stick”—Prince Phillip gets out of the other side of the car, comes around, and he's in his full admiral's uniform, with gold braid up to the armpit. When he came around, I held out my hand—after saluting, of course—and said, “I'm General Rohmer.” He said, “I know you are, and you've got more medals than I have.”
9:50 a.m.
Voices
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9:50 a.m.
MGen Richard Rohmer
In any event, I haven't any more stories about the Queen, except that she's fantastic.
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
9:50 a.m.
Conservative
Ray Boughen Conservative Palliser, SK
This is just an observation. I don't sit on this committee, but I'm certainly enjoying the morning with the guests who are here.
Can you share with the committee anything that's ongoing after the initial celebration? Often there are events and then things just quiet down and nothing more happens until the next millennium kind of thing. Is there anything that's happening from your perspective that's ongoing after the celebrations are done in May? Is there some longitudinal thought to keep veterans together, give them a chance to socialize, and bring them forward in certain instances to highlight their contribution to the country?
It seems to me that we burst onto the scene with a lot of fanfare, a lot of action, and then it goes clunk. Is there anything that you see happening that will avoid that clunk and make sure there's some ongoing action for vets?
9:50 a.m.
MGen Richard Rohmer
The ongoing clunk is age. When we're finished with this one, and I call it every 10 years, then there will be no more for World War II veterans. There will be no more 10-year ceremonies that are big because we'll all be gone. It's as simple as that.
In terms of any organization to bring veterans old or new together on an ongoing basis, I'm not aware that any kind of planning is in process, certainly not from my point of view.
John, are there any?
9:50 a.m.
Acting Director, Commemoration Operations, Department of Veterans Affairs
As the Major-General mentioned, from a Veterans Affairs Canada perspective, the 10-year cycle, or the 60th or 70th, as an example, is an opportunity to bring it to a much larger level than say the 68th or 69th.
Part of the Government of Canada strategy has always been to go overseas with a delegation. Because of the age of the veterans, an average of 91, it was very important that the 70th cycle be recognized as the last time. We certainly saw a heightened awareness around the 70th of D-Day back in June, when 99 veterans returned to France. We expect somewhere in the vicinity of 130 to 140 liberation of the Netherlands campaign veterans to be back in Holland.
In a more tangible way, certainly the Government of Canada, with the heightened period around the 100th and 75th of the first and second, are providing an opportunity with the Second World War tribute. It is a pin and a certificate that all Second World War veterans have the opportunity to receive. It's through a certification or a nomination bid where they identify and we work to ensure that they have that pin.
In terms of kind of the clunk or the lull, it's really that awareness of community engagement. It's making communities aware of the importance of Canada's role in military accomplishments. Part of that responsibility lies with Veterans Affairs Canada and certainly with our intergovernmental departments such as DND and the Department of Canadian Heritage. During this heightened awareness period out to 2020, there will be the opportunity for Canada to ensure that Canadians from coast to coast to coast are aware of what these veterans did, what these men and women did for us 70 years ago, and certainly spin-off initiatives will happen in our home communities.
9:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Royal Galipeau
Thank you very much.
Considering that the next moment will come to us at the courtesy of the NDP as a gift to Frank Valeriote, I thought I'd give my closing statement before, because I may not have time after Frank.
9:55 a.m.
Voices
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9:55 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Royal Galipeau
This is about Thursday, April 2. We'll resume our study on the continuum of transition services with Commodore Watson, director general of morale and welfare services in the Department of National Defence, as well as two of his colleagues, Colonel Gérard Blais, director of casualty support management, and Phil Marcus, associate vice-president of operations policy and product management. They will be appearing to discuss the service income security insurance plan.
That will be the 44th meeting of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, and it will begin at 8:45 a.m. here in Room 112-North for about one hour.
Mr. Valeriote, you have all the time you want.
9:55 a.m.
Liberal
Frank Valeriote Liberal Guelph, ON
I will be brief. I had the opportunity to be at Menin Gate and lay wreaths with Minister Fantino. They have an incredibly high regard for John McCrae. A number of people came to speak to me about John McCrae when they learned I was from Guelph.
I am wondering if there is any commemoration that's planned in Europe, in Belgium or in France, commemorating John McCrae. Is there any specific commemoration?
9:55 a.m.
MGen Richard Rohmer
I'm not aware of anything specific at this time. It may emerge as we move along.
May I make a closing remark, Mr. Chair?
