Good evening, Mr. Chair and members of the committee.
Thank you for inviting me to join you today.
I would like to begin by acknowledging that the land I speak to you from is the traditional and unceded territory of the Abegweit Mi'kmaq first nation.
I also want to take a moment to recognize that today is National Flag of Canada Day, a day to reflect on what the flag means to each of us. It was Canadian Second World War veteran, George Stanley, who designed our national flag.
Thank you for your concern about Canada's national monuments that honour veterans, such as the National War Memorial, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument, all of which are sacred and symbolic.
In addition to providing benefits and services to support the well-being of veterans and their families, the department has a mandate to keep alive the memory of the achievements and sacrifices of those who served Canada in times of war, military conflict and peace. We do so by engaging Canadians of all ages in paying tribute to veterans and those who died in service, ensuring that the legacy of their tremendous contributions to peace and freedom are preserved for generations to come.
Veterans Affairs Canada fulfills this core responsibility through two distinct programs. The Canada remembers program ensures that those who served in Canada's military efforts are honoured, and that the memory of their sacrifices and achievements is preserved. This is done through ceremonies, events, honours, awards and telling the stories of brave Canadians who have served.
The funeral and burial program provides financial assistance for the funeral, burial and grave marking expenses of qualified veterans.
Our commemoration work requires working closely with partners and stakeholders, including other federal institutions, veterans organizations, non‑governmental organizations, municipalities, schools and museums. Our partner organizations share our commitment to honouring those who have served Canada. I'll talk more about this collaboration with respect to memorials in a moment.