Mr. Speaker, the Seaforth Highlanders, a Vancouver based regiment, was asked to be ready to act as the honour guard at last week's APEC conference in Vancouver. At the last minute they were told to keep their uniforms in their lockers because they did not look Canadian enough.
It was a stupid decision, equivalent to flying in Atlantic salmon to serve to guests in B.C., or the premier of P.E.I. because the Prime Minister wanted to introduce his foreign guests to a provincial premier.
The government did not question the looks of the Seaforth Highlanders before sending them to war. Nor did it ask Seaforth veteran Smokey Smith to change his uniform before pinning a Victoria Cross on his chest.
The Vancouver based Seaforth Highlanders have a long and proud history as a Canadian regiment. To suggest in any way that they are not representative of their country is an unspeakable insult.
The Prime Minister's decision to bypass the Seaforth Highlanders is shameful and disgusting. I ask that he apologize to the Seaforth Highlanders today.