Mr. Speaker, on May 2, Canadians across the country will pause to commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic.
On September 10, 1939, Canada declared war against Nazi Germany. Within a matter of weeks the Royal Canadian Navy, the Royal Canadian Air Force and the Merchant Navy joined the battle.
The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest and perhaps the most critical battle of the second world war. The liberation of Europe depended on the ability of allied merchant convoys to make their way through a phalanx of German U-boats.
Canada played a pivotal role in the ultimate victory of the Battle of the Atlantic. Thousands of young and inexperienced Canadians went to sea, unprepared but ready to fight, and they fought. They fought with courage and they fought with pride, under horrible conditions and the vagaries of a cruel sea, because they knew that the freedom of our nation was at stake. Over 5,000 Canadians paid the ultimate price and never returned home.
I invite my hon. colleagues and all Canadians to participate in the activities being held this weekend to commemorate the Battle of the Atlantic. It is an opportunity to reflect on the proud heritage of our men and women in uniform and to pay tribute to those who sacrificed—