Mr. Speaker, Canada's merchant navy of World War II suffered losses more than the other three services at war.
Cold lonely duty, constant targets of a deep sea foe. Simply, a shudder of ship as torpedo explodes is the only notice of impending doom for the lucky. Lucky because in being alive there is still hope. For others, the shudder ushers internment to the finality of the ocean's depth. For some who did live, enemy prisons of hell were their fate until war's end.
Gordon Olmstead survived both, to return home and fight for veterans' rights. Gordon excelled at his task and Bill C-61 reflects his hard work.
Gordon Olmstead passed away on April 24. How fitting it would be to rename Bill C-61 the Gordon Olmstead act.