Mr. Chairman, I join with other members of the House in condemning the attacks of September 11. These attacks were not just on the United States but on all free and civilized people around the world. They were an attack on the fundamental values of our society, the values of justice, freedom and tolerance.
I would like to presume on the House's time to reflect on the distinguished role that Canada has played in the past as a member of the international community when the fundamental values of our way of life and indeed our very existence have been threatened. We are all aware of this history. Much has been said tonight, but let us take a few minutes in this take note debate to reflect.
Perhaps the most important occasion was the second world war when, for a while, Canada stood alone with the United Kingdom and other members of the Commonwealth against fascism and Nazism. In that conflict we were later joined by the Soviet Union and the United States of America, both of which made fundamental contributions to the allied victory.
During that war our enduring political and security alliance with the United States was first forged. The alliance was and still is based on shared geography and response to common peril, but also equally on kinship and shared values of democracy and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms.
One of the most important and hopeful outcomes of the second world war was the founding of the United Nations in 1945. Canadians played an important role in the enterprise and we remember with pride the part we played. We have been well repaid for our efforts, because the United Nations has been fruitful. Only a few days ago we heard news of the Nobel Peace Prize being awarded to the United Nations and its present secretary general. The United Nations charter, its many conventions and its treaties have provided us in the international community with agreed upon rules by which our world is organized and run.
In the 1950s, in the early days of the cold war when conflict erupted in the Korean peninsula, over 25,000 Canadians stood with other members of the United Nations command. Three hundred and twelve Canadians lost their lives and many more were wounded in that long and hard conflict.
Later in the 1950s Canadians were instrumental in the development and practice of peacekeeping, and as we all know it was during the Suez crisis in 1956 that our venerable Lester Pearson, then our secretary of state for external affairs and later our prime minister, suggested the creation of a force to separate the belligerents. For his role in creating the peacekeeping mission in Suez and for his contribution to world peace, Pearson was accorded the Nobel prize in 1957.
We are proud of the participation of Canada and Canada's armed forces in a long list of United Nations peace operations. We can name a few: Suez, Cyprus, the Golan Heights, Congo, Cambodia, Croatia, Central America, Bosnia, Rwanda, Haiti and East Timor. In fact, 50 years of experience in peacekeeping and our participation in 31 out of 38 completed UN missions have established an international reputation for Canada. This experience has taught us that the most important aspect of any peacekeeping mission is a long term plan designed to lead to a self-sustaining peace in the area of conflict.
Sometimes a conflict goes beyond the possibilities of peacekeeping and of the other tools of conflict prevention and conflict resolution open to the United Nations and to us. In 1990-91 we were faced with such a situation in Kuwait and the UN security council used the strongest measures envisaged by the charter, first implementing sanctions, then authorizing action against Iraq by a broad coalition of states including Canada and traditional allies.
The conflicts in the Balkans are yet another reference, after the breakup of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, another great tragedy of our times. At that point Canada and other members of NATO acted forcefully to end atrocities.
Let us be absolutely clear: the perpetrators of the terrorist atrocities on September 11 and those who planned and supported their acts care little or nothing at all about the structure and shared vision of the United Nations. They care nothing at all about our beliefs in justice, peace and freedom. The attack on the United States was an attack on all of us.
We know well that the military response in self-defence is only part of the overall campaign. My constituents in Etobicoke--Lakeshore remind me of the Canadian tradition of standing with our allies against evil and inhumanity. The support of the women and men of the Canadian forces will play a vital role in the defence of Canada as part of the international response against terrorism.
It is clear that we must act. My constituents want their government to stand firmly behind the men and women of the Canadian forces. This support is visibly demonstrated by the government's unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life of its military personnel and to recruiting and retaining the right people.
The days ahead may be filled with uncertainty. The campaign against terror will likely be a long one, with no easy or quick solution. Our military contribution to the coalition efforts is a clear indication of the professional service our military can provide in what will be a difficult campaign.
I am sure that the thoughts of my constituents and the thoughts of many Canadians are with our Canadian forces personnel at this time as they prepare to join the fight against terrorism. Our thoughts should also be with their families who will be waiting at home for their safe return.
We have to act. We must act . Our government at this point is representing us well with the decisions that have been made thus far.