Mr. Speaker, last week Canadians were shocked to learn that 175 veterans' graves were without headstones because of a lack of funding.
Families of eligible veterans were told that their loved ones would be laid to rest without a headstone and that their names would be added to a six year waiting list.
The problem is that the federal government has not ensured that the last post fund has the money it needs to ensure a timely distribution of these important memorials.
Since this story first broke I am pleased to report that Canadians have banded together to answer the call. A flood of public donations from families and schools have come in, allowing project managers to say that the backlog will be eliminated by the end of the summer.
The Minister of Veterans Affairs has said that he will not increase funding and that he is happy to let the public pay.
These brave veterans are national heroes and their memory is being dishonoured each and every day that their graves go unmarked.
Why will the government not do the right thing and act now?