Madam Speaker, while Canadians have removed their poppies, we must always remember the sacrifices of our brave men and women.
Recently, I had the honour of travelling with my fellow colleagues to attend the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele.
Witnessing how the people of France and Belgium remembered and honoured the sacrifices that our country made during the First World War, and standing on the hallowed ground where the Canadian Corps advanced across the valley, which was a treacherous morass, and captured and held the Passchendaele Ridge was a moving experience. It is one that I will continue to remember during my service for our brave men and women in my role on the veterans affairs committee.
As a physician, it was especially poignant to see the memorial of John McCrae, himself a physician, and read his immortal words In Flanders Fields that continue to impact us today.
I would like to thank Veterans Affairs Canada, the organizers of our delegation, the Anavets Assiniboia Unit #283, and the Charleswood Legion #100 for the articles given to the Ypres Historical Society, and the people of Ypres who welcomed our delegation with open arms.