Mr. Speaker, in 2013, Harry Leslie Smith wore the poppy for the last time, saying this:
I will until my last breath remember the past and the struggles my generation made to build this country into a civilised state for the working and middle classes. If we are to survive as a progressive nation we have to start tending to our living because the wounded: our poor, our underemployed youth, our hard-pressed middle class and our struggling seniors shouldn't be left to die on the battleground of modern life.
A veteran of the Depression and the Second World War, Harry saw first-hand the futility of fighting for anything other than democracy and social justice. He took his last stand to the next level, touring to support refugees of war and speaking truth to power with an unwavering voice.
Harry took his last breath yesterday. We wish him safe journey.
May we all live to see the day Harry's vision for the world is a reality.