Mr. Speaker, in Quebec, where I live, the sound of jackboots is just an expression for most people, and the sound of gunshots can be mistaken for fireworks, not the other way around. For most of us, war is something distant, something that happens elsewhere. However, that is not the case for veterans and their families.
Remembrance Day is a time to remember all the soldiers who bravely gave their lives in war so we could have peace. We remember the soldiers who died during the war that was supposed to be “the war to end all wars”, which clearly it was not, as we can see today from the fact that our world is in turmoil. We remember the soldiers who died in all the conflicts that unfortunately followed: the Second World War, the Korean War and the war in Afghanistan, as well as the peacekeeping missions, particularly in the Balkans. Time may go on, but the memory of our heroes never fades.
It is also an opportunity to thank all those who have served, have put their lives on the line and are still with us today. Their courage does them honour and will forever honour us as well. It is now our turn to honour our obligation to them. We need to send a message to the federal government: Our veterans deserve treatment that lives up to their dedication. That is not the case when struggling veterans have to wrestle with the federal government for the right to keep their own psychologist, with whom they have developed a deep relationship. That is not the case when francophone veterans face discrimination from service delays that are completely disproportionate to those experienced by their anglophone counterparts. It does not honour the memory of the Quebeckers, Acadians and French Canadians who served to erase the French language from the Canadian military, as the current government is condoning. We are currently witnessing a decline in the way veterans are treated. That needs to be said, and it needs to stop.
As Remembrance Day approaches, I also want to honour and thank the men and women who are currently deployed. They can be found on every continent, in hot spots, such as the Russian border, the Congo and the Middle East. They play all sorts of roles in all sorts of circumstances, but one thing remains constant: Their families miss them and worry about them. They deserve our full support.
Let us also take a moment to reflect on the role that the armed forces play in Quebec. They are on the ground helping during devastating spring floods and out-of-control wildfires. We owe them a debt of gratitude.
In the coming days, ceremonies will take place across Quebec to honour our fallen. I encourage people to come out in force to attend. From now until November 11, let us proudly wear a poppy over our hearts. Let us not forget that the money collected goes directly to veterans and their families.
In closing, on behalf of the Bloc Québécois, I would like tell all those who gave their lives in the line of duty, all those who served and all those who are serving today that we remember them and that we will continue to remember them.