Mr. Speaker, later today Vancouver Islanders will gather at the British Columbia Afghanistan Memorial in Victoria to mark the 12th anniversary of the end of Canada's mission in Afghanistan and remember the 165 Canadian lives that were lost there.
Canada's mission in Afghanistan was the longest military campaign in our country's history, where more than 40,000 Canadians served. We remember the courage, sacrifice and service of those who answered the call.
It saddens me to ask, however, why the Liberal government has failed to build the dedicated Afghanistan war memorial here in Ottawa that was announced 12 years ago. It is shameful.