Mr. Speaker, in 1991, Canadian men and women in uniform answered the call to defend Kuwait. Operation Friction deployed nearly 4,500 Canadian Forces members to the Persian Gulf. They served with distinction alongside coalition partners to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation. For the first time in our history, women served alongside men in combat roles. Canada would answer that call again after 9/11.
There were 158 Canadians who gave their lives in Afghanistan before the combat mission ended in March 2011. For many who returned from both conflicts, the battles continued at home as recognition of service-related illnesses and access to veterans benefits remained an ongoing struggle.
On these important anniversaries, we honour every Canadian who served in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan wars. We remember their sacrifice. We acknowledge the challenges they faced upon return, and we reaffirm our commitment to never leave those who served and their families behind.