Mr. Speaker, today, along with parliamentarians, members of the Canadian Armed Forces, veterans and families, I had the honour of attending the groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of the construction phase of Canada's national monument to the mission in Afghanistan, a permanent memorial to the 158 members of the Canadian Armed Forces and seven civilians who lost their lives. It is also a tribute to the more than 40,000 Canadians who served during our country's largest military deployment since World War II.
We are also changing the way we honour veterans of modern conflicts.
It is an honour to represent Ottawa Centre and to represent the community where this monument will reside. At its core, this must be a space for all Canadians. It must be a space to honour our history, guide our future and inspire the next generation of remembrance.