Debates of June 4th, 2026

Privacy Commissioner

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It is my duty to lay before the House, pursuant to subsection 40(1) of the Privacy Act and subsection 25(1) of the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, the Privacy Commissioner's report for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h), this report is deemed to have been permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.

Commissioner of Lobbying

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

It is my duty to lay before the House, pursuant to section 11 of the Lobbying Act, the report of the Commissioner of Lobbying for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026.

Pursuant to Standing Order 108(3)(h), this report is deemed to have been permanently referred to the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics.

Government Response to Petitions

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8)(a), I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the government's responses to 18 petitions. These returns will be tabled in an electronic format.

Veterans Affairs

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Airdrie—Cochrane, AB]

moved that the fifth report of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, presented on April 30, be concurred in.

Mr. Speaker, I stand today in unity with veterans from all across Canada who have been tirelessly fighting to right a historical wrong. For too long, veterans have faced these kinds of issues where, first of all, they deal with a cold and heartless bureaucracy. Second, they struggle to even have recognition of their service from government. The Persian Gulf War veterans and the Afghan war veterans are looking for recognition that they fought a war and cannot seem to find that from the current government. They attended what seemed to be a hastily put together groundbreaking for an Afghan war monument that was mired in scandal, and they felt like they were an afterthought at the ceremony. These are the kinds of things that we are seeing, and this is another example of exactly that.

What we are talking about today is giving Canadians some inspiration and some hope. In Canada, there are a lot of problems that our country faces right now, and especially young Canadians. They look at their future and they do not see a lot of hope. They know when they look at their future that hope does not come from the government. It is not going to be the government that gets us out of this mess, at least not the current government. However, Canadians have the intuition, the skills and the heart to rebuild Canada as the same great nation that we inherited from generations past. Inspiration is needed and many people are seeking inspiration right now. We look at our veterans, and they are the type of people whom we need to see and draw that inspiration from.

Veterans are ordinary men and women from all across Canada, from coast to coast to coast, who signed on the line and deployed into some of the most hostile and remote places all around the world. Everywhere a Canadian steps around this world, they carry with them the best values of our people: a love of freedom, a love of democracy and a love of justice. Nowhere did the example of the maple leaf shine brighter than it did in the mountains and deserts of Afghanistan. A land torn by centuries of conflict predating our nation was introduced to a multitude of Canadian actions.

The people of Afghanistan were met with Canadian generosity with millions of dollars in aid. The people of Afghanistan were met with Canadian ingenuity as schools, institutions and infrastructure were built by Canadians. In the deserts and mountains of Afghanistan, the Taliban forces met Canadian ferocity. Canadian soldiers from decorated battalions across our country brought the fight to the enemy and dismantled it in every engagement that they had. Finally, the people of Afghanistan were also met with Canadian mercy. Wounded members of the Taliban were often treated and saved by Canadian medical crews and spared the cruelty that is often visited upon captives in times of war. In the Afghan villages where children lived in fear, the maple leaf on the shoulders of our men and women stood defiantly against evil.

These ordinary men and women joined the forces and became extraordinary. They showed us as a nation that even when faced with discomfort, hostility and, yes, evil, Canadians can rise as heroes and fight back. The youth in Canada today desperately need heroes. They need Canadians to look up to with pride. They need role models to emulate. These heroes do not wear suits and sit here in Ottawa. They walk quietly as silent heroes among us every single day. Let us raise cases of extraordinary bravery and exceptional character for this generation, to show them that there is still some good in this world and it is still worth fighting for.

Let us raise heroes like Jess Larochelle. Jess Larochelle was a Canadian who joined the Canadian Armed Forces at the height of the war in Afghanistan. Just a young man, he was sent overseas to fight those responsible for terrorizing not only the people of Afghanistan but also people around the world through horrific attacks like those witnessed on September 11, 2001.

It was in Afghanistan where Jess Larochelle made his mark on Canadian history. Facing an unrelenting Taliban attack on his unit, Jess Larochelle manned a lone position and drove back the enemy, fighting exhaustion, fear and severe injuries. It is a fact that during this fight, Jess was nearly struck by a rocket-propelled grenade that detonated on a wall of his tower, severely injuring him. Jess had a detached retina, a fractured neck, a broken back, massive internal bleeding and a severe concussion. Despite all of this, he continued fighting, drove back the Taliban assault and saved many of his comrades.

Unfortunately, Jess's brothers in arms, Blake Williamson and Darcy Tedford, were killed in this attack, and it was only after Jess helped to carry their coffins into a plane headed back to Canada that Jess finally presented himself for some medical attention. Members should think about that, about what he went through and what he dealt with. Jess was only a young man, 24 years old, when he sustained those injuries, and he carried them for the rest of his life.

Unfortunately, Canada lost one of its heroes when Jess passed away in August 2023 due to complications from his injuries. Former Conservative leader Erin O'Toole brought a motion to this House that called for the creation of a military honours review board. Unfortunately, that motion was defeated by the government back then, but now there is a renewed interest, thanks in large part to the work of Bruce Moncur and others who are involved with an organization called Valour in the Presence of the Enemy.

While Jess was awarded the Star of Military Valour, he was passed over for Canada's highest honour, the Canadian Victoria Cross. Since the inception of this medal, it has never been awarded. There are many Canadians who wish to see this changed, to ensure that our veterans are properly recognized for their deeds of courage. There have now been several provincial legislatures that have voted in support of the creation of a military honours review board, including Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, Alberta, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. It is clear that public sentiment on this is that we need to see it happen.

Conservatives have been proud to stand with veterans on this issue since day one. We will not allow this issue to rest until it is seen through. The arguments for this review board do not just end with individual examples and historical anecdotes, but also with real-world examples to compare ourselves to. Many of our allies have issued the equivalent of their Victoria Cross to their soldiers. The United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Australia, Italy and New Zealand have all issued their highest awards of valour to members of their militaries for actions taken in Afghanistan, and that is despite the fact that several of these nations committed fewer personnel to the war and saw less fighting than Canadians.

There is also testimony of retired general Rick Hillier, who was chief of the defence staff and chair of the honours committee when the case of Jess Larochelle came through. General Hillier is a great and well-respected man, but by his own admission, a mistake may have been made when deciding the award for Jess Larochelle. Canada was newly at war in Afghanistan at the time, and the committee was reluctant to give the award as a result, because its members did not know what would ensue, so the Victoria Cross was spared for an event that did not come. Additionally, it took several years for all of the details to come out and to talk more about the battle that Jess fought with the Taliban. Over time, these details emerged, but there was no ability to change the award that had already been given.

This example is one that cries for change; it cries for justice. If mistakes were made and new details are brought to light, then mere policy should not stand in the way of honouring a war hero. This past week, the government responded to a petition put forward by the member for Nipissing—Timiskaming, and indicated that it is open to examining the formation of this board. The Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs, of course, has thrown its support behind this issue, as has the Senate, and we wait for the final and most important step now, which is taking the action that is necessary.

All of this effort over the years cannot be in vain. All of the lives touched by the story of Jess Larochelle are inspired, and inspiration is what Canada needs right now. Let us celebrate and enshrine the stories of our national heroes. Let us raise our children with the tales of bravery and sacrifice. The ball is now in the government's court. It has publicly signalled openness to this cause. We thank it for that, but now we eagerly await the details on how and when this review board will be formed, and when the historic injustice can finally be addressed.

However, I beg the government to not make Canadians wait for long. The great author and evangelist C.S. Lewis once said, “Since it is so likely that (children) will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.” Since it is so likely that Canadian children will grow up facing hardships and hearing of evil in the world, let them at least have heard of brave soldiers and their heroic deeds. Let them at least have heard of Jess Larochelle and the fighting Canadians.

I will note at this moment that I will be splitting my time with the member for Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, and I want to just conclude in French. I want to, if I can, speak to Quebec.

I hope that the government will not make Canadians wait too long before it finally takes action. The great author and evangelist C.S. Lewis once said, “Since—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

As the member is splitting his time, we have to go.

Questions and comments, the hon. parliamentary secretary to the government House leader.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Madam Speaker, I do not think there is a member of the House who would not recognize the valuable role that members of our CAF have played, and we continue to support them.

What disappointed me the other day was when the critic for the Conservative Party misled Canadians when he was challenged on the issue of the current status of the Brandon Veterans Affairs office. The member, along with his colleague, clearly indicated that it was closed when he should have known that it was not closed.

I wonder if the member would apologize to veterans for trying to give the impression that the office was closed. Would he apologize?

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Airdrie—Cochrane, AB]

Madam Speaker, the apology needs to come from that member and his government because, I can tell members right now, what they did there is very hypocritical.

That office is, in fact, closed and has been closed. Not only that, but essentially every office in this country is closed to veterans because what happens now is they must go online and make an appointment. If they just show up at an office, they cannot be received by Veterans Affairs. Many veterans also reported to us that just because maybe one time they got a little frustrated, because they had waited months and years to get action, they were told they can never speak to another Veterans Affairs employee again.

The only person who owes an apology is that member, and his government, for what the government does to veterans.

[Frank Caputo, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola, BC]

Madam Speaker, it is always a pleasure to rise on behalf of the people of Kamloops—Thompson—Nicola.

I served on the veterans affairs committee and was very familiar with the situation of Jess Larochelle. It pains me to know that he will not have seen what should have been bestowed upon him, the Victoria Cross.

I know my colleague had some additional words he wanted to say in French. I wonder if he could enlighten the House with those words.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Airdrie—Cochrane, AB]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague.

The great author and evangelist C.S. Lewis once said, “Since it is so likely that [children] will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.”

Since it is so likely that Canadian children will grow up facing hardships and hearing about evil in the world, let them at least have heard about brave soldiers and their heroic deeds. Let them at least have heard about Jess Larochelle and Canadian soldiers.

[Sherry Romanado, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Madam Speaker, the ACVA committee report that we are discussing this morning calls for the creation of an independent review board. As the member knows, we announced on Friday that we will be doing that.

I will be meeting with the organizers behind Valour in the Presence of the Enemy this afternoon to talk about next steps and move forward. I would ask my colleague if he is willing to work with us to make sure we have the feedback he would like us to have in terms of what the advisory board should look like.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Airdrie—Cochrane, AB]

Madam Speaker, the answer to that is quite simple. First of all, I thank the government and the hon. member for expressing openness to this, and I hope they are going to actually take the action. I really do.

We have been fighting for this for a long time. I would encourage the member to go back and look at the motion that was brought forward by Conservatives in the past, which the government rejected. It was a very detailed motion. It had a lot of detail in terms of what this should look like, and I would encourage her to go back and look at that. I would encourage the government to have a look at that. It provides a very good instruction manual for what this needs to look like.

The key here is that we need to go beyond words. We need to move to action. I am hopeful that that is what we are going to see, but I will continue to push and to hold the government to account until we do see that action. I hope it is not long before we see it. If it does not happen, I will be the first to be jumping all over the government for its words and not actions.

[Chris Lewis, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Madam Speaker, I will be very brief.

I had the opportunity, I believe it was late last year or early this year, to celebrate Mr. Bruce Moncur with his family.

How important is it that this motion go through today, to ensure that future generations will also support and protect Canada?

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Airdrie—Cochrane, AB]

Madam Speaker, I will just say that I do not have time to tell Bruce Moncur's story, but his story is one of bravery and courage. He believes that his life was spared so that he could see this through. We are going to help him to do just that, so that future—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

We have to resume debate.

The hon. member for Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan.

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Madam Speaker, I am thankful for the opportunity to speak to this motion. It is a very important subject, not only to my riding but to me personally, and I would like to share the reason.

Before I kick off my speech, I would like to thank my colleague from Airdrie—Cochrane for his speech and for his passion and leadership as the critic for veterans affairs. I have learned quite a bit from him. I appreciate his dedication to veterans and what he wants to do with this particular board.

I would like to to give a bit of background about why I am so passionate about this, and why I am here.

My family, as I have shared numerous times, came from Scotland, but during World War II, they were living in Scotland. My grandfather, who was on the offensive during World War II, was in a café. He was drinking, having a few libations with his fellow British soldiers. All of a sudden, Canadian soldiers came rushing in and started screaming “retreat, retreat, retreat”. There was a German offensive, and they did not have enough firepower to have a counteroffensive, so the British soldiers started throwing on all their gear. While they were doing that, the Canadian soldiers looked at the wall that had all these bottles of booze and started shooting at them, like it was a western.

My Scottish grandfather, who liked his odd tipple, was horrified and started screaming “ceasefire, ceasefire, ceasefire”. Finally, the Canadians stopped. My grandfather went up a Canadian sergeant and asked, “What are you doing?” The Canadian soldier looked at him and said, “If we're not drinking it, they're not drinking it.” My Scottish grandfather fell in love with Canadians. What he witnessed was the bravery of those soldiers overseas, which was so important.

At home, my grandmother and my mother, who was a very small child, witnessed the generosity of the Canadian soldiers. These soldiers came overseas, volunteered, and brought with them things my grandmother could not get, like baked goods, and shared them with generosity. That was why my family decided to move to Canada. It was because of what they witnessed at home and what they witnessed overseas, the bravery. We cannot forget that. That is the whole point of having an independent military review board, to recognize the bravery and the sacrifice of our Canadian soldiers.

Not only is this important to my family, but it is important to my riding. I know that MLA Blaine McLeod has been here, to Ottawa, advocating for recognition for Jess Larochelle and the bravery he displayed while he was overseas. He was doing what the soldiers in World War II were doing, in Afghanistan.

Our foreign policy and our international recognition are based on the blood and sacrifice of Canadian soldiers overseas. Those in Europe get to see the gravestones every single day when they drive by, because our soldiers went overseas. Fortunately, we have not had that much conflict here in Canada. We had little skirmishes very early on in our history. Our sacrifices made overseas are something Europeans witness every single day. It is hard for Canadians to reconcile that. That is why we have to make that extra effort within the House of Commons to recognize those who have advocated on our behalf and made that sacrifice. They have gone overseas and said, “Yes, I'm going to go,” not just to save the democracy within this country but to preserve democracy around the world.

I am passionate about this subject. I am passionate about our military, and I am passionate about our veterans, who deserve more. We keep failing them. There is a continual failure to support our veterans, those who have said, “Yes, send me. I will go.”

Madam Speaker, you will have to give me a second here because sometimes, in my passion, I have to kind of chill out a bit. I feel like we have done a great disservice to Canadians and to veterans, who just want some basic, simple things like care, and we are failing in our duty to support them.

I witness that every single day, whether they are reservists or full-time veterans. We do not understand sometimes what they have gone through and the sacrifices they have made, but they deserve better. That is the whole point of having this independent review board. It would recognize people who have slipped through the cracks. It is so important for us to pause, have a reset and make sure things do not slip through the cracks for our veterans.

I also want to go back, while I have the opportunity, to the recognition of veterans who served but did not come back. Europeans can drive by gravestones and see the maple leaf on them. They get to witness that every single day. As I have said, we do not have that recognition of the sacrifice here, but we do get to see the professionalism of our serving members when we witness the Snowbirds. That is why I find it disappointing that the Liberal government wants to cancel the Snowbirds after this season. For Canadians who do not get the chance to go overseas or witness the sacrifices by Canadians, it is a way for us to see the professionalism, excellence and unity of our Canadian Armed Forces.

People in Canada now have a connection with their military. They have a connection with the history of our military and the sacrifices that our military has made. It is so important. When we erode these things, we do a disservice not only to our nation but to our ally nations around the world that rely on a strong partner in times of need. We have always been there, but when we cut these things, we are sending a message that we are weakening our position. We are weakening ourselves, and we are not being there for our allies and neighbours.

I am speaking in support of the motion. This independent review board is necessary. It is necessary not only for our nation but for the people in my riding, because they believe in it.

[Marilyn Gladu, Liberal, Sarnia—Lambton—Bkejwanong, ON]

Madam Speaker, I have the utmost respect for my colleague opposite. I certainly do agree it is important to get the military review board in place so we can do memorials and honours such as the Afghanistan one that honours Corporal Brent Poland and Private William Cushley, who gave their lives and made the ultimate sacrifice.

I wonder if the member could give some indication of what kind of makeup he would like on the committee, what kind of qualifications.

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Madam Speaker, I have to say that sometimes we get things wrong, and we witnessed that recently. We witnessed the Liberal government's parading out the Snowbirds and then basically telling the pilots that they are going to be losing their jobs. Then, at the Afghan monument, there was no, or very little, presence of our veterans. We have to reverse the roles. We have to recognize when it is due and treat our military properly.

I think the committee makeup has to be of people who actually recognize and understand the sacrifices made by our vets and have an inside perspective but who are also very neutral, so their own passions are not—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

The hon. member for Lac-Saint-Jean.

[Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Bloc, Lac-Saint-Jean, QC]

Madam Speaker, my colleague spoke from the heart and his speech was incredibly genuine. It was an excellent speech.

I have a rather simple question for him. This motion is not just about medals. In fact, it deals more with our ability to properly recognize and honour the men and women who have accepted risks, dangers and injuries to protect peace and democracy.

I would like to hear my colleague's comments on that.

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Madam Speaker, I have to point out that I have not seen my colleague in the gym for a while, so hopefully I will see him next week.

We as Canadians are very humble in the way we carry ourselves, so it is very hard for us to accept recognition for the sacrifices we have made. However, it is so important now, when we are being challenged globally, that we recognize the sacrifice made by the people who are willing to leave their family and to miss birthdays, weddings and anniversaries to go help someone else. The sacrifice is not just by the person who is going overseas. It is also by the family, and we have to recognize that. What makes our nation such a strong and powerful nation is that we are willing to make those sacrifices, and one cannot put a recognition on that.

[Chris Lewis, Conservative, Essex, ON]

Madam Speaker, my colleague gave an impassioned and compassionate speech, and I understand the sacrifice that the gentleman has made as well.

I was honoured to be with Corporal Bruce Moncur at a celebration of life at the Royal Canadian Legion earlier this year, and this past Saturday, I was honoured to be with Windsor's air force squadron for the cadets. Trying to look forward and trying to be what Corporal Moncur would want, how do we engage, without celebrating those who went before us, young adults to join our service to ensure that Canada is protected?

[Fraser Tolmie, Conservative, Moose Jaw—Lake Centre—Lanigan, SK]

Madam Speaker, I have interacted with veterans within my the member's riding who were facing some challenges, and I know that he is very passionate about people who have served. It is also very important to recognize how we can attract new recruits, and it is by being—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Alexandra Mendès), Alexandra Mendes]

We have to resume debate.

The hon. parliamentary secretary to the secretary of state.

[Pauline Rochefort, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State (Rural Development)]

Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Winnipeg North.

I would also like to thank my colleague across the aisle who moved that we have this debate this morning, as I do feel that there are still a few words to be said regarding the matter of an independent military honours review board.

On April 15, the day e-petition 6661 was presented to the House of Commons, I was pleased to welcome to Ottawa veterans of the Afghanistan war along with parliamentarians from the Liberal Party, the Conservative Party, my colleague across the aisle, the Bloc Québécois and the New Democratic Party. Representatives of the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs and the Senate of Canada were also present. Together we heard from David Mack, a leader with the organization Valour in the Presence of the Enemy.

David reflected that resolving an important matter often takes a village, as the expression goes. He went on to say that in the case of the Victoria Cross cause, at the heart of the village has been a fire that has burned hot for six years, enduring setbacks and disappointments, surviving the moments when progress seemed to move two steps forward and one step back. That fire has been Bruce Moncur, whose name we have heard mentioned here this morning, a veteran whom many people describe as unrelenting and unyielding in his pursuit of justice.

On April 15, Bruce recounted how he had woken after being thrown by a bomb explosion in Afghanistan. The first thing he did was check his legs, then his arms. Relieved, he cupped his hands to his face, only to see them filled with blood. Bruce had lost part of his skull and brain. Back in Canada, he had to relearn how to walk and speak. Through determination and perseverance, he rebuilt his life and eventually returned to the classroom as a teacher. To this day, he is a great teacher, in Manitoba, I believe.

Bruce is a man who has given everything to the Victoria Cross cause to ensure that acts of extraordinary courage are properly recognized and that the stories of Afghanistan veterans are never forgotten. Bruce recently wrote:

I gave this cause my soul.
Not a piece of it. Not the part that was left over
after everything else was done.
All of it.
The hours no one counted.
The calls made at midnight.
The letters rewritten and rewritten.
The years when no one was listening....
I bled for this country once on a mountainside in Afghanistan
and thought that was the end.
It was not the end.
It was the beginning of something
I [simply at that point] did not yet have words for.
Six years ago I found the words.
I found them in the story of a boy from Restoule
who lay broken in the Afghan dust
and kept fighting.
I found them in the oral histories
of Haudenosaunee warriors
who carried eleven men to safety
across a mile of Belgian mud.
I found them in the grave inscriptions
of Métis snipers
whose comrades wrote in the dirt above them
that it must have been a damn good sniper
that finally got him.
I found them in the eyes of mothers
who outlived their sons [and daughters].
In the silence of families
who kept the letters.
Who kept the medals.
Who kept the faith....
These soldiers carried their countries
across impossible ground.

Today, on behalf of the House, I think it is fair to say that we thank Bruce Moncur for his words and for every hour he devoted to this cause: every post; every letter; every sleepless night, I assume; and every morning when he got up and did it all again. I still remember when he said that he took on this cause:

not because I was asked.
but because someone had to.
Because a boy from Restoule
lay alone in the Afghan dust
with a broken back
and kept fighting.
If he could do that
I could do this.

Those words remind us that perseverance is not measured in comfort but in commitment. They remind us that remembrance is not passive; it requires action. I really like that. They remind us that the stories of courage, sacrifice and service entrusted to us by Canada's veterans must never be forgotten, just like the unknown soldier's eternal flame.

I hope we can all draw inspiration from Bruce's own story and from David's own words as we embark on the important work of establishing the independent review board, which includes setting the assessment criteria, selecting the right members and establishing a decision‑making process. Moving forward, strict accountability and transparency will be what measures that the job gets done and gets done properly.

[Blake Richards, Conservative, Airdrie—Cochrane, AB]

Madam Speaker, I certainly want to recognize that this effort was stalled out a bit after the previous Conservative motion was defeated in the House. The member brought forward a petition, which has re-energized this effort, and I thank her for that.

I am sure the member has had some conversations internally. Could she speak a bit to the next steps on this, when we can actually expect to see this move forward and what the next steps would be in terms of making this happen?