Madam Speaker, as the NDP critic for Veterans Affairs, I am honoured to work with many veterans, who have served our country bravely and who endure many challenges once they enter civilian life. I want to acknowledge that, as we walk into the week of remembering veterans, I have stood by many graves, both in our country and other countries, and read many of those names. They are the people who made the ultimate sacrifice. One of the most painful moments is when we see those who were not named and we know there is a family that still does not know where their loved one is. Today, in this place, we hold their memory up in remembrance.
Veterans tell me that recognition of their sacrifices, and those of their family members, means so much to them. Therefore, it is my honour today to stand in this place and recognize the Canadians who serve in the military, past, present and future, to remember those who lost their lives in the line of duty and to show respect for those who continue to serve in war, in peace and in protection of our rights and freedoms.
The cost of war is high. There is far too much conflict in our world right now. We continue to send Canadians into danger, be it going on peacekeeping missions, going to areas of international violence or helping at home to fight forest fires and pandemics. It is how we support the military members when they return home after their service that confirms our act of remembrance, our promise to take care of them. This is so important. Canada must stop failing to uphold this promise. Commemoration of military service is not only about building monuments or holding ceremonies on remembrance days. It includes those things, but it also means much more to veterans. Nevertheless, many Canadian veterans do not feel well supported.
Indigenous veterans who fought bravely for Canada in the 20th century were stripped of their status when they returned home, facing poverty, inability to go home to their communities and racist attitudes. They were really dismissed, even though they provided the greatest service to Canada. Today, Canadian indigenous veterans continue to work towards the acknowledgement of that and of their current service. They continue to tell the stories of their heroism and leadership, lifting up a history that Canada has too often forgotten.
In the eighties and nineties, 2SLGBTQ+ veterans were purged from service because of an oppressive policy of heteronormalization. A terrible historical wrong was done to thousands of Canadians, who were victimized solely because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.
Persian Gulf veterans are still fighting for the government to recognize them for having served in a war so that they can receive the same benefits as those who came before them.
I think of the women veterans who fought for their country in equipment that did not fit and suffered horrendous injuries to their body and their reproductive system. They had to endure sexist attacks, with huge impacts on their mental health, as well as verbal and physical attacks from their colleagues and commanders; they had no recourse to justice. Those women are still fighting. This time, they are fighting their government for their rights and benefits. I am so honoured to know them. They are fierce, and they will not stop. That is what bravery looks like.
It is incredibly tragic to consider that women veterans face dangers not just from deployments but also from within the military, because of archaic and sexist attitudes. They were made to feel invisible and were often mistaken for the wives of the military instead of being recognized for their service. I say to the women veterans of Canada that I see them, I hear them and the New Democrats support them. They are no longer invisible.
There are many veterans who need trauma-informed care and support. When they contact Veterans Affairs for help, they are forced to deal with an overly bureaucratic and complex system. They are threatened with removal from programs if deadlines are not met; moreover, they experience multiple denials of service attribution and endless delays in receiving benefits. Sometimes, years go by and veterans receive nothing. My office has helped one such veteran who lived for four years without an income, even though he was entitled to receive one from the government. A member of Parliament should not have to intervene for a veteran to receive his diminished earning capacity pay.
The system of benefits of Veterans Affairs must be transformed to offer services through a lens of trauma-informed care. It is so important that the veterans of this country be recognized.
In closing, I just want to say that it is important to Canadians that veterans are acknowledged and remembered. Let us normalize thanking them, not just during Veterans' Week and Remembrance Day, but each and every time we see a person who is currently serving or has served. That is the very least we can do to acknowledge their service.
Lest we forget.
