Hon. Doug Lewis (Minister of State and Minister of State (Treasury Board)):

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Minister of State responsible for the status of women, pursuant to Standing Order 67, I am pleased to table, in both official languages, the 1986-87 Annual Report of the Canadian Advisory Council on the Status of Women.

Hon. Doug Lewis (Minister of State and Minister of State (Treasury Board)):

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 106(8), I am tabling, in both official languages, the Government's response to petitions, Nos. 332-3118, 332-3133, 3323148, 332-3220, 332-3234, 332-3235, 332-3241, 332-3242 and 332-3244.

1 wish to make it very clear that Petition No. 332-3220 tabled by the Hon. Member for Comox-Powell River (Mr. Skelly) was certified on July 22, 1986, and submitted to the House on October 1, 1987.

Petition No. 332-3241 -

Mr. Riis:

So what?

Mr. Lewis:

I will tell the Hon. Member what. There are three petitions all with respect to the decommissioning of lighthouses in British Columbia.

Mr. Manly:

A very important issue!

Mr. Lewis:

Right, it is a very important issue. Members of the public who sign these petitions have every right to think that they will be tabled in the House properly and quickly-

Mr. Riis:

Properly? They were tabled properly.

Mr. Lewis:

-and have a Government response, which we are giving.

Mr. Riis:

It is not for you to determine when we can table a petition. What arrogance!

Mr. Lewis:

Fair enough.

Petition No. 332-3148 regarding the transfer of dangerous goods in the Vancouver Harbour certified on November 28, 1986, by the Hon. Member for Vancouver East (Ms. Mitchell), was tabled in the House on September 25, 1987.

Mr. Riis:

You cannot control everything in the House.

Mr. Lewis:

The Government is responding to all of those petitions within 45 days.

Mr. Riis:

Big deal!

Hon. George Hees (Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Senior Citizens)):

Mr. Speaker, as it will be necessary for me to leave tomorrow for Europe to take part in various remembrance services on that continent, representing

October 28, 1987

the Canadian Government there, I would request the indulgence of the House to make a short statement on the meaning and importance of Remembrance Day which is coming up, as we all know, on November 11. I will, of course, be representing the veterans of the country at that Remembrance Day service at eleven o'clock on November 11 here in Ottawa.

On November 11, we will once again have the sacred opportunity to pay silent tribute to the more than 110,000 Canadian men and women who died in the two world wars and in Korea.

Nearly 48,000 of those who died are buried in France, and this year we were reminded twice of the great respect such men and women won for Canada in the battles in that country.

The seventieth anniversary of the capture of Vimy Ridge recalled that triumphant Easter Monday when the brightest and the best of a pioneering generation showed what our young nation could achieve. Those of us who had the privilege to accompany some of those First World War veterans back to Vimy last April were in the presence of nation builders in every sense of the word.

Then, in August, Canadians commemorated the youth of another generation lost in World War II. Dieppe saw all three of our services in battle together for the first time. In spite of this terrible mission, the fact remains that the Canadians involved at Dieppe could not have done more.

Nearly 4,500 Canadians had their hopes and dreams extinguished at Vimy and Dieppe. Thousands more were wounded or taken prisoner, and yet more thousands back home had to learn to cope without a parent, spouse, bread-winner, or other loved one.

For Veterans Affairs every day is Remembrance Day as we help the spouses and dependants of those who did not make it home from the horrors of war.

To me, Mr. Speaker, no words could better express the horror of war and the hope that we will never experience it again than Lt. Col. John McCrae's poem entitled "In Flanders Fields". He wrote the following immortal words:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high,

Statement by Minister

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Mr. Gaston Isabelle (Hull-Aylmer):

Mr. Speaker,

speaking on behalf of the Official Opposition, it is an honour and a privilege to add a few words to the speech by the Minister of Veterans Affairs (Mr. Hees).

Today, I would like to draw the attention of all Members of this House and all Canadians to the very meaning of Remembrance Day, the day on which we honour those brave men and women who served Canada during two world wars and the Korean War.

Mr. Speaker, in his speech the Minister stressed the importance of the anniversaries of Vimy and Dieppe, and he recalled our contribution in the Korean War. Canada earned its reputation as a nation at Vimy. It experienced the tragic bloodshed at Dieppe and showed its courage to the world. It finally obtained the recognition it deserved at Kapyong, in Korea.

It is only fitting that this House and all Canadians across this great country of ours stop for a few moments to meditate, to be thankful and to pay tribute to those young Canadians who gave their lives in defence of the freedom we enjoy today.

While remembering those who died, let us not forget those Canadians who returned home full of anticipation and hope, eager to forge a renewed life in an atmosphere of freedom and peace. Included in these returnees were those who suffered life-long handicaps and disabilities. We should never forget the heavy price that these veterans paid for freedom.

I wish to take this opportunity, Mr. Speaker, to recognize the role of the veterans' associations such as the Royal Canadian Fegion, the War Amputations of Canada, the National Council of Veterans' Associations, and the Army, Navy, and Air Force veterans in Canada. All of those groups are genuinely concerned with the plight of Canadian veterans. I salute them for their continuing efforts in promoting the cause of our veterans.

Mr. Speaker, 22 years ago, Pope Paul VI addressed the General Assembly of the United Nations, beseeching those present to pay attention to those memorable words he spoke: "No more war-never again!"

Mr. Speaker, it has been 42 years since the end of World War II. We must remain forever mindful of the words of Pope Paul VI, if we are to maintain peace in this world for present and future generations of Canadians.

On Wednesday, November 11, Canadians from all walks of life will stop a few moments to remember those of our fellow

October 28, 1987

Interparliamentary Delegation Report

citizens who fought and survived on foreign beaches and also those who fought and died in the service of our country.

And when twilight comes and when day breaks, we shall remember them.

Mr. Neil Young (Beaches):

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the New Democratic Party, I am pleased to join with the Minister of Veterans Affairs (Mr. Hees) and my colleague from the Official Opposition in reminding all Canadians of the importance of November 11, Remembrance Day.

While public attitudes about the observance of this special day have changed over the years, the significance of this day has not. At the eleventh hour, on the eleventh day, of the eleventh month, Canadians will pause at cenotaphs and places of work to remember the supreme sacrifice made by more than

110,000 men and women who fought for freedom and peace in two world wars, and in Korea.

Veterans, their families, friends and relatives of both lost loved ones and returning soldiers, sailors, and airmen, will recall special memories. We, too, will remember them and pray that war will never again happen.

To those veterans who returned home to begin life anew, we shall be eternally in their debt. We in this Party commend the Government for its non-partisan attitude and approach in working with all Members of the House to ensure an even better life for our 640,000 surviving veterans.

As we approach Remembrance Day, it is also important to remember that the day will come when we will be helping more widows of veterans than the total number of veterans themselves. Even now 30 per cent of all recipients of disability pension benefits, and nearly 40 per cent of those in receipt of War Veterans Allowance, are widows.

I bring those figures to the attention of the House as a reminder that Canada's debt to veterans will not be repaid in full when the last veteran passes away. The lives of tens of thousands of families were disrupted and perpetually affected by war. As Members of Parliament and concerned citizens, it will be our ongoing duty to provide help to those families.

The best testimonial we could give to those of whom we speak today would be to redouble our efforts to bring economic and social justice to all people, so that the conflicts which occur will be lessened and we bring about real peace in our world.

As we recall the deeds of those who have gone before us, we are reminded of the words of Rudyard Kipling, as inscribed on the War Memorial in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. They read:

From little towns in a far off land we came,

To save our honour and a world aflame;

By little towns, in a far land, we sleep,

And trust those things we won to you to keep.

We will remember them, Mr. Speaker.