Kevin Lamoureux

Not analysed yet

A requested analysis is usually ready within half an hour; come back to this page or reload it.

Madam Speaker, it is always a pleasure to rise and to address the issue of our Canadian Forces, and indeed of our veterans. As did a number of members of the House, I had the honour of serving in the Canadian Forces. I served for just over three years. One of the things I reflect on in a very positive way is when this time of the year came around and our regiment, members of the Canadian Forces posted in Lancaster Park, participated in parades. Among the people I had the honour of marching alongside were the World War II veterans in particular. We understood the value of and gained an appreciation for the sacrifices they had made. After the parade, we would go to other destinations, and they would talk about some of the things that had taken place during World War II. I have the deepest respect for the people who served and who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their life, and for those who have served in the Canadian Forces in whatever capacity, as well as for their supporters, whether it is DND or the families and so forth. I know I am not alone. Whether it is the Prime Minister, any member of the Liberal caucus or, I would suggest, all members of the House of Commons, we recognize the contributions of our veterans in the past, in the present and going into the future. We have seen that, to a certain degree, government actions over the last 18 months are setting a positive trend towards our Canadian Forces. We would have to look back generations to find the last time when there were as many Canadians wanting to join the Canadian Forces. When it comes to our veterans, we have put policies in place. A specific example is that in 2025, we put a significant amount of money in the budget so we could advance IT services so veterans would be able to receive their disability benefits more quickly. We do not need a lesson from the Conservatives on veterans and services. I would remind my Conservative friends across the way that there was a day when I was in opposition, and those were the days when Conservative policy was made that led to the shutting down of nine Veterans Affairs offices in the country. Fortunately, with the change in government, those offices were reopened. That was something that meant a great deal to me personally and to a vast majority of members of the House of Commons in 2015. We can think about the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires. I understand that the history, in good part, of that organization is as a non-profit. We need to recognize that when it was brought in during the late 1920s or the 1930s, around the time of World War I, it was because of those veterans. If we go to the 1920s, before it was really identified as a national organization, it started off in Montreal. By the time we got into the mid- or late-1930s, that is when it became well established as a national organization, and it was because of our veterans. Let us look at World War II and the number of veterans who were engaged, involved and employed. Governments back then saw the merit of the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires. However, let us do the comparison. I will say that I am a very strong fan of the Commissionaires. I have met with Commissionaires in the past, both at the Manitoba legislature and in my MP constituency office, and I can say that the work they do is incredible. Today, we will find that about 20% of them are veterans, but do not quote me on that. Contrast that with the day the Commissionaires came into being. When it came into being—