Minister, my question for you today is concerning our Korean War veterans and their legacies of service and sacrifice during the Korean War, which is Canada’s third-bloodiest war.

As you are aware, next year will be the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Korean War years — June 25, 2025, to July 27, 2028. Minister, what will Veterans Affairs Canada do to honour this milestone seventy-fifth anniversary for our deserving Korean War veterans?

Thank you very much, senator, for that very important question, and thank you again for meeting with me this morning. I look forward to continuing a working relationship with respect to the area of commemoration and especially our Korean War veterans.

With respect to the seventy-fifth anniversary, the Department of Veterans Affairs will again look forward in planning a commemorative event, more than likely both national and also internationally, as we did for the seventieth event. I can guarantee that our office will certainly be working in close cooperation with respect to the ambassador and also your office in order to make sure that we can meet the needs of our Korean veterans. Once again, last year, we had some very successful events to commemorate the sacrifice of the men who served, and we look forward to being able to plan those events again.

Five years from now or four years from now sounds like a very long time away, but we certainly recognize when we plan these types of events we have to start planning early. Again, I commit to you in making sure that contact will be made.

Thank you for that. As you know, our veterans are in their late 80s, 90s and some in their 100s because they served in World War II as well. The key to the legacy is to ensure the war is no longer forgotten and the next generation learns about it in schools and other places.

My supplementary is: How will Veterans Affairs Canada ensure that the Korean War is no longer forgotten and long remembered through some of the educational initiatives you have?

Thank you again for that very important question. I think commemoration in education is paramount, and it’s up to all of us to ensure those stories are not forgotten. Our commemoration events that take place are not only for veterans but for all Canadians. We have to ensure, once again, that our school-aged children, that all Canadians are fully aware of the sacrifices of men and women.

For myself as a fairly new Minister of Veterans Affairs, I certainly have two priorities. Number one is ensuring that veterans receive the benefits and services they are entitled to and that they’re well taken care of. Commemoration, for me, is another important area. We do a lot of work at Veterans Affairs Canada with respect to commemorating the First World War, the Second World War and the Korean War, and that has to continue. Regardless of whether our veterans are getting older, we have to make sure those stories continue on. We cannot forget.

Furthermore, as well, when it comes to our modern-day —