Minister, I’ve had the privilege of meeting and working very closely with many of your predecessors, so I look forward to doing the same with you.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to highlight that, as you know, this is the start of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Korean War years for our veterans. It started on June 25 and will go on until July 27 — the Armistice Day of the Korean War. On the sixtieth anniversary, I remember former minister Steven Blaney at the time declared 2013 as the Year of the Korean War Veteran. With the seventy-fifth anniversary — which we are in now — and with the significant battles that have happened, what will the government do to really commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary in a way that our veterans deserve?

Thank you very much for that question. The commemoration of these significant events is incredibly important. I know that some activities have been starting already, and we are going to be continuing more throughout the year, working specifically with the Korea Veterans Association of Canada. While reviewing some of my briefing notes, I actually saw the opportunity that something will be taking place at some point in my home province, specifically in Langley, and ceremonies have taken place there. Our commemorations team works very closely with the Korea Veterans Association, and we will continue to do so — they have regular engagements — so that we can ensure that we are acknowledging these significant dates and recognizing these veterans.

For instance, commemorative stamps were something that wasn’t done in 2013, but there was a commemorative coin. These things all mean so much to the veterans.

On that note, Remembrance Day is fast approaching. I was so disappointed with the Throne Speech when the King was in the chamber because the Korean War was not mentioned alongside the other wars, and I’m sure our veterans heard the absence of the mention of the Korean War.

For your Remembrance Day remarks and statements, I just wanted to say that I hope that our Korean War veterans, especially given it’s the seventy-fifth anniversary, will be part of those official statements.

Thank you very much for that feedback. I understand that, and I will certainly be taking that back to my team.

You have identified a few opportunities, and I will certainly be sharing that with my department to see what might be possible.

Thank you.