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Parliament unanimously
passes motion to hold
a state funeral for the last
First World War veteran
TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2006 — The House of
Commons unanimously passed a motion
today to hold a state funeral for the last
veteran of the First World War. The
passage of the motion brings to a successful
conclusion the Dominion Institute’s online
petition asking the federal government to
offer a full State Funeral to the family of the
last Great War veteran. Since November 6
almost 100,000 Canadians have signed
the online petition.
“We want to thank the tens of thousands of Canadians who signed our
petition in support of a State Funeral,” said Rudyard Griffiths, Executive
Director of The Dominion Institute. Mr. Griffiths continues: “By passing a
motion to offer a full state funeral today the Parliament of Canada will
allow a grateful nation to pay proper tribute to our last Great War veteran
on his passing and honour the over 600,000 Canadians he served with
under arms from 1914-1918.”
Currently, only three veterans of First World War remain – Lloyd Clemett
(106 years of age), John Babcock (106 years of age) and Dwight Wilson
(105 years of age). These three men constitute Canada’s only living link to
the sacrifices and triumphs of the more than half million Canadians who
served in the First World War and the more than 60,000 who died
between 1914 and 1918.
The motion for a state funeral was presented by the NDP through Veterans
Affairs critic Peter Stoffer (Sackville – Eastern Shore).
“Ordinary Canadians across this country want to honour and remember
the last of this Great Generation. Close to 90,000 Canadians have already
signed the Dominion Institute’s petition calling for a state funeral for the
last Great War veteran. With the adoption of our motion today, Canadians
can collectively celebrate the sacrifice of all WWI veterans,” said NDP
leader Jack Layton.
Recent surveys undertaken by the Dominion Institute reveal that
Canadians’ knowledge of the First World War is fading rapidly with barely a
third of our fellow citizens can name the battle of Vimy Ridge as a key
Canadian victory in the First World War. These same surveys indicate that
three in four Canadians support offering a State Funeral to the last
veteran of the First World War. See www.dominion.ca/polling.htm for more
information on the Institute’s polling studies.
The Dominion Institute is making its call for a State Funeral on behalf of the
veterans who volunteer with its Memory Project. The Memory Project
Speakers’ Bureau consists of 1,500 veteran volunteers who have visited
with over 300,000 young people since 2001. The Institute conducted an
informal survey of this group last month and found that fully 76%
supported providing a State Funeral to the family of the Last Great War
veteran resident in Canada.
For more information on the Institute’s campaign for State Funeral visit:
www.dominion.ca.
passes motion to hold
a state funeral for the last
First World War veteran
TORONTO, Nov. 21, 2006 — The House of
Commons unanimously passed a motion
today to hold a state funeral for the last
veteran of the First World War. The
passage of the motion brings to a successful
conclusion the Dominion Institute’s online
petition asking the federal government to
offer a full State Funeral to the family of the
last Great War veteran. Since November 6
almost 100,000 Canadians have signed
the online petition.
“We want to thank the tens of thousands of Canadians who signed our
petition in support of a State Funeral,” said Rudyard Griffiths, Executive
Director of The Dominion Institute. Mr. Griffiths continues: “By passing a
motion to offer a full state funeral today the Parliament of Canada will
allow a grateful nation to pay proper tribute to our last Great War veteran
on his passing and honour the over 600,000 Canadians he served with
under arms from 1914-1918.”
Currently, only three veterans of First World War remain – Lloyd Clemett
(106 years of age), John Babcock (106 years of age) and Dwight Wilson
(105 years of age). These three men constitute Canada’s only living link to
the sacrifices and triumphs of the more than half million Canadians who
served in the First World War and the more than 60,000 who died
between 1914 and 1918.
The motion for a state funeral was presented by the NDP through Veterans
Affairs critic Peter Stoffer (Sackville – Eastern Shore).
“Ordinary Canadians across this country want to honour and remember
the last of this Great Generation. Close to 90,000 Canadians have already
signed the Dominion Institute’s petition calling for a state funeral for the
last Great War veteran. With the adoption of our motion today, Canadians
can collectively celebrate the sacrifice of all WWI veterans,” said NDP
leader Jack Layton.
Recent surveys undertaken by the Dominion Institute reveal that
Canadians’ knowledge of the First World War is fading rapidly with barely a
third of our fellow citizens can name the battle of Vimy Ridge as a key
Canadian victory in the First World War. These same surveys indicate that
three in four Canadians support offering a State Funeral to the last
veteran of the First World War. See www.dominion.ca/polling.htm for more
information on the Institute’s polling studies.
The Dominion Institute is making its call for a State Funeral on behalf of the
veterans who volunteer with its Memory Project. The Memory Project
Speakers’ Bureau consists of 1,500 veteran volunteers who have visited
with over 300,000 young people since 2001. The Institute conducted an
informal survey of this group last month and found that fully 76%
supported providing a State Funeral to the family of the Last Great War
veteran resident in Canada.
For more information on the Institute’s campaign for State Funeral visit:
www.dominion.ca.
