EvanL
05-07-2004, 12:51 AM
CANADIAN PRESS
OTTAWA - The federal government, under pressure to help more veterans attend D-Day ceremonies in Normandy next month, says it will announce a new scheme within days.
Veterans Affairs Minister John McCallum made the commitment after the government came under attack in the House of Commons over its plan to pay for only 60 veterans to accompany the official delegation to the 60th anniversary of D-Day on June 6.
Between 80,000 and 90,000 Canadians took part in the Normandy campaign in northern France from June to August, 1944. About a quarter of them are still alive.
McCallum said his department followed past practice in selecting veterans to attend the ceremonies. Associations representing the 60 regiments and service units that participated in the campaign were asked to each select a vet to go with the delegation.
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said the cost of Prime Minister Paul Martin's recent travel could have paid to send another 60 vets to Normandy.
"So it is not a matter of money; it is a matter of priorities," he said. "This is not supposed to be a photo-op for politicians. It is supposed to be to honour what the veterans achieved.
Martin acknowledged a great debt to the Second World War veterans.
"We, as Canadians, owe a tremendous amount to those who gave their lives, for those who fought for us and this government certainly intends to recognize that.
"That is what, in fact, June 6 is all about."
About 15,000 Canadians actually landed in Normandy on D-Day. About 1,200 were killed or wounded.
This year's D-Day commemoration is likely to be the last major ceremony to be attended by large numbers of veterans. Most of the vets today are in their 80s.
OTTAWA - The federal government, under pressure to help more veterans attend D-Day ceremonies in Normandy next month, says it will announce a new scheme within days.
Veterans Affairs Minister John McCallum made the commitment after the government came under attack in the House of Commons over its plan to pay for only 60 veterans to accompany the official delegation to the 60th anniversary of D-Day on June 6.
Between 80,000 and 90,000 Canadians took part in the Normandy campaign in northern France from June to August, 1944. About a quarter of them are still alive.
McCallum said his department followed past practice in selecting veterans to attend the ceremonies. Associations representing the 60 regiments and service units that participated in the campaign were asked to each select a vet to go with the delegation.
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said the cost of Prime Minister Paul Martin's recent travel could have paid to send another 60 vets to Normandy.
"So it is not a matter of money; it is a matter of priorities," he said. "This is not supposed to be a photo-op for politicians. It is supposed to be to honour what the veterans achieved.
Martin acknowledged a great debt to the Second World War veterans.
"We, as Canadians, owe a tremendous amount to those who gave their lives, for those who fought for us and this government certainly intends to recognize that.
"That is what, in fact, June 6 is all about."
About 15,000 Canadians actually landed in Normandy on D-Day. About 1,200 were killed or wounded.
This year's D-Day commemoration is likely to be the last major ceremony to be attended by large numbers of veterans. Most of the vets today are in their 80s.