Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, released the following statement on the Anniversary of Canada’s Entrance into the First World War:
“On this day 111 years ago, Canada, and its place in the world, changed forever. Britain’s declaration of war on Imperial Germany brought our young nation to the front lines of an apocalyptic conflict that would reshape the world forever.
“Some 650,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders served in this struggle by sea, land and – for the first time – air. Filled with devotion for King and country, they crossed the broad Atlantic for the battlefields of France and Belgium. Here, at critical engagements like Ypres, Vimy and the Somme, they showed heroic courage in battles of unprecedented brutality.
“The scale of their sacrifice can be hard for us to comprehend. With over 66,000 killed in action, more Canadians and Newfoundlanders died in that conflict than in all our previous and subsequent wars combined. Whole communities were devastated by the loss of a generation of young men.
“As we look back on this solemn anniversary, we bow before the sacrifices they made for our young country. Their courage in the face of the enemy led not only to the defeat of Imperial Germany, but to a new and respected role for Canada on the world stage.”