Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and the Conservative Party of Canada, released the following statement on the Anniversary of Canada’s Entrance into the Second World War:
“Almost a decade after Prime Minister R.B. Bennett secured Canada’s full control over our foreign affairs through the Statute of Westminster, Canada entered the Second World War with our own independent declaration of war. During the nearly six years that war swept across the globe, Canadians demonstrated our courage and dedication on land, in the air and at sea.
“Today, we pay tribute to the more than one million Canadian men and women who served in uniform. By the end of the war, one in ten of our grand and great-grandfathers took up arms, travelling far from home to defend freedom in Europe and the Pacific.
“Millions more kept up the fight here at home, building weapons for our troops, growing the food that fed Allied forces and investing their savings in Victory bonds.
“It was on Canadian soil, where our allies, led by British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill and American President Franklin D. Roosevelt, would gather twice to plan the future of the war. These Québec Conferences played an indispensable role in shaping the Allied response and helped secure our victory abroad.
“From the beaches of Normandy to submarine battles in the St. Lawrence River, Canadians answered the call with courage and determination. Nearly 45,000 Canadians lost their lives, while more than 55,000 were wounded in service to the cause of freedom.
“On this day, we honour the fallen, our veterans and all of those who have sacrificed to defend peace, security and freedom around the world.”
“Lest we forget.”