PRIME Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday issued the following statement on Remembrance Day:

“On November 11 of every year, we wear our red poppies and observe two minutes of silence to honour the brave members in uniform who risked everything to defend the values that we hold dear. We pay tribute to the women and men Veterans. When Canadians have fought during times of war and conflict, they’ve done so in defence of values like freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. Today, we recommit ourselves to promoting these values that guide us in our mission to create a better Canada and world.

“Remembrance Day is an opportunity to recognize members of the Canadian Armed Forces who have courageously answered the call of duty. When it was needed most, they left behind their families and homes. Many returned with severe trauma – or didn’t return at all. Their sacrifice is a debt that we can never repay.

“As we reflect on this debt, we are reminded that this day is not just about the past; it is about our present and our future. From the battlefields of the First and Second World Wars, to Korea and Afghanistan, and in peacekeeping operations, to the training grounds for Ukrainian soldiers, and here at home, responding to a global pandemic and to climate-related disasters, Canadian Armed Forces members continue to show unwavering resolve and bravery.

“Members of our Armed Forces have endured the horrors of war to defend our values. We owe it to them to stay true to our values and to never forget the sacrifices they have made to protect them. While we observe a moment of silence and lay wreaths at memorials across the country, we acknowledge the importance of teaching the lessons of history to the next generations. May they carry the torch of remembrance forward so that we can create a brighter world for all.

“Lest we forget.”

PREMIER David Eby issued the following statement:

“Today, we pause on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month to pay tribute to the fallen.

“At cenotaphs and memorials around the province, we stand in solidarity with active service members as well as veterans of the armed forces and merchant mariners.

“We gather for two minutes of silence, each of us reflecting in that moment on the pain and sorrow of war. We remember the fallen as we remember those who felt their unbearable loss.

“In these uncertain times, we must not forget the terrible sacrifice made by too many.

“Conflicts around the world threaten people’s lives, freedom and security. It is important we recognize the sacrifices of those who commit their lives to the service of our country.

“On this solemn day, we remember those who sought and continue to seek a better world for us all. Lest we forget.”

PIERRE Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition, released the following statement:

“In 1918, at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the guns of war finally fell silent. For four years, more than 600,000 Canadians had answered the call of duty and served Canada in the Great War. Through the mud and turmoil of the greatest conflict the world had ever seen, these brave heroes were driven forward by the incredible promise of freedom and the love of their common home.

“In the years since, generations of Canadians have bravely answered the same call, choosing to stand on guard for Canada to keep it strong and free. In times of war, they have served in the seas, in the air and on lands far from home, defending freedom whenever it was threatened. In times of peace, they have stood proudly in uniform, unshaken in their resolve to preserve the values that others have sacrificed their own lives to secure.

“Today, as we should every day, we honour these heroic Canadians. We remember those who gave up their lives so that we could live ours in peace. We thank our soldiers, our veterans and our fallen for the unrepayable sacrifices they have made to ensure the safety of our common home. And we vow to always defend the tradition of freedom they fought for whenever we are called to do so.

“Lest we forget.”

FEDERAL NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh made the following statement:

“Today, we honour the men and women who have given so much and who have dedicated their lives in the service of Canadians. The sacrifices that our courageous Veterans and current members of the Canadian Armed Forces have made Canada a nation which we can be proud of.

“Members of the Canadian Armed Forces have always played an important role here at home and internationally, proudly serving to build a safer, more peaceful world and protect Canada.

“The poppies that we wear every year are a reminder of not only the sacrifices that generations before ours have made but also of the lives lost or changed forever, and of the Canadians who have recently returned from war and those who are currently serving. The poppy is also a reminder of the families and communities whose sacrifices are too often forgotten when their loved ones serve.

“This Remembrance Day, we ask all Canadians to take a moment from their lives to reflect on the sacrifices that have been made by their fellow citizens, who volunteered in service of something bigger than themselves and their families. They answered a call so few of us have.

“We thank all members of the Canadian Armed Forces, past and present.

“Lest we forget.”