The Hypocrisy of Respect

The House of Commons has unanimously approved an NDP motion to grant a state funeral to the last surviving First World War veteran. This page considers it an appropriate measure to commemorate a defining moment in Canadian history and hopefully, Percy Wilson (Age 105), Lloyd Clement (Age 106), and John Babcock (also 106) don't mind Ottawa telling them that their days are numbered.

Conservative MPs didn't seem to have a problem voting for the Dominion Institute's proposal to honour the Canadian sacrifice in Europe 90 years ago. However, when the government stopped the practice of lowering the Parliament Hill flag to half mast to honour the fallen in Afghanistan, it showed that the Tories have a real problem with honouring Canadian sacrifice in this day and age, for fear it may raise questions as to why the sacrifice is made. Here's hoping that when these three distinguished veterans do pass away, the Prime Minister at the state funeral is one that pays his or her respects because he or she actually means it, unlike Stephen Harper who only does so because it's politically convenient.