Government backtracks on new Remembrance Day wreath policy

A man sets a poppy on the government of Canada wreath during a Remembrance Day ceremony at the cenotaph in Quebec City Monday, November 11, 2024 . THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

The federal government is backtracking on a decision to limit the number of Remembrance Day wreaths provided to MPs to display at Remembrance Day and Veterans’ Week events.

On Wednesday, CTV News reported on the policy change based on an email from the Veterans Affairs Minister referring to a “revised format” for the Wreaths for Parliamentarians program. The email noted that MPs requiring more than two wreaths would have to order them for $115 each, and “additional costs are the responsibility of the requestor.”

In Question Period Friday, Veterans Affairs Minister Jill McKnight said the government wouldn’t move forward with the changes this year.

McKnight said that, after learning the changes would significantly disrupt Remembrance Day events, “I’ve instructed my department to revert to the previous format for this year.”

She said that in response to a question from Conservative MP and veteran Alex Ruff, who stood in the House wearing his medals.

“Many ridings have dozens of cenotaphs that request wreaths for Remembrance Day. The Liberals are now telling MPs that [Veterans Affairs Canada] will only pay for two. Veterans Affairs uses the tag ‘Canada Remembers’ on social media. So why now is the government choosing to forget our veterans?” asked the Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MP.

The announcement resulted in cross-partisan applause from both sides of the House.

The issue is of particular concern to MPs in rural ridings, who could require as many as two dozen wreaths for events at cenotaphs and ceremonies across a large geographical area.

“It’s disappointing it took Conservative pushing and public backlash for the Liberal government to reverse their decision; however, I am grateful common sense prevailed,” Ruff told CTV News via email after Question Period.

“Laying a wreath at every cenotaph in Canada, in memory of the over 100,000 Canadians that have made the supreme sacrifice, is the least the government can do. Lest We Forget,” he wrote.

CTV News reached out to the Minister’s Office and Veterans Affairs Canada for more information on why the decision was made and what the plans are for subsequent years.

A spokesperson did not answer the questions, but referenced this statement from the Minister on X which reiterated her comments in the House.