Recently, Prime Minister Harper concluded a successful visit to the Middle East, which included visits to Iraq and Kuwait.
Canada is a leading member of the International Coalition against ISIS as well as a top-tier humanitarian donor supporting the innocent people of Iraq and Syria.
We are all aware of the issues facing the region, with the threat of ISIS and the lack of governmental stability chief among them.
In Erbil, Iraq, the Prime Minister announced additional Canadian support for development and stabilization initiatives designed to improve water, sanitation and hygiene for the Iraqi people.
Additional measures being undertaken in Iraq with Canadian support include investigations into human rights violations, the repair of infrastructure and schools, the improvement of governance, the introduction of child protection services and the clearing of the remnants of war.
Canada will be providing bomb disposal robots as well as night vision goggles to assist in the protection of the lives of International Coalition Forces and Iraqi civilians.
While in Kuwait, the Prime Minister took the time to personally thank members of our Canadian Forces for their efforts in the fight against ISIS. Prime Minister Harper was joined by NHL stars Paul Coffey and Ryan Smyth, who shared some of their hockey memories and joined CAF members in pickup hockey games.
“It was an honour and a privilege to be in Kuwait today to visit with the brave men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces who are fighting ISIS with other members of the
International coalition to bring peace and security to the region,” said the Prime Minister. “Canada will never accept violent jihadism and the unspeakable horrors being carried out against innocent children, women and men by ISIS. Our military will continue to fight for freedom and justice in the world and to protect Canadians against the threat of terrorism. We salute their courage, commend their honour and wish them a safe return home.”
Nine years ago, two Canadian patriots, Lisa Miller and Karen Boire, launched the Red Friday campaign, urging Canadians to wear red on Fridays to show support for all members of the Canadian Armed Forces.
In the past year alone, our Forces have been active in the fight against ISIS, participated in the fight against Ebola in West Africa, trained Ukrainian forces to help cope with the aggression of the Putin regime, and provided disaster assistance in Nepal following the devastating recent earthquake.
I hope that you will join me in wearing red on Fridays to show support for the brave women and men of our Canadian Armed Forces who put their lives at risk every day to make our world a safer place.
