Ottawa – Canadians who defended Canada from external threats during the cold war should be recognized with a medal and if Carol Hughes has her way, they will get one. Hughes the MP for Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing re-introduced her Private Members Bill that will create a Defence of Canada Medal (Cold War) in the House of Commons today with support from Thunder Bay-Rainy River MP, John Rafferty.
“Its purpose is to formally honour the people who defended Canada from within Canada for the period from 1946 to 1989,” said Hughes. “It is intended to be awarded to individuals who served in the regular and reserve forces, police forces, emergency measures organizations, as well as civil organizations such as St. John Ambulance, all of whom were concerned with the protection of Canada from the threat posed by the countries behind the Iron Curtain.”
The medal was conceived of by Elliot Lake resident, Ulrich Krings, who presented Hughes with a detailed proposal which she brought to the House of Commons in the last parliament.
The Cold War lasted from 1946 to 1989, when the dismantling of the Berlin Wall symbolically ended a period of tension that peaked during the Cuban Missile Crisis and was the driving force behind the arms race.
“I’m very happy to second this important bill,” said Thunder Bay – Rainy River MP, John Rafferty. “The Defence of Canada Medal (Cold War) would recognize the contributions that were made by Canadians from all walks of life during an important period in our country’s history.”
“The medal will recognize the support these men and women gave Canadians and the countless hours spent training and practising for an attack on Canadian soil that, thankfully, never happened,” said Hughes. “Their service to our country came at a time when we became aware of how fragile peace can be and how vulnerable we became to advances in weapons and warfare.”