A page from Premier Dalton McGuinty's Website

Greetings,

Jack has sent you a copy of a page from the Premier of Ontario's Website along with the following comments: "Its About time !!!"

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ONTARIANS STANDING WITH MILITARY FAMILIES
McGuinty Government Introduces Legislation That Would Ensure Faster Access To OHIP Coverage, Job Protection For Reservists

TORONTO - The McGuinty government is standing with those who serve in the military and the reserves by introducing legislation that would, if passed, provide immediate access to OHIP for eligible military families and protect the jobs of reservists who are called up to duty.

"When asked to make sacrifices on our behalf, our men and women in uniform do not hesitate, so when it comes to accessing government services, they and their families shouldn't have to wait," said Premier Dalton McGuinty.

"Compared to what they do for us, these are modest measures, but it is our hope that they will make military families' lives a little easier, and provide our soldiers with some peace of mind."

The legislation, if passed, would also remove the 90-day waiting period for services insured under OHIP for military families. Military families transferred to Ontario from other provinces or from overseas are sometimes required to pay physician fees up front during the waiting period. The new policy is expected to benefit approximately 8,500 military family members each year.

"People who serve our country should not have to face an additional burden of paying fees up front for publicly funded heath care for their families. This legislation, if passed, would ensure that military families have immediate access to coverage for the full range of provincially funded health care services," said Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care George Smitherman.

The proposed legislation would also ensure that military reservists have job protection while on a tour of duty either at home or abroad. There are about 12,000 reservists from Ontario, with several hundred serving abroad at any one time.

"Job-protected leave for reservists would acknowledge the service and sacrifice these citizens render their country and community. Ontarians who put their lives on the line to serve our country should never have to worry that their civilian jobs back home are on the line," said Labour Minister Brad Duguid.

Premier McGuinty met with military families today to outline the changes and thank them for their service and sacrifices.

"Canadian Forces members and reservists do a tough job, often in difficult conditions. They stand ready to protect us - we have to make sure our province stands with them," he said.

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This page is available on the Web at: http://www.premier.gov.on.ca/news/product.asp?ProductID=1814

For more information, please visit the Premier's Website at: www.premier.gov.on.ca

FW: Statement

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STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA ON THE DEATH OF TWO CANADIAN SOLDIERS IN AFGHANISTAN

November 17, 2007
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement today on the death of two Canadian soldiers and one afghan interpreter and the wounding of three soldiers:

"I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of Corporal Nicolas Raymond Beauchamp and Private Michel Jr. Levesque, who were killed yesterday in Afghanistan. Our thoughts and prayers go out to them at this time of loss.

I also wish a speedy recovery to the other soldiers injured in this incident. These are all exceptional Canadians who deserve the gratitude and respect of this nation.

The actions of these brave soldiers have brought hope to the Afghan people.

My sympathies also go to the family of the Afghan interpreter who lost his life in the incident.

These soldiers were participating in a joint operation to further stabilize the Panjwayi district, west of Kandahar City. The efforts in this region of Kandahar province are aimed at helping create the conditions necessary to allow reconstruction and development in a country devastated from decades of war and turmoil.

We are making a difference in Afghanistan and the Government of Canada stands proudly with our Canadian Forces members as they strive to protect Canadians, our interests and our values."

Corporal Nicolas Raymond Beauchamp was a member of 5e Ambulance de campagne and Private Michel Jr Levesque was a members of 3e Bataillon of Royal 22e Régiment, based out of Valcartier Québec.

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This Picture is Worth 1000 Million Words...

This Picture is Worth 1000 Million Words...

We truly take a lot for granted.

Forget the football 'heroes' and movie 'stars'.

Pass this on so that all may know the price of freedom.

Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you,

Jesus Christ and the American, British and Canadian Soldier

One died for your soul;

the other for your freedom.

Return to Vimy 90th Anniversary

I think this is a great video bravo job well done, we can not forget them.

This is the story that doesn't often make the headlines.

This needs to make headline news...not some of the other junk that makes the news these days!!!

It's a tough, but heart-warming story...with a picture of John Gebhardt in Iraq

John Gebhardt's wife, Mindy, said that this little girl's entire family was executed. The insurgents intended to execute the little girl also, and shot her in the head...but they failed to kill her. She was cared for in John's hospital and is healing up, but continues to cry and moan. The nurses said John is the only one who seems to calm her down, so John has spent the last four nights holding her while they both slept in that chair. The girl is coming along with her healing.

He is a real Star of the war, and represents what the Western world is trying to do.

This, my friends, is worth sharing with the WORLD! Go for it!!

You'll never see things like this in the news. Please keep this going. Nothing will happen if you don't, but the public needs to see pictures like this and needs to realize that we're making a difference. Even if it is just one little girl at a time.

Author: Unknown

FW: A History lesson

Subject: A History Lesson

f you have a Canadian $10 bill, look at the back right side of the bill.

You will see a veteran standing at attention near the Ottawa war memorial.

His name is Robert Metcalfe and he died last month at the age of 90. That he managed to live to that age is rather remarkable, given what happened in the Second World War.

Born in England , he one of the 400,000 members of the British Expeditionary Force sent to the mainland where they found themselves facing the new German warfare technique - the Blitzkrieg.

He was treating a wounded comrade when he was hit in the legs by shrapnel. Enroute to hospital, his ambulance came under fire from a German tank which then miraculously ceased fire.

Evacuated from Dunkirk on HMS Grenade, two of the sister ships with them were sunk.

Recovered, he was sent to allied campaigns in North Africa and Italy .

Enroute his ship was chased by the German battleship Bismarck .

In North Africa he served under General Montgomery against the Desert Fox, Rommel

Sent into the Italian campaign, he met his future wife, a lieutenant and physiotherapist in a Canadian hospital.

They were married in the morning by the mayor of the Italian town, and again in the afternoon by a British padre. After the war they settled in Chatham where he went into politics and became the warden (chairman) of the county.

At the age of 80 he wrote a book about his experiences and on his retirement he and his wife moved to Ottawa . One day out of the blue he received a call from a government official asking him to go downtown for a photo op. He wasn't told what the photo was for or why the chose him.

"He had no idea he would be on the bill," his daughter said.

And now you know the rest of the story of the old veteran on the $10 bill.

Wonderful story of a memorable man...and he was only one of MANY...

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A tribute to our Vets

I'm sure that the following piece applies to more than just my grandfather, whom I wrote this for. I thought I would share it with anyone else that has an ailing relative that fought for our freedom.Remembrance You were once a warrior, a soldier, a thinker of note. You fought the Devil on the Beaches of Hell and won. You watched as your friends and countrymen were slain and yet you persevered. You brought home glory, love and the ability to live a free life. You were a hero. You are a hero to us still.It is because of you I am today. It is because of you that I live, live free, love life, love. You gave me these things, yet you did not know me. You did it for the purest of reasons and yet I benefited from it. It is for that reason that I must thank you. It is for that reason that I call you hero. It is for that reason that I gladly give my two minutes and anything else you ask. It is for that reason I scorn those who do not care and that take you for granted. They do not know or do not care or are too shallow to understand and I pity them, but I shall never pity you. For pity and respect can never go hand in hand and I respect you like no one else.Now you are injured. Not by a bullet, but by the passing of time. You are cared for; by us and by them. You shall pass away but your name will never be forgotten. Your name will be Warrior, Soldier or Hero but I shall always call you Granddad.

Posted with permission

written By Michael Woodhouse
mykolw@gmail.com