Poilievre Says ‘Activists’ Used Remembrance Day to Push ‘Divisive’ Causes

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre rises during question period in the House of Commons on Oct. 23, 2024. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre says activists and authorities used Remembrance Day this year to push an agenda.

“What an absolute disgrace that so many woke activists & authorities used Remembrance Day to push their divisive and radical causes, denigrating our history and the brave military members who sacrificed for it,” Poilievre wrote on the social media platform X on Nov. 12.

The Tory leader added Canada has a “proud history” and those living in the country should be grateful.

Poilievre did not point to any particular event, but before Remembrance Day he had criticized the military for preventing its chaplains from reciting prayers during official functions.

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) Chaplain General issued the related directive last year replacing prayers with “spiritual reflections,” a move chaplaincy leadership said is necessary to preserve the religious neutrality of the state.

Several politicians spoke out this year following controversy around how some schools marked Remembrance Day.

The principal of a school in Ottawa wrote an apology to parents after a Palestinian protest song in Arabic was played during the school’s Remembrance Day ceremony.

“The inclusion of a song that could be seen as politically charged was not in line with the values of respect and unity that we strive to uphold at this school,” said principal Aaron Hobbs of the Sir Robert Borden High School.

Referencing the case, Independent MP Kevin Vuong, who serves as a military reservist, said those “who cannot honour our fallen should not be entrusted with teaching our children the meaning of Remembrance Day.”

“People of all backgrounds & faiths fought for our country, with some making the ultimate sacrifice in defence of [Canada],” he said.

Ontario PC MPP Lisa MacLeod said including the “Palestinian war song” at a Remembrance Day event was a “politically charged move.”

“If you respected our military history and the sacrifices for freedom you wouldn’t have played this card,” she said on Nov. 12.

Liberal MP Anthony Housefather, without referring to any specific incident, said in a Nov. 12 post on X that Remembrance Day “is meant to honour those who have proudly served our country and sacrificed so that we may live in liberty.”

“The only goal of that day should be to unite and celebrate our heroic service members & veterans & our country. They deserve nothing less,” he said.

Nova Scotia School

Another school in Nova Scotia, near Canada’s most populous military base in Halifax, backtracked after initially telling veterans and active CAF members they should forego their uniforms if they attend its Remembrance Day service.

“To maintain a welcoming environment for all, we kindly request that service members wear civilian clothing,” Sackville Heights Elementary School wrote in its newsletter.

The school said the policy had been put in place because many of its students come from countries in conflict and they are not comfortable with individuals in military uniforms.

The school received criticism from incumbent PC Premier Tim Houston, who said its leaders were “disgracing themselves while demeaning the people who protect our country.”

Nova Scotia Liberal Leader Zach Churchill also weighed in on the issue, saying the initial decision was “shortsighted,” and that veterans and service members in uniform should be welcome.

Regarding another event, former chief of the defence staff Rick Hillier criticized a lengthy indigenous land acknowledgement by a city official in Toronto to open its Remembrance Day ceremony, calling it a “condescending lecture” at an event meant to honour “those who served and sacrificed.”