Report

As Chair of the Canada–France Interparliamentary Association and at the invitation of the President of the French Republic, François Hollande, the Hon. Claudette Tardif attended ceremonies in France from June 5 to 7 , 2014, that commemorated the 70^th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

June 5, 2014

In Paris, Senator Tardif attended a reception hosted by Mr. Claude Bartolone, President of the National Assembly, given in honour of foreign parliamentarians attending the ceremonies commemorating the 70^th anniversary of the Normandy landings.

JUNE 6, 2014

On June 6, 2014, Senator Tardif travelled to Ouistreham to attend the official international ceremony commemorating the 70^th anniversary of the Allied troops landing in Normandy during the Second World War. The ceremony was attended by about 20 heads of state and government, as well as nearly 1,800 veterans, who all gathered together to mark this historic event. Senator Tardif was accompanied by Ms. Catherine Coutelle, French Deputy for Vienne’s second constituency and Chair of the France–Canada Interparliamentary Association.

JUNE 7, 2014

On June 7, 2014, Senator Tardif joined a number of Canadian veterans and dignitaries at the
Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in Cintheaux, France, to pay tribute to the Canadian soldiers who were laid to rest there.

The ceremony was poignant, and Senator Tardif was honoured to attend alongside Canadian veterans. She was very moved by the stories they shared. She had the honour of meeting Paul Maisonneuve, a Franco-Albertan D-Day veteran originally from the Falher area. Mr. Maisonneuve was deployed overseas with the Loyal Edmonton Regiment. In 1943 he was transferred to the 2^nd Canadian Infantry Brigade (1^st Division), where he worked as a decoder and code breaker before once again being transferred to the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals supporting the 3^rd Canadian Infantry Division in the lead-up to D-Day. On June 4^th 2014, the Government of France decorated Mr. Maisonneuve with the prestigious Legion of Honour for his role during the Second World War.

Senator Tardif also had the opportunity to meet with Ernest Côté, a veteran originally from Edmonton. Mr. Côté served in the Royal 22^e Regiment as a platoon commander (lieutenant). In June 1944, he was in charge of logistics for the 3^rd Canadian Division, which had 20,000 volunteers who took part in the Normandy landings. In England, he helped prepare the top-secret invasion plans for the D-Day landings. Interestingly enough, Ernest Côté is a descendant of Jean-Léon Côté, one of the pioneers of the Franco-Albertan community and a former Albertan senator.

Conclusion

Senator Tardif’s mission allowed the Canada–France Interparliamentary Association to be represented
at this large-scale international event and, in the Association’s tradition of parliamentary diplomacy,
to demonstrate Canadians’ continued commitment to their military heritage and their shared history
with France.

Respectfully submitted,