Parliament needs daily reminder of the consequences of war: Dallaire

OTTAWA – One of Canada’s best-known soldiers wants parliamentarians to have a daily reminder that sending troops into battle can have devastating consequences.

Sen. Romeo Dallaire has been quietly lobbying the federal government to build a replica of Mother Canada, the iconic monument that looms over the eastern side of the Vimy Ridge memorial in France.

Dallaire wants to see the new statue in Jacques-Cartier Park, directly across the river from Parliament Hill — and within sight of MPs and senators who would decide where and when to deploy troops in the future.

Dallaire says it’s the sort of sober reflection the country needs in an age of hyper-partisan politics and emerging global crises.

Today marks the 97th anniversary of the battle, which claimed 3,598 Canadian lives.

Dallaire’s proposal has the support of National Defence, but the Harper government has not said whether it would add the idea to its list of planned First World War commemorations and projects.