Assume ownership of National Field of Honour
Petitioners ask the Government to assume ownership of the Last Post Fund National Field of Honour, direct VAC and Canadian Heritage to agree a transfer plan, and announce it by 11 Nov 2026. The government responds that VAC is reviewing governance, legal and operational matters and will continue working with the Last Post Fund.
Why we would sign this petition
- Transferring ownership to the Crown would secure long-term stewardship and preservation of a nationally significant military cemetery.
- It implements the Canada Strong commitment and answers longstanding local and organisational requests, reducing the prolonged uncertainty harming the cemetery’s viability.
- A clear transfer plan and a Nov 11, 2026 announcement set a concrete timeline to protect graves and commemorate surviving WWII veterans.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Assuming ownership would add fiscal and operational costs for the government that could compete with other priorities.
- Legal, governance and operational complexities could delay benefits and require extensive due diligence before any transfer is complete.
- Continued funding, partnership agreements or targeted grants might preserve the site’s upkeep without full Crown acquisition, offering less disruptive alternatives.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada The Last Post Fund National Field of Honour (LPFNFoH) in Pointe Claire, QC, a National Historic Site (2007), is Canada's largest military cemetery for Canadian and Allied veterans from 23 countries; The LPFNFoH is of national significance, emblematic of Canada's international engagement and sovereignty; The Last Post Fund (LPH), which operates the LPFNFoH, faces unsustainable financial challenges - well-known to Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) - that are exacerbated by prolonged uncertainty; Since 2020, the LPF, supported by veterans' families and a Pointe Claire City Council resolution, has proposed that VAC assume ownership of the cemetery, as is the case for veterans' cemeteries in Halifax/Esquimault; Despite a 2024 petition (e-4984) in Parliament and sustained advocacy, there is still no definitive response from VAC; The 2025 Liberal Party of Canada campaign platform "Canada Strong" promised to "assume ownership of the National Field of Honour" and a written undertaking from the VAC Minister in July, 2025, stated this assumption of ownership is a "government priority"; and The 80th anniversary of the end of WWII (2025) presents a unique opportunity to honor the estimated 3,691 surviving Canadian WWII veterans. We, the undersigned, citizens - including children of veterans buried in the LPFNFoH, other descendants of WWII veterans, and friends of the Cemetery respectfully -, call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Implement the "Canada Strong" campaign commitment to assume ownership of the LPFNFoH; 2. Direct VAC/Canadian Heritage to develop an agreed action plan with the LPF and timeframe for transfer of ownership to the Crown; and 3. Announce plan by November 11th, 2026, to honour the surviving veterans of the Second World War on the 80th anniversary (2025) of the end of the War.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence Signed by Mr. Sean Casey Veterans Affairs Canada recognizes the national historic and commemorative significance of the Last Post Fund National Field of Honour. Consistent with the Canada Strong platform and in consideration of the request from the Last Post Fund, Veterans Affairs Canada is examining governance, legal, and operational considerations to support the long-term stewardship of the National Field of Honour. Veterans Affairs Canada will continue to work with the Last Post Fund to support the National Field of Honour as a dignified and enduring place of remembrance for Veterans. Veterans Affairs Canada has provided funding to the Last Post Fund through the Commemorative Partnership Program to support ceremonies and events at the cemetery, including financial support to help repair the Gate of Remembrance, as well as community war memorial projects for Last Post Fund branches across the country. Although Veterans Affairs Canada does not operate or fund the Last Post Fund National Field of Honour, over the years, the Department has invested in grave marker repairs at the National Field of Honour. Just recently, from 2018 to 2023, approximately $1.57M in funding was provided to support grave marker maintenance at the cemetery. Through the Cemetery and Grave Marker Maintenance Program, Veterans Affairs Canada maintains approximately 250,000 Veteran grave markers within over 7,600 cemeteries across the country. Veterans Affairs Canada remains committed to honouring the service and sacrifice of Veterans and will continue to engage with the Last Post Fund, informed by careful consideration and due diligence, to support the respectful commemoration of Veterans and the long-term integrity of the Last Post Fund’s National Field of Honour.