Manitoba Vets Licence Plates

Fri, November 5, 2004

Veterans honoured
New 'poppy' licence plate will recognize service
By FRANK LANDRY, LEGISLATURE REPORTER

The Manitoba government is moving ahead with
plans to honour the province's war veterans with a
specially marked licence plate. Transportation
Minister Ron Lemieux, along with representatives of
the Royal Canadian Legion and Manitoba Public
Insurance, are expected to unveil the plate design
this morning -- six days before Remembrance Day.

"It's been a long road, no pun meant," said Cliff
Tessier, president of the Manitoba and Northwest
Ontario command of the Royal Canadian Legion.

With the exception of Quebec and Saskatchewan, all
provinces offer their vets commemorative licence
plates, he said.

"We have to remember those who have given their
lives," Tessier said. "We also have to remember
those who have served and returned."

The plates are expected to be available early in the
new year to those Manitobans who served in the
army, navy or air force, or an allied force, during the
First or Second World Wars, or in the Korean War.

'DEDICATION AND SACRIFICE'

Those who have served in the Canadian Armed
Forces for at least three years or in a United Nations
peacekeeping force are also eligible.

The licence plates will likely include a picture of a
poppy and the word "veteran." They are free, but
applicants must pay a $5 administrative fee to the
Royal Canadian Legion. Vets will still be able to get
a licence plate as a keepsake if they don't own a
vehicle.

"Whether you've served in the Canadian Armed
Forces or in peacekeeping, we're honouring your
dedication and sacrifice by offering you unique licence plates," reads a
brochure that will be made available today to veterans.

Lemieux, who first announced in May the vehicle tags would be coming,
was not available for comment yesterday.

Tory MLA Ralph Eichler, who introduced a private members bill earlier this
year calling for the plates, said he would like to see them made available
prior to Remembrance Day.

"With Nov. 11 coming up, it would be nice to acknowledge the effort these
veterans put forward," said Eichler. who got the idea for the plates from a
Stonewall resident. "It's just a small token of what we can do to recognize
these veterans who put their lives on the line for us."

Tessier encouraged veterans to come to the unveiling of the plate, which
is scheduled to take place at 10 a.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion No. 4,
1755 Portage Ave.