VICTORIA, B.C.: Rosalyn Bird, MLA for Prince George-Valemount and Caucus Whip, delivered her second reading speech today on Bill M 231 – Veterans and First Responders Month Act, her Private Member’s Bill that would formally recognize the service and sacrifice of veterans and first responders across British Columbia.

Bill M 231 designates the month of November as “Veterans and First Responders Month” throughout the province.

“Every year in British Columbia, we lose men and women who have worn the uniform of service,” said Bird, a retired Naval Lieutenant. “Some are taken in the line of duty. Some succumb to occupational illness linked to years of exposure and sacrifice. And some are lost to the invisible wounds of trauma and cumulative stress. The data may be reported in separate systems. The impact on families is not.”

While work-related fatalities and suicide statistics are reported through different provincial and federal systems, there is no single publicly reported annual total that combines veterans and first responders in British Columbia. Bird says that reality underscores the importance of formal recognition.

“Bill M 231 is not about statistics alone,” Bird said. “It is about recognition. It is about acknowledging both the visible and invisible costs of service. And it is about committing ourselves, as legislators and as a province, to ensuring that those who protect and defend our communities are themselves protected and supported.”

Bill M 231 would create a coordinated provincial opportunity to honour service, commemorate sacrifice, and educate future generations about the vital role veterans and first responders play in keeping communities safe.

“As a veteran, I know that service does not end when the uniform comes off,” Bird added. “I look forward to working with members on all sides of the House to move this recognition forward.”

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