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This to me is an outrage, a cry for help, just because Canada agreed to help Bush out when he asked for our soldiers help, enough is enough!

call our troops back home, if Bush doesn't like it, let him go and do it!



Updated Tue. Dec. 30 2008 6:20 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

The bodies of three Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan were transported along the Highway of Heroes on Tuesday, as mourners looked on from overpasses and waved Canadian flags.

Among those paying their respects was Jim Honey, the father of a soldier who was travelling with Pte. Michael Bruce Freeman when he was killed in a roadside-bomb blast.

"It's hard every time," he told CTV Toronto. "You never get used to it, I don't think."

Freeman, of Peterborough, Ont., died last Friday. He had been conducting a routine security patrol in the Zhari District of Kandahar Province.

The procession along the Highway of Heroes also included the bodies of Warrant Officer Gaetan Joseph Roberge and Sgt. Gregory John Kruse, who were killed in a bomb blast on Saturday.

They had been patrolling an area 24 kilometres west of Kandahar city.

Before the remains of the fallen soldiers were taken along the highway, mourners had gathered for their arrival at CFP Trenton in eastern Ontario.

"I'm not supporting the war, but I am supporting the troops," Trenton resident April Bishop, 52, told The Canadian Press. "I'm supporting the families."

Also present at CFB Trenton were Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean, Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Chief of Defence Staff Walter Natynczyk, who joined the families of the killed soldiers.

Freeman's parents released a statement telling Canadians how much pride their son took in serving his country.

"He told us not to worry. He was not afraid of what might happen and he loved what he was doing," Mark and Gail Freeman said in the statement.

Retired Col. Mike Capstick told CTV Newsnet that it's important for Canadian leaders to stand with the families as the soldiers are returned home.

"To interact with the families that are dealing with these tragedies is very important. It keeps it real for Canadians and political leaders," he said.

Nine Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan this month alone, which has put the total death toll for Canadians over the symbolic "100" deaths mark since the mission began.

"Whether it's one or 100. The pain feels the same," said Capstick.

"It's like a kick in the stomach from the soldiers' point of view."

The caskets holding the soldiers' bodies will be driven along the Highway of Heroes into Toronto later this afternoon. Police have asked those who want to watch the motorcade go by on Highway 401 to completely pull off the road via an exit, park away from the highway and watch from an overpass.

Police have said that "cars parked on the shoulder and people standing on the side of the road are a hazard to traffic on the road."

With a report by CTV's Austin Delaney

Odie;1096998 wrote: This to me is an outrage, a cry for help, just because Canada agreed to help Bush out when he asked for our soldiers help, enough is enough!

call our troops back home, if Bush doesn't like it, let him go and do it!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Updated Tue. Dec. 30 2008 6:20 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

The bodies of three Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan were transported along the Highway of Heroes on Tuesday, as mourners looked on from overpasses and waved Canadian flags.

Among those paying their respects was Jim Honey, the father of a soldier who was travelling with Pte. Michael Bruce Freeman when he was killed in a roadside-bomb blast.

"It's hard every time," he told CTV Toronto. "You never get used to it, I don't think."

Freeman, of Peterborough, Ont., died last Friday. He had been conducting a routine security patrol in the Zhari District of Kandahar Province.

The procession along the Highway of Heroes also included the bodies of Warrant Officer Gaetan Joseph Roberge and Sgt. Gregory John Kruse, who were killed in a bomb blast on Saturday.

They had been patrolling an area 24 kilometres west of Kandahar city.

Before the remains of the fallen soldiers were taken along the highway, mourners had gathered for their arrival at CFP Trenton in eastern Ontario.

"I'm not supporting the war, but I am supporting the troops," Trenton resident April Bishop, 52, told The Canadian Press. "I'm supporting the families."

Also present at CFB Trenton were Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean, Defence Minister Peter MacKay and Chief of Defence Staff Walter Natynczyk, who joined the families of the killed soldiers.

Freeman's parents released a statement telling Canadians how much pride their son took in serving his country.

"He told us not to worry. He was not afraid of what might happen and he loved what he was doing," Mark and Gail Freeman said in the statement.

Retired Col. Mike Capstick told CTV Newsnet that it's important for Canadian leaders to stand with the families as the soldiers are returned home.

"To interact with the families that are dealing with these tragedies is very important. It keeps it real for Canadians and political leaders," he said.

Nine Canadian soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan this month alone, which has put the total death toll for Canadians over the symbolic "100" deaths mark since the mission began.

"Whether it's one or 100. The pain feels the same," said Capstick.

"It's like a kick in the stomach from the soldiers' point of view."

The caskets holding the soldiers' bodies will be driven along the Highway of Heroes into Toronto later this afternoon. Police have asked those who want to watch the motorcade go by on Highway 401 to completely pull off the road via an exit, park away from the highway and watch from an overpass.

Police have said that "cars parked on the shoulder and people standing on the side of the road are a hazard to traffic on the road."

With a report by CTV's Austin Delaney


Do you have any idea Odie of canadian Troops being withdrawn??

I know our boys will be out by June leaving only 400 and the British handing complete control over to America.

Whats happening your end?

oscar;1097001 wrote: Do you have any idea Odie of canadian Troops being withdrawn??

I know our boys will be out by June leaving only 400 and the British handing complete control over to America.

Whats happening your end?


no idea, nothing has been said for sure, but to have 9 die in a month?

Odie;1097003 wrote: no idea, nothing has been said for sure, but to have 9 die in a month?







Exactly. What a bloody stupid waste of life? and for what? just to find out that Sadam did not have weapons of mass destruction and that our former Prime Minister, Tony Blair lied to us. I won't even go into the Bush policy for entering Iraq and Afghanistan :-5

we have had a few more killed this month as well. Good on Gordon brown for withdrawing our troops so quickly. He will get a swing based on that desicion. All the British anti-Iraq war will be voting for him come election time.

As always, our thoughts are with the family's.

In fairness you cannot pin this one on Bush, the war in Afghanistan is sanctioned by the United Nations, and Canada as part of the UN voted on the war. Canada, like many other countries are supporting the efforts in Afghanistan.

It is sad to see the soldiers getting killed, but this is one country where they are really making a difference in people’s lives. We should be proud of what they have done to help make the world a better place.

mikeinie;1097223 wrote: In fairness you cannot pin this one on Bush, the war in Afghanistan is sanctioned by the United Nations, and Canada as part of the UN voted on the war. Canada, like many other countries are supporting the efforts in Afghanistan.

It is sad to see the soldiers getting killed, but this is one country where they are really making a difference in people’s lives. We should be proud of what they have done to help make the world a better place.


I am proud, but, enough is enough, time they were brought back our soldiers alive to Canadian soil, not dead.

The ages of these young soldiers, they are kids themselves with familys, enough is enough!

And yes, Bush did ask for our help, which is no problem as they are our neighbours, but it's time, it's just time.

Scrat;1098082 wrote: And the Pakis have 50 to 60 nukes and "terrorists" crawling over the country like ants. The US is helpless to do anything. If one or more (all!?) of those come up missing be ready for anything.


so let's nuke them!:-5:-5

Scrat;1098104 wrote: They're very hard to find, the area is very mountainous, that just isn't practical. Not to mention that half the worlds population (China and India) would most likely suffer immensely from the fallout.

Canada needs to send more troops, do your part. And sell the US water and oil at prices we specifiy.


it is very mountainess, that's why they haven't found bin landen yet!:-5:-5



We sell oil to the states, that's where they get it from, prices you specify?

doubtful, we need it to.

mikeinie;1097223 wrote: In fairness you cannot pin this one on Bush, the war in Afghanistan is sanctioned by the United Nations, and Canada as part of the UN voted on the war. Canada, like many other countries are supporting the efforts in Afghanistan.

It is sad to see the soldiers getting killed, but this is one country where they are really making a difference in people’s lives. We should be proud of what they have done to help make the world a better place.


Thank you for clearly describing the Afghanistan situation.I agree with every word in your post.

Iraq is an entirely different affair, and history will not be kind to George W. Bush and his stupid invasion of that nation.



Fortunately for Canadians, Stephen Harper was not the Prime Minister when Dubya launched his Iraqi campaign, otherwise, we would have been involved in that tragic fiasco.

Harper (then the leader of the Canadian Reform Alliance Party), stood up in the House Of Commons in 2003, and parrotted a speech by Australian Prime Minister John Howard, which urged support and participation in the conflict.

funny how I never have seen any other nations posting their soldiers when so many have perished, why is that?



-you just assume it's their duty?

-they signed up for it, so it's not your fault?

-to bad, so sad attitude?



-guess it's just me that feels for them and their families, as this should never have taken place.:rolleyes:

huh, funny how there was no answer eh?;)