Senator Martin: Those were not the only groups that had to face the potential loss until the interim solution appeared. In 2018, the Trudeau government attempted to cut $2.5 million from the Canadian National Institute for the Blind’s accessible book program when their funding was excluded from the 2018 budget. Under pressure, however, that funding was restored.

I know that Minister Freeland and your government are producing a budget in a few months from now. Time is of the essence. I know you can’t commit today, but as you’re inquiring about the other two organizations and a more permanent or long-term solution, are you able to confirm whether they will not be in the budget — that we will not be cutting funding for the visually impaired Canadians in Budget 2022? Is that something you can also inquire about?

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, it is an honour for me to rise today to speak to the commemoration of the seventieth anniversary of the historic Battle of Hill 355, which took place on November 26, 1951 during the Korean War.

It was cold, there was fog, and uncertainty hung in the air. Canadian troops from the Royal Canadian Regiment, the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and the Royal 22nd Regiment, nicknamed the “Van Doos,” redeployed to Hill 355. Hill 355, so named on military maps because it was 355 metres above sea level, was nicknamed “Little Gibraltar” because of its shape and size. Located about 40 kilometres north of Seoul, it was highly valued because it was the highest ground overlooking the surrounding front lines and supply routes.

Outnumbered and exposed, the Van Doos held their ground until the Americans retook Hill 355 for good on November 25 and the communist attacks came to an end.

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The Battle of Hill 355 remains a proud moment for the Van Doos, but it came with a heavy price. On November 26, I had the honour to organize a special commemorative ceremony to pay tribute to the service and sacrifices of all those who fought in the Battle of Hill 355 and all of our beloved Korean War veterans.

Two of our proud Van Doos, Claude Charland and Delphis Cormier, who fought in the Korean War, participated in the seventieth anniversary ceremony. They spoke about their wartime experiences and the pride they felt for their comrades. They were moved to tears by our tribute to them and by their own memories of fierce battles and lives that were lost.

The colonel of the Royal 22nd Regiment, Lieutenant-General Marc Caron, spoke about the long, proud history of the regiment and its members’ sense of honour and duty. He spoke about the gratitude that all members of the Van Doos have for our Korean War veterans, and he spoke about the brotherhood, the camaraderie and the teamwork —

Hon. Yonah Martin (Deputy Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, my question for the government leader today is related to the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which will be observed tomorrow. There have been other questions related to supporting that important community.

Earlier this year, the Trudeau government attempted to phase out funding for the Centre for Equitable Library Access and the National Network for Equitable Library Service, which both work to provide accessible reading materials for people with print disabilities. Thankfully, this decision was reversed in March, and the two groups had their funding restored for one year. This was described at the time as an interim solution.

Leader, the year-long reprieve that your government granted will soon come to an end. Has your government found a long-term resolution to help these two organizations continue their important work?