Lyndi Woodfield, sister of the late Pte. Braun Scott Woodfield (who lost his life in Afghanistan, December, 2005)
When I first heard reports that the Conservative government was not allowing the media to film the repatriation of our fallen soldiers I was confused. Confused, then sad, then understanding. I believe it is the FAMILY's right to choose whether or not they would like that service filmed for the news. As someone who has unfortunately gone through these circumstances, I have been very grateful for the media.

When my brother's body returned home I was not able to be in Ontario with my mother and father. Instead I watched it live, and my mother held her cell phone to talk to me when the casket was placed in the hearse...so I could in a way be there. The media has also been there at my brother's wonderful service, and thankfully we have the tapes from them so we can see those images again. These images bring peace to some of us.

Nestor Martinez
As much as we would all like to see the arrival of the fallen soldiers, I think their families should be allowed to have privacy in their grief. The media would just turn it into a circus.

Regarding the lowering of the flag on the Peace Tower, I support the government's decision. It has nothing to do with PM Harper not wanting to do anything the Liberals did (even though that may be reason enough). Again another example of the media stirring up controversy for the sake of headlines.

Rita M. Earle
Smithtown, NB
Three months into a term elected as a minority government, dictator Stephen Harper and his conservatives stifle the media at every turn.

Once again he displays his true colours by disrespecting our fallen soldiers by not honoring their return to Canadian soil.

This man needs to be thrown out of office as soon as possible, while we still have a semblance of a democratic country.

Gary Holmes
I think that it is about time that the federal government prevented the media from broadcasting people's suffering. These soldiers gave their lives for the freedom that all Canadian citizens enjoy. It is a privilege to have the freedoms that we do and not being in Afghanistan (and elsewhere) would make us unworthy of these privileges.

The Canadian people are still told when and who died for their freedoms but there is no need to turn private grief into a public spectacle.

Rhett Nye
Courtenay, BC

When I heard that our country was no longer planning to lower our national flag to half-mast when our troops are killed I was stupefied. My logic says that there is a very serious reason for this change in policy: more deaths to come, more than the days of the year would allow honouring them.

Tamber Knight
Edmonton, AB
I find it disgusting that PM Harper does not deem it important enough to honor the lives of these fallen soldiers. I believe ALL of our brave men and women over there should be shown respect for their sacrifices, and not ONLY if they come home unmarred.

Amanda Rookes
CFB Shilo
I am thoroughly disgusted in our government's decision to not have the flag fly at half mast. I have a spouse currently serving his country in Afghanistan. Something that Mr. Harper apparently supports. Yet he can't support the opportunity to honour those that serve this country. Lemme ask this...if he had his proverbial balls on the line, wouldn't he want to be remembered and honoured? What about those families that hear the phone ring, wondering..."is this the call?" This should not be a political issue, it should be about Humanity. Not only that ...but how many of the people that agree with the flag not being lowered, have a loved one, or know someone serving overseas. I'd bet, not many. This, in my mind, should not be an issue. It's as simple as black and white. Honour those that serve and protect us.

Barb Oviatt
New Brunswick
I feel that we as Canadians need to know what the soldiers are doing and we should at least respect them for the work they are doing for us, be it here or in another country. I think that we should be flying the flag for the fallen heroes of our country, maybe the Conservatives should go and keep the peace over in the foreign countries and they could take Bush along with them.

Louise Smith
Trenton, ON
It wasn't so long ago that Stephen Harper stood in this military community and pledged support to the objectives of the base. Maybe it's just me, but I don't see any support in this latest move. One thing we can say about Harper is that he is towing a firm line far away from common sense or decency ... and few if any of the other elected conservatives are straying far from the "party line" for fear of retribution.

Susan Villeneuve
Ottawa, ON
I am a Canadian who is not really sure whether we should be in Afghanistan or not. What I am sure of is that since our soldiers are there, we MUST support them. If we are asking our men and women to risk their lives fighting for their country then we should pay them the ultimate sign of respect and mourning if they die, lowering the flag, a symbol of the country they have died for, on Parliament Hill.

I also believe that we as Canadians should be present, even if it is only through the media, when our soldiers come home. If the media is allowed to cover the soldiers coming home and greeting their families with hugs and smiles, the media must cover the soldiers coming home in flag draped coffins

Michael Turner
Eliminating coverage of the return of fallen soldiers has nothing to do with "Big Brother." We all know when casualties occur through the media stationed overseas. The coverage of the return is over the top and invades the privacy of the families. Let's pay our respects to the fallen and their families by not covering the return ceremonies. Let's continue the great coverage of Afghanistan through the media in Afghanistan or at Parliament, not on the runways of CFB Trenton.

Justin Pryse,
Barrie, ON
Insisting the soldiers' returns remain private stops the event from being turned into a political and media circus and is also a respectful decision. It used to be we all had common sense about what is hurtful to grieving families and what is appropriate mourning... these days the press needs rules.

Andrew DuFour
News agencies really need to get their facts straight, this isn't new policy it's going back to longstanding tradition in the Canadian Forces that the Liberals broke and created an unfair standard for only some troops.

Jim Leighton
Give your heads a shake. Who gives a damn about the media and your constant bitching about the government not including you in what is going on. You left-wing, tree hugging, socialist, pinko commies, pro-terrorist "LIBERALS" couldn't cover a turtle race objectively. So better off without you!!!

John Menzies
Stephen Harpers decision to ban media coverage of the dead soldiers is shameful. Preventing the public from seeing the true cost of this mission under the guise of "privacy" is hypocritical and shallow. Does he believe that the Canadian public is incapable of dealing with this tragedy, or is he aping the Pentagon by believing that sanitizing the effects of this war will allow him to keep troops there longer? Now that he has sacrificed Canada's peacekeeping role it is time to sacrifice the honour of the dead by denying them the recognition of the citizens of the country they died for. Mr. Harper, if you want to be a Republican move to the US.

Deborah Andre
It is hypocritical for the Liberal opposition to criticize the government's approach to the Canadian military presence in Afghanistan. Have they already forgotten that it was under the Liberal leadership that Canada made the commitment to lead the forces in Afghanistan? If the Liberals had been re-elected, they would now be the people trying to soften the shock of the cost to Canada in the lives of our brave troops in an effort to keep up the morale of those serving on the front lines. Can the Liberals never do anything but serve their own political agendas?

Tracey Young
I think it is appalling that the government of Canada will refuse to acknowledge our fallen soldiers with the honour and respect they deserve!! The peace tower flag SHOULD be lowered for EACH and EVERY fallen soldier. It is Canada's way of showing respect, for the soldiers and their families. Are the casualties getting that high, that we no longer need to acknowledge each one of them?

Justin Campeau
I think my fellow Canadians on this are over-reacting a bit to this issue. Saying Harper "shuns" our soldiers and is trying to copy Republicans or George Bush is a difficult opinion to take seriously and distracts from a very interesting debate and question. The fact is, there are many ways to honour or soldiers without necessarily lowering the flag on Parliament Hill. If every deserving Canadian was honoured by having the flag at half-mast when they died, you'd rarely ever see it flying high over the capital. What Harper did was make a tough decision that is obviously (case and point) going to get major criticism, but was the most reasonable choice to make.

Charlene Shrieve
Mr. Harper should be embarrassed and completely ashamed for refusing to acknowledge our fallen soldiers and their families, who have endured enormous suffering so that Mr. Harper, his family and the remaining Canadian people can continue to enjoy the little freedoms that we have left.

Mona Ferguso
Of course we should see and honour our servicemen and women who die oversees.

We are seeing too many parallels between Harper and Bush that are absolutely dictatorial, unfeeling and quite frankly not at all Canadian. Let us remember we are CANADIANS NOT Americans. I believe it is already time for Harper to go.

Denyse Provost
I am deeply saddened everytime I hear of a death in Afghanistan. I am a retiree from the regular force since 1995. I cannot believe what is going on with our new government, not showing the arrival of our fallen soldiers. I sympathized with the family and I believe we should feel the pain with them. I support our forces and I want them to know that I appreciate everyone of them out there. Every one of us should see the arrival and be supportive. Mr. Harper is a mini me of Mr. Bush and I am concerned for the future of our country.

Colleen McGregor
Canada's presence in Afghanistan is at the least very controversial. Our government speaks of the commitment of our country to helping to rebuild, to bringing peace to a ravaged country, to the war on terror, yet, this same government is prohibiting the people's access to information and blocking them from a grieving process. We are called upon to support our troops. And, we are denied to be a part of the fallen as they arrive home. Millions of Canadians sit in front of television screens on a daily basis waiting for news of our soldiers. The first thing they do when they get up in the mornings and the last thing before they go to bed at night.

Their only way of showing support to the men and women in Afghanistan is to be informed. Our government has taken away our right to participate in the loss to this nation, to grieve together as a nation and most importantly to stand together, with heavy hearts, wondering if it is all worth it - if our loved ones are dying for the beliefs of Canada.

Alannah May
I am outraged that the Canadian government has decided to dictate what the media can and cannot report on. I am even more outraged that dead Canadian soldiers and their families are being victimized by this government because the government does not want the Canadian people to know what is going on. They use the feeble excuse that the families want privacy, that I can understand however, the families can still have their privacy and the public should also be allowed to see our people come home.

George Manson
Grand Forks, BC
If the government won't lower its flag on Parliament hill when a soldier dies while fulfilling Government policy then it shouldn't be lowered when a politician dies either. Lowering the flag in time of war is the right thing to do.

Darcy Solomon
It is just as I thought -- the Steven Harper Government would be nothing but a dictatorship. This is just another of the Conservatives ways of not listening to the people. These men have represented our country and should be respected by the Government who took it upon themselves to send our soldiers where they should not be.

Jacques Riel
As a Canadian, I am appalled that our government has decided not to honor our fallen heroes upon their return to their homeland by not allowing press coverage of the ceremony.

I am also deeply saddened that the lowering of the flags to half-mast have been limited but not including the Peace Tower.

If one of our members of parliament (past or present) should perish, the flags are lowered and media coverage is expected. They were only elected to Parliament; they did not give their lives for the rights and freedom of our country.

Marguerite Kahnt
I feel cheated by not being able to pay my respects to our Canadian soldiers albeit by TV.

I am a disabled person, and I have never missed the return of our Soldiers.

I am saddened for the families and for the young wives and children some of which will never know their dads except in pictures.

Shirley Lecky
I am shocked and dismayed that this government will not allow me the right to mourn my brothers and sisters in arms. The media has the right as all of Canada has the right, we are not United States of America, with their new iron curtain. I am livid as a retired civil servant who worked for the Department of National Defence in Halifax. I deserve the right to mourn my brothers and sisters in arms.

Becky Gooch
What is happening to our country?All Canadian flags on every building in the country should be lowered in deep respect. Whether you agree with the conflict or not, these men have died serving this country and every Canadian in it. At the very least we should honour their service, dedication and sacrifice. If a politician were to die I'm sure the flags would be lowered, let us not disrespect our soldiers by doing any less.

Kendra
PM Harper's decision to bar our media from covering the return of our soldiers smacks of "Americanism" - what is he afraid of? We, Canada, are not at war - though our neighbours to the south may be. Our troops were sent to promote and uphold the peace. Our soldiers deserve recognition for their service and their sacrifice. They and their families should have our respect and our grateful acknowledgement of all that they've given on our behalf. Hiding their coffins from our view is akin to denying their sacrifice and their role in our history.

Tony Martin
Oh Canada. How dare the Conservative government ban the media from broadcasting the return of our fallen fellow countrymen. Starts sounding a bit dictatorial doesn't it?

Like they say, stupidity does go along with arrogance. I must say though, it's a good thing that the Conservatives are showing their colours early in the game. What is important now is that the Canadian public not be as complacent as our counterparts to the south and throw our own home grown bullies out of office as soon as possible.

This is just another example of how the Tory propaganda machine is being oiled up - don't believe me? Just have a look a the main Government of Canada web page and see how much it looks more like a Tory - no, make it the emperor Harper - PR tool than a government site.

I guess that's the face of transparency. Maybe I'll check the White House home page to answer my original question as to what's next.

Simon Owen
It's as if the government is ashamed of what the men and women of the Canadian armed forces are doing in a country far away. If they don't show the bodies of the fallen soldiers the conflict will just go away.

We should be honouring them not neglecting them. I am a police officer in Ontario and we ALWAYS honour our fallen. Harper you should be ashamed of your government decision not ashamed of the fallen Canadian soldiers.

Donalda Williams Clogg
I think it should be a concern of Canadians that Mr. Harper seems to be, in many ways, following the example and policies of the Bush Administration. To say it is not political to ban the media from seeing the arrival of our fallen soldiers is patently not true.

Diane Bradford
It is a complete disgrace that the Harper government is denying this honour of our fallen soldiers. Their long journey home deserves the opportunity for all Canadians to recognize their ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country.

Let us not fall into this horrible fate that the US and the UK have. We need to continue to be fully aware of the constant sacrifices and dangers our excellent troops make every day. It is a shameful act by the Harper government. As a very proud Canadian, I am extremely displeased.

Tim Bogers
What an insult to the men and women who risk their lives for us. Way to go Harper. You are a joke. I am off to buy a flag and will hang it at half mast and I think the rest of us true Canadians should do the same.

Anni Thorndyke
I agree with the ban. We are strong supporters of our troops and the job they are asked to do. Of course there may be a political aspect to the ban, but to see the pictures over and over again also must be a heavy burden on the families. Jack Layton's statement that the public should be informed is out of place. There is information and there is overkill.

Mary Banks
I am somewhat divided on this issue, but in the end I do feel that the families have a right to their privacy. They need to be able to grieve privately -- after all there usually is no media at general public funerals (unless it's a celebrity). With media presence people always have to be on guard. These fallen soldiers and their loved ones need some private time now. God bless them.

Wendy Kean
I am a military wife, whose husband just returned from 6 1/2 months in Kandahar. Canadians need to know the whole truth about the mission in Afghanistan if they are going to support it. All Mr. Harper has done with this latest directive is ensure that Canadians will be increasingly suspicious about anything his government says about our involvement overseas.

Kymberley Loschiavo
Politics makes me sick. Coverage of the fallen soldiers is not for shock value, Mr. Harper, it keeps all Canadians, informed and accountable for all our men and women who have their lives on the line in the name of Freedom. All Flags should be lowered to half mast, all over Canada. It is the VERY LEAST we can do to show our respect and pay our condolences to the families and friends, of the soldiers who so bravely gave their lives for our safety, and democracy for all.

Leila Miller
No, the government should not lower the flag. November 11th is the day we remember all the men who fell during war time and it should not be changed. We all feel for the families but let us do it in our own way. And yes, the media should be banned. You interfere in too much.

Richard Brownfield
Ladysmith, BC
I am a retired Military man who has attended more than my share of funerals and I can say that the last thing and I mean the last thing anybody wants is some idiot from the media sticking a microphone in your face and asking some dumb question like "Tell us how you felt when you saw your friend killed."

For some reason the media think they should be entitled to go anywhere and talk to anyone at any time. Never do they think of the privacy of the people involved. Only the story is important.

If that was my family or friends involved, I would do everything possible to ensure the media stayed away and I thank the PMO's office for doing so.

Donna McCauley
I am the wife of a Canadian Soldier. It appalls me to hear how our Prime Minister "shuns" our fallen. I hope that he never has to go through what our fallen soldiers families must endure. To cover the "fallen" is a sign of respect not only to the families but to the soldiers who remain. I think that the soldiers need to know that CANADA supports them and their families.

Melissa Langila
I find it disturbing. These people have lost their lives for our country yet the government feels that each death or these brave Canadians should only be mourned on one day of the year. What is this tradition that they speak of? What of all the other soldiers that have died, those who we have so graciously lowered our flags to. Is this supposed to stop? Should we not mourn and honour the people that have fought for us on foreign soil? Should we not honour them by making their names known and showing their return home for the final time? To think that our beautiful country has been diminished to this, this absurdity is beyond imaginable.

Noreen Salter
It all comes down to Mr. Harper not wanting to do anything that the Liberals brought in when they were in government. It is pretty bad when we can't lower the flag out of respect in the soldier's own country.

Gerry Hartman
As hurtful as it is to see Canadian soldiers give the ultimate sacrifice, I agree with the governments decision to return to the established protocol. The flag need only be lowered to half-mast once per year to remember all of Canada's war dead. This makes all of the brave souls who have paid the ultimate price equal in life and death.

My personal opinion as a veteran of the Canadian Forces and as a former peacekeeper, is that these troops need to know that the population of this country is firmly behind them and will not waver in the face of a tyrannical and terrorist enemy.