June 26, 2020 Hon. Bill Morneau, P.C., M.P. Minister of Finance 90 Elgin Street Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0G5 cc: Tiff Macklem, Governor of the Bank of Canada Dear Minister Morneau, We, the Members of Parliament and Senator representing constituencies in and bordering the province of Manitoba, want to offer our support for including Sergeant Tommy Prince on the new $5 note. Sergeant Tommy Prince was a great Indigenous Canadian who embodied duty, courage, bravery, and patriotism. After joining the Canadian Army at age 24, Sergeant Prince became a founding member of the elite 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion and the Devil’s Brigade during the Second World War. He went on to contribute to the stalwart defence of Hill 677 in the Battle of Kapyong during the Korean War. Sergeant Prince’s eleven medals make him the most decorated Indigenous war veteran in Canada. Sergeant Tommy Prince’s sacrifices in World War Two and Korea ensured that other nations and their peoples would be safe from despotism, that they would have the right to self-determination, and to all the freedoms that democracy provides. He wasn’t alone. Over 15,000 Indigenous Canadians fought in World War Two and the Korean War for a country they couldn’t even vote in. They experienced racism from the federal government as Indigenous war veterans were denied many of the benefits other veterans received. Sergeant Prince, who was called to Buckingham Palace to receive medals from King George VI, died alone and homeless at a Salvation Army shelter in 1977. It is the responsibility of every Canadian to understand the injustices of the past and to resolve their spirit to ensure they are remedied in order to establish a mutually respectful relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. Reconciliation is about understanding and building relationships. Indigenous Canadians, like Sergeant Prince, came back from war with the self-confidence and desire to speak for themselves and to make changes. They were prepared to reconcile with Canada and move forward on the path of reconciliation, but Canada was not. Now is the time to make a statement in support of reconciliation. We ask you to join us in supporting Sergeant Tommy Prince, a true military hero and positive role model for all Canadians, for inclusion on the $5 bill. Respectfully, Marty Morantz, MP James Bezan Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley Selkirk—Interlake—Eastman Shadow Minister for National Revenue Shadow Minister for National Defence Honourable Candice Bergen, P.C. Raquel Dancho Portage—Lisgar Kildonan—St. Paul Official Opposition House Leader Shadow Minister for Diversity and Inclusion and Youth Dan Mazier Larry Maguire Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa Brandon — Souris Deputy Shadow Minister for Environment and Climate Deputy Shadow Minister for Immigration, Refugees and Change Citizenship Ted Falk Senator Donald Plett Provencher Leader of the Opposition in the Canadian Senate Eric Melillo Kenora Deputy Shadow Minister for Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, and Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario .