The holiday season is upon us and I would like to extend my best wishes to everyone across the Defence Team.

Whether you are a member of our Canadian Armed Forces or a public service employee, I want to thank you for all that you have accomplished over the past year in keeping Canadians safe and protecting the most vulnerable around the world. Together, our Defence Team has made significant contributions in places like Ukraine, Mali, Iraq and Latvia. Closer to home, when fires and floods struck, you were there and ready to support our communities in times of need.

It was an honour to be reappointed to serve the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families, a responsibility I could not have fulfilled over the past four years without each and every one of you. As we approach 2020, we can all be proud of the great strides we have taken towards realizing the objectives of Strong, Secure, Engaged. Through all of our progress, people always remain at the core of the policy. We will continue to make improvements that better support military and civilian members, including their families.

This is a festive time of year best spent with family and friends. For many of you though, your service to Canada will keep you from your loved ones while posted abroad. We thank you and your families for the sacrifices that you make to protect our country. We are forever indebted to the work that you do.

Every day, you help protect Canadians, strengthen human rights throughout the world, and show our friends and allies that we will stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays and all the best over this holiday season.

The Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan

Minister of National Defence