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Father of fallen Canadian soldier criticizes Harper during funeral

By Gregory Bonnell / Canadian Press

WINGHAM, Ont. - Cpl. Matthew Dinning was eulogized Saturday through the tears of friends, a brother's beer can toast, and his father's harsh words for Prime Minister Stephen Harper at a funeral attended by thousands in his hometown.

Mourners watched Dinning's life unfold on a giant video screen as Lincoln Dinning screened home movies of his son singing O Canada at age 6, appearing as Robin Hood in a school play and delivering a speech at a wedding.

The final images were of the 23-year-old's remains returning to CFB Trenton on Tuesday, footage the media were forced to shoot from behind barbed-wire fences after the Harper government banned journalists from the repatriation ceremony.

"Now I'd like to show you some of the video that Mr. Harper wouldn't let you see close up of Matthew's arrival home," said Dinning, who only weeks before his son's death penned a letter to Harper decrying the government's refusal to lower flags on Parliament Hill for fallen soldiers.

"Matthew had talked about this, it made him upset, so we wrote this letter," said his father, a provincial police officer. "I've never gotten a written response."

Harper, who was in New Brunswick on Saturday for a provincial Tory fundraiser, was not available to comment on Dinning's remarks.

Liberal defence critic Ujjal Dosanjh, who has assailed the Conservative government for what he's called their U.S.-style banning of the media at repatriation ceremonies, said he felt terribly for Lincoln Dinning.

"Mr. Harper has created an issue and a division among Canadians during a terribly dangerous mission and at a time when we should all be pulling together, for our soldiers and for their families," Dosanjh said. "There was absolutely no reason for this change. The prime minister made a mistake."

Matthew Dinning, a military police officer, was among four soldiers killed while providing security for Brig.-Gen. David Fraser. A roadside bomb shattered their light-armoured vehicle on April 22, shortly after the four saw Fraser safely onto a military helicopter.

"I was happy to hear (Fraser was safe) because it meant Matthew did his job right to the very end," said Dinning, who added his son "knew that he would have a target on his back" serving in Afghanistan.

"I distinctly remember him saying: 'If I'm going to be killed, it will be by a roadside bomb and I'll die instantly.' How right he was."

Dinning's younger brother, Brendon, read a poem entitled Freedom Is Not Free and spoke of plans the two had to share a beer upon his scheduled return from Afghanistan in the fall.

"I love you, you're the best brother in the world and, Matt, this one's for you buddy," Dinning said as he cracked open a can.

Born in the Toronto area, Dinning was raised in the southwestern Ontario town of Wingham, took part in numerous community activities, including hockey and rugby, and worked part-time in a menswear store.

Purple ribbons symbolizing valour could been seen throughout this community of 3,000, along with signs remembering the town's "fallen hero."

On Saturday, more than 2,300 people filed into the community's hockey rink to remember Dinning during a two-hour ceremony.

A sombre military guard acted as pallbearers and escorted the casket into the arena in the company of Dinning's family and his girlfriend, Tanya Lowerison.

Draped in a Canadian flag later presented to his mother, Laurie, the coffin was also adorned with the South West Asia Service Medal posthumously awarded to Dinning, his beret and his bayonet.

A Silver Cross was presented to Dinning's mother on Friday by Col. Allan Halfpar.

The funeral procession was preceded by hundreds of men and women in uniform, including representatives from the military, the RCMP, Ontario Provincial Police, and local fire and emergency officials. The hockey team Matthew once played for wore their jerseys as mourners took to the sideboards of the arena after the 2,300 seats were filled.

His former hockey coach, Mark Foxton, tearfully remembered Dinning as "a tall, good-looking, impeccably dressed young man" with "an easy confidence about him."

Rugby coach Andy Jones recalled "a skinny kid" that he thought would turn tail and run at the first sign of rough play on the pitch.

"He may have been tall and thin, but he was tough as nails," said Jones.

Outside, a military honour guard took part in a feu-de-joie - firing three rounds into the air as Dinning's casket was placed in a hearse.

His remains were to be cremated and interred during a private family ceremony.

The funerals of two other soldiers killed in last weekend's attack, those of Cpl. Randy Payne and Lieut. William Turner, were to be held Monday.