The Conservative MP for Coast of Bays-Central has launched a petition seeking the “timely presentation of service medals” for members of the Canadian Armed Forces, firefighters and others.

The petition outlines “significant and ongoing delays in the processing and issuance of service medals” reported across the country.

That includes exemplary service medals handed out to firefighters who have provided 20 years of service.

The petition argues that those delays “undermine the intent of the honours and awards system.”

Grand Falls-Windsor Fire Chief Vince MacKenzie agrees.

“My experience here in Grand Falls-Windsor in the last four or five years, is I’ve waited up to 18 months to get the medal,” says MacKenzie. “When you’ve got a volunteer firefighter who’s got 20 years of service, and the next firefighters awards banquet you want to be able to present this person with their medal, and lots of times the medal’s not there to present, you just make mention of it.”  That, says MacKenzie “takes away from the honour these volunteers and firefighters deserve.”