Debates of March 4, 2005 (day 49)

Mr. Speaker, I, too, want to share my sadness and shock at the tragic events that occurred in the tiny community of Mayerthorpe, Alberta. I express

heartfelt sadness at the loss to the families and to the force of the RCMP and to all peacekeepers across Canada. Watching and listening to this horrible story yesterday, brought to mind events that happened in this community, Mr. Speaker. It seems a long, long time ago now. But the events of the Giant Mine tragedy were so much like what Mayerthorpe is experiencing today. It is something that goes right to the heart and the soul of a community.

Mr. Speaker, the consequences of what happened yesterday will no doubt take many, many different forms and shapes over the weeks and months to come. As legislators and lawmakers, I hope we can engage in that to our fullest ability, but for today the message I want to send from me and from this Legislature and this community is to the families of the slain officers and to the community. I wish them all the very best in the days and weeks to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the constituents of Range Lake, I, too, would like to take a moment this day to pay respect to the four RCMP officers killed in the line of duty yesterday in Alberta. Mr. Speaker, this is a very sad and tragic event in Canadian history and I hope that the families and colleagues of the four officers who so bravely gave their lives and service to their country find some comfort in knowing that the whole nation shares their loss and sadness this day and we are sending along our prayers and deepest sympathies. This is certainly a reminder how these officers put their lives on the line every time they report for work.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to send special well wishes and condolences to the RCMP “G” division district in the North to the commanding officer, Everett Summerfield, and Inspector Morrow and Inspector Fortin in the gallery, and all men and women in uniform in the North who give us safety, who give their service and who do such a great job in looking after the safety and well-being of our people. I think it is a day for us to all remember how important their work is and how grateful we are for those people who do that job for us. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In light of the news that we heard yesterday about the senseless killing of the four RCMP officers in Northern Alberta, I just want to offer my condolences, and also from my constituents, to the families, friends and co-workers of these four brave men who were killed in the line of duty.

Mr. Speaker, we have said a lot of things in this House over the last couple of days about the services offered to us by the RCMP. I am sure that my colleagues would join me in saying that we support and appreciate the work that they do and I hope that they do their jobs under the safest circumstances possible.

We do a lot of complaining about the safety of our communities. It is not only in the hands of the police, Mr. Speaker, it is also in the hands of the community and our community leaders to help the RCMP to make sure that our communities remain crime-free so that we can avoid the tragedy like the one in Northern Alberta.

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I hope we can all learn something from this tragedy and volunteer to help our RCMP and our local police when our help is asked for. Mahsi.

---Applause