Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness that I offer the sympathy and condolences of the government and the people of Canada to the families and friends of the 16 school children and their teacher who were killed in Dunblane, Scotland today. The sudden death of so many children and their teacher strikes the sensibility of all Canadians.
We trust those wounded in this attack will recover completely from their physical wounds. We pray that the psychological scars of the wounded and the children at Dunblane School will be healed.
We share the shock and horror of the people of Dunblane and the whole country at this cruel and wanton act.
Earlier today, Canadian High Commissioner Royce Frith sent the following message on behalf of Canada:
May I express on my own behalf and on behalf of my compatriots, our most profound shock at the horrible events in Dunblane this morning.
Our hearts and warm sympathies go out to the families of those killed and our thoughts and prayers to those injured and their families.
No words are adequate but we hope they and our continuing sympathies will be of some comfort to them during this very time.