Mr. Speaker, yesterday afternoon in my riding tragedy hit Little Grand Rapids, a remote community some 260 kilometres northeast of Winnipeg.
A plane crashed killing the pilot and two others. A child also died later in the hospital. The remaining passengers, some of them critically injured, are being treated in a tiny nursing station near the crash site. Only now are the injured being air-lifted to a hospital in Winnipeg.
Residents travelled to the site by skidoo to assist the injured. Volunteers were up all night bringing needed supplies to the nursing station. For more than 20 hours, rescue planes were unable to land due to treacherous weather conditions. The airport at Little Grand Rapids, like many remote communities, has limited resources and equipment, increasing the potential for dangerous landings.
Today we extend our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of those who died in the crash. We also commend the community and the many volunteers who have offered their help to the victims of the crash.