Mr. Speaker, today on her 29th birthday RCMP Constable Laurie White lies in a hospital bed in Vancouver.
On Friday afternoon Constable White, along with fellow officers from her detachment, attempted to serve a search warrant on a suspected sex offender in Kitimat, British Columbia. As they approached the suspect's residence he shot Constable White, badly injuring her. She was medivacced to Vancouver where surgeons worked for hours trying to save her badly injured leg, but sadly the damage was so great they were unable to do so.
When young men and women decide to make policing their vocation they know they may some day face serious injury or even worse in the performance of their duty. But that does not relieve the sting or the shock over the events of last Friday.
We are grateful every day that these police officers are there serving and protecting the public, putting their own safety at risk. We are shocked and truly saddened when we learn of an officer down in the line of duty.
We are proud of Constable White and I ask the House and all Canadians in extending our best wishes for her speedy recovery on this, her birthday.