Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to support the motion of the member for Pictou—Antigonish—Guysborough:
That, in the opinion of this House, the last Sunday of September should be formally recognized from this year forth as “The Police and Peace Officer National Memorial Day” to honour the memory of those officers killed in the line of duty.
I congratulate the member for bringing this matter forward. As we heard from the Parliamentary Secretary to Minister of Health, this matter is supported by members from the other side although they oppose making it votable. The parliamentary secretary says that the government supports the motion. He also says that there is more to be done and that the government is prepared to take on this task. Obviously the government is not prepared to take on the very modest task of voting in support of this most worthwhile motion.
From time to time police officers, firefighters and others with the job of protecting and assisting many in difficult situations, at risk or in danger, are prepared to risk their lives in doing so. They have asked not only for recognition of this sort but also for a public pension to be available to their families if they are killed in the line of duty.
That is a financial question that most members of the House would support. However it is not what is being asked today. The motion does not ask the government to provide funds. It merely asks all members of the House to have a day to recognize the most supreme sacrifice made by Canadian police and peace officers in the continuance of their duties to ensure we live in a secure and safe community. Most Canadians would find it odd to think that the government was not prepared to support what is a modest yet important provision.
The Prime Minister was involved in the 1994 ceremony in which over 700 police officers and relatives of slain officers gathered at the site behind the Parliament Buildings to dedicate the new Canadian Police Memorial Pavilion. The Prime Minister and his government were supported then in their initiative to recognize and respect those police and peace officers who had lost their lives in the line of duty. The year 1994 is not very far in the past, yet here we are five years later with the same Prime Minister and the same government not being prepared to recognize a day to honour officers who died in the line of duty. Canadians would wonder why.
The sacrifices and the risks taken by police officers in the line of duty may not be better described than by the words of dignitaries at a memorial ceremony that was held just behind the House in 1997. I will quote a couple of those dignitaries. Neal Jessop, president of the Canadian Police Association, said:
Once again we gather to honour our fallen comrades and keep faith with them and their families left behind. It is a duty most sacred of all of us within the law enforcement family and a commitment that exemplifies the bonds in our larger family.
It is a duty and commitment of all of us. He continued:
This service honours those who gave their lives in service of us all. It is also our way of ensuring that the family members of those we remember today know that they are forever in our thoughts and prayers.
This year's service stands as a stark reminder that the duties, responsibilities and risks of law enforcement are a 24 a day reality.
Vincent Murray, president of the Canadian Peace Officers' Memorial Association, said the following important words:
Today is the twentieth anniversary of the Memorial Service, a service which commemorates the great sacrifice our officers have made. They have lost their lives protecting society from the evils of violence and crime. These officers served their country with integrity, honesty and courage, well known values of the law enforcement family.
Let us now remember and honour those brave officers who gave their lives in service to their country. Let us remember them as they were, for time does not age them as it does us. They will stay forever young in memories, but we will not forget them.
Surely all of us in the House share those words and sentiments. It would not be asking very much to have the motion votable and to have this day set aside to remember peace officers.
I have a few words to say about the police service in my community of Saskatoon. I have spent time, as I am sure have many members of the House, with them in the line of duty. I have watched the tasks they have to perform and the risks they have to endure. Nobody could but be impressed by their commitment to all of us and their preparedness to take on risks in the line of duty.
It is incumbent on all of us to recognize that and to do what little part we can to make sure that they know and that the families of those who have died in the line of duty know how important Canadians regard their work, understand it, and consider with compassion the circumstance in which they find themselves having lost a loved one. It is incumbent upon us to ensure that our thanks is provided in any way we possibly can do so.
One police officer who died in the line of duty comes from outside my community of Saskatoon. His name was Brian King. He was hijacked, taken hostage and killed in the most outrageous circumstances. All in Saskatoon and indeed all in Saskatchewan remember this police officer and his family. There is a centre named after him in the town of Warman where he served with the RCMP.
It is not enough to say thanks to those police officers who have provided services to date. It is not enough to say to the families of those police officers who died that we are sorry, concerned about them, appreciate the service that was provided and understand the circumstances in which they live. It is not enough to say that and go no further.
I hope members opposite would reconsider their opposition to voting on the motion and would support it. I cannot imagine any Canadian would be opposed to this important motion except maybe a few on the Liberal benches. Surely the Parliamentary Secretary for the Minister of Health is not opposed to setting aside this day. Surely the member from Prince Island is not opposed to setting aside this day to respect and honour police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. Surely the member for Nunavut is not opposed. Surely, if they are opposed, they would be one of four or five people in the whole country who are not prepared to come forward and support the motion.
Let me close by just asking once again if the members would reconsider and by asking for unanimous consent to make the motion votable.