Mr. Speaker, in the last week the eyes of the country have been on Taber, Alberta, as that community struggles with the tragic death of Jason Lang.
Yesterday Jason's memory was honoured before 2,000 mourners and the national media in a remarkable way. The service was conducted by the Reverend Dale Lang, Jason's father. Dale Lang, his wife Diane and their children displayed tremendous courage and forgiveness, buoyed by their deep faith in God, as they asked that some good come from this tragedy so that Jason's death would not be in vain.
There could have been bitterness and blame and a call for revenge. As a parent, I would have understood. The loss of a child is every parent's worst nightmare. But the Lang family saw the chance to use the death of their son to challenge the people of Taber to take back their school where this tragedy occurred and to reach out to those young people who have lost their way.
I know the House will join with me in expressing our deepest condolences to the Lang family on the death of Jason and our thanks for their wonderful example of the Christian faith in action.
As well, we extend our best wishes and our prayers for a speedy recovery to Shane Christmas, the other brave young man who was seriously injured in Wednesday's tragedy.