Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the residents of Simcoe--Grey, I extend sincere condolences to our neighbours in the United States.
A tragedy of this magnitude touches each and every one of us. In my riding we are still hopeful that one of our own will be found in the coming hours.
The outpouring of emotion has been enormous. We have experienced literally hundreds of expressions of sympathy and equally as important, offers of support. Whether it be through candlelight vigils or the hundreds of constituents who have travelled to my offices to sign a book of condolence, our hearts and prayers have been with our American friends.
We have no closer neighbour than the United States. Quite simply, our American neighbours are family, and it is in this regard I am confident in offering our support to our Prime Minister when he stated “together we will defy and defeat the threat that terrorism poses to all civilized nations”.
On behalf of the residents of Simcoe--Grey, we will stand with the Americans in their hour of need.
God bless Canada and God bless the United States of America.