Mr. Speaker, I rise today to salute a young soldier, Mr. Stefan Surette. Mr. Surette was killed from gunshot wounds during an insurgent ambush in Baghdad while the vehicle he was in waited for the road to reopen.
Mr. Surette's family lives in Saint-Anne-Du-Ruisseau, a small close-knit community in my riding.
Stefan left Nova Scotia a little over a decade ago to join the British military. He later joined a private security firm with whom he was employed at the time of his unfortunate death.
I spoke to Mr. Surette's mother today. His parents are devastated by the loss of their child, as is all of the community.
I am certain Nova Scotians and Canadians alike join me in sending the Surette family our deepest condolences.