Mr. Speaker, I wish to extend the sympathies of my constituents to the people of Christchurch.
The destruction in New Zealand is a reminder of the tragic loss of life that can result from earthquakes.
On February 15, an earthquake shook Richmond and Delta. It was very mild compared with the one that hit Christchurch, but it is a reminder that we must ensure that our infrastructure is capable of withstanding a strong quake.
Last week at a meeting of the Ladner Business Association, Brian Hart and Mike Owen, local businessmen with significant knowledge of the lower Fraser River, pointed out that Ladner and Richmond, like Christchurch, are built on an alluvial plane and located on a fault zone.
Furthermore, they are below sea level and protected by dikes. That means for our two communities, merely having specially strengthened buildings and bridges is not enough. Our dikes must be maintained at a level to withstand a serious quake.
We must be prepared. Being prepared means we must all work together. There is no reward for complacency.