Debates of April 16th, 2018

Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash

[Jonathan Wilkinson, Liberal, North Vancouver, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my very deepest sympathy to the families directly affected by last week's tragic events, to the community of Humboldt, and to all Saskatchewanians.

Having spent my childhood, adolescence, and early adult life in that wonderful province, I was extremely saddened. In a province that is so community oriented and where personal relationships among community members are so strong, there is clearly great sorrow. However, these strong bonds that exist between neighbours and communities have and will be a source of strength as Saskatchewanians struggle to come to grips with the impacts of the accident.

All Canadians mourn with the families, with Humboldt, and with Saskatchewan. On behalf of my constituents, my family, and myself, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the families, the community, and to all Saskatchewanians.

[Todd Doherty, Conservative, Cariboo—Prince George, BC]

Mr. Speaker, like all Canadians, I was absolutely heartbroken by the news of the Humboldt Broncos tragedy. Although I did not personally know any of the players or coaches, like many Canadians from coast to coast to coast, I, too, have spent countless hours on the bus, first as a player and then as a coach. It is what we have to do in rural communities when we choose to play sports or participate in events.

At the beginning of a season when parents bring their children to the rink to join our team, they are placing their trust in us as coaches and as an organization to protect their children. Their children become our children. They become our family. Just as we would with our own children, we agonize over every detail to ensure the safety of their children on and off the ice.

My heart has been filled with incredible sadness since first hearing this news. The scenario has been played out in our minds over and over again. This indeed is among our worst nightmares.

Since the news of the accident broke, former players, coaches, and volunteers have all reached out to me. Their reaction is the same. We are all numb.

I can imagine what was going on just before the accident: an iconic sports movie playing on the video, a poker game in the back, coaches sitting quietly thinking about the previous game and the night's lineup, and the quiet conversations of hopes and dreams.

As a father, I cannot even begin to imagine the pain the families are experiencing. The community of Humboldt, the surviving players, and the families of the deceased will need our nation's prayers, strength, and support for a very long time. Long after the cameras and the media go away, these communities and these families will need us all as a nation to continue to lift them up. This pain will endure long after the ice from this season has melted. Hearts will continue to break long after the final buzzer goes off.

On behalf of all families in my riding of Cariboo—Prince George and our proud hockey teams, the BC Major Midget League, Cariboo Cougars, the WHL Prince George Cougars, the British Columbia junior hockey league, and the Prince George Spruce Kings, our thoughts and prayers are with those we have lost, those who are still fighting, the community of Humboldt, and the Humboldt Broncos organization.

We ask that we all take a moment to say a prayer for the families involved as well as for the first responders involved in this unbelievable tragedy. This will undoubtedly have an immeasurable impact on them as well. We ask that beyond today we continue as a nation to embrace and lift these families up and hold them in our hearts.

Anne-Marie Eagles

[Matt DeCourcey, Liberal, Fredericton, NB]

Mr. Speaker, a loving mother, wife, educator, and caring friend of many, Anne-Marie Eagles passed away last month after a long battle with cancer.

Anne-Marie was strong in her faith and had a love of life that she shared oh so well with oh so many.

As a dedicated teacher and guidance counsellor, Anne-Marie loved to encourage her students to achieve their dreams and give them the means to do so. In recent weeks, a number of students have shared stories about how Mrs. Eagles has had a lasting impact on their lives.

The outpouring of support at her passing reminds us of the tremendous impact that a simple warm smile and sincerity for the well-being of others can have on a community.

Together we honour the life and legacy of this beloved and inspiring woman and send our thoughts and prayers to her husband Mike, sons Matt and Chris, and to the entire Eagles and Allain families.

Vaisakhi

[Peter Julian, NDP, New Westminster—Burnaby, BC]

[Member spoke in Punjabi]

[English]

Mr. Speaker, I wish everyone a very joyous Vaisakhi from the NDP and from our national leader, Mr. Jagmeet Singh. May the festival of Vaisakhi fill everyone with hope and happiness.

This festival is a celebration of human rights and serves as a reminder that we are all connected, and that everyone must be free from prejudice, oppression, and discrimination, regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, or identity.

[Member spoke in Punjabi]

Airports

[Stephen Fuhr, Liberal, Kelowna—Lake Country, BC]

Mr. Speaker, I wish to welcome to Ottawa the Canadian Airports Council. CAC is the voice for more than 100 airports across Canada and they work to ensure that Canada is a leader in safe, high-quality, and economically prosperous air transport. Serving as gateways to the world, our airports generate nearly 200,000 jobs and contribute $35 billion in GDP to our nation's economy.

In my riding of Kelowna—Lake Country, under the direction of airport manager Sam Samaddar, Kelowna International Airport is one of the busiest airports in Canada, serving nearly two million passengers annually and contributing more than $800 million in total economic output to the province of British Columbia.

I invite all members in this House to join the Canadian Airports Council tomorrow night at a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Chateau Laurier to recognize our airports' contributions to our communities and the Canadian economy.

If members have an airport in their riding, I will see them tomorrow at the Chateau.

Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash

[Karen Vecchio, Conservative, Elgin—Middlesex—London, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today I stand in my Team Canada jersey remembering the young men and woman we lost to the horrific tragedy in Humboldt.

As a parent, I know what it's like to send my children on a bus destined for camp, school, or a sports tournament. This story touches the lives of all Canadians. It is about the families and all of the lives that have been impacted and affected. It is about the people who welcomed these young men into their homes as billets. It is about hockey moms and dads. It is about the volunteers who do their best to keep our kids safe on trips away from home.

Through the outpouring of support on Jersey Day and the hashtags #SticksOutForHumboldt and #HumboldtStrong, I know that this has deeply touched individuals across the country.

On behalf of the residents of Elgin—Middlesex—London, we offer our sincere condolences to Humboldt and everyone affected. May God watch over them in the coming days.

Project Wellness

[Dan Ruimy, Liberal, Pitt Meadows—Maple Ridge, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is a place that is filled with incredible and kind-hearted individuals, whose deeds are done without acknowledgement and for the benefit of others. I am proud to say that my riding of Pitt Meadows —Maple Ridge is home to many of these hidden heroes, such as George Klassen and his late wife, Sheila. They started their non-profit organization, Project Wellness, in 2006, providing clean water, education, medicine, and food to orphans in Malawi.

Last week I was invited to George's 80th birthday. Words cannot express how inspiring it was to hear his experiences. Since 2006, George has built a total of 39 wells, has taken almost 500 orphans under his care, and continues to successfully drill clean water wells. In a week's time, at the young age of 80, he is leaving to drill the first of five new wells in 2018.

I wish George good luck. He is an inspiration to me and our community. On behalf of all of Parliament, I wish him safe travels. Maybe one day I will be out there drilling a well alongside him.

Trans Mountain Expansion Project

[Randy Boissonnault, Liberal, Edmonton Centre, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the environment and the economy must go hand in hand to ensure the long-term prosperity of all Canadians. With this in mind, and following rigorous reviews, our government approved the Trans Mountain expansion project. Working with our indigenous partners, we have completed the deepest consultations with rights holders ever on a major project in this country. Forty-three first nations have negotiated benefit agreements with the project, 33 of those in B.C.

Despite clear federal jurisdiction, repeated attempts have been made to undermine the project over the past months. We say enough is enough. As such, we have begun financial discussions with Kinder Morgan in order to remove the uncertainty surrounding this vital project. We are also pursuing legislative options that will assert the federal jurisdiction the courts have already told us we clearly have.

The Trans Mountain expansion project is in the national interest. It will be built.

Humboldt Broncos

[Gérard Deltell, Conservative, Louis-Saint-Laurent, QC]

Mr. Speaker, all Canadians over 50 remember where they were when Paul Henderson scored his famous goal. Today, all Canadians remember where they were when they heard about the Broncos tragedy.

On April 6, 16 Canadians died in a bus accident in Saskatchewan. These young people were members of the Humboldt Broncos team. Players, coaches, staff members, and even an announcer were among the victims. In such tragic and difficult times, we all feel united as Canadians.

Whether it is the families of Lebourgneuf, in my riding, who put hockey sticks on their doorsteps, Canadian members of the military in Iraq, me, as I left my hocky stick at the door of the House of Commons, or the Muslim men who brought their sticks to the largest mosque in the country, all Canadians have been affected and wanted to express their condolences.

Hockey is not just any sport, it is our national sport. When we are playing or watching a game, there is no language, race, religion, or nationality. Now and forever, we are Canadians, and we will always be Broncos.

Vaisakhi

[Kamal Khera, Liberal, Brampton West, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this past Saturday, people of Sikh faith both in Canada and around the world celebrated Vaisakhi, marking the founding of Khalsa by Guru Gobind Singh in 1699.

During this celebration of prayer, reflection, and unity, our thoughts turn to community. We are reminded of the ways our vibrant Sikh community helps to enrich our national fabric. All across Canada, Sikhs reaffirm the values of equality, social justice, and most importantly, selfless service.

Each year, thousands of Sikh Canadians take part in selfless service, also known as Seva, through free community kitchens, food drives, equality initiatives, and youth outreach programs. These programs, often run through local gurdwaras, such as the Gurdwara Sikh Sangat in Brampton West, provide crucial support to their local communities. I applaud these programs for highlighting values that we share not only as Sikhs, but also as Canadians.

To all those celebrating in Brampton West, across Canada, and around the world, happy Vaisakhi.

[Member spoke in Punjabi ]

Rusty Staub

[Marc Miller, Liberal, Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC]

Mr. Speaker, known to fans as “Le Grand Orange” because of his bright orange hair, Rusty Staub was one of the original Montreal Expos, far and away their first star.

Arriving in Montreal for the 1969 season, Staub helped establish the fledgling team and the professional sport of baseball in the hearts of Montrealers.

On March 29, the opening day of the 2018 baseball season, “Le Grand Orange” passed away and the Montreal baseball community lost one of its superstars. On the field, he was one of the Expos best hitters. Off the field, he wasted no time integrating into the Montreal and Quebec culture, even taking French courses to better communicate with local media, French fans and, above all, young people. As a result of his efforts, “Le Grand Orange” left an indelible mark on the hearts of Expos fans.

It is with great sadness that we say a final goodbye to Canada's first baseball superstar.

Mr. Speaker, through you I say to Rusty, rest in peace. There are some kids up there that need you.

Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash

[John Brassard, Conservative, Barrie—Innisfil, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it has been 10 days and the collective soul of our nation is still coming to grips with the tragedy that took place at that rural Saskatchewan intersection involving the Humboldt Broncos hockey team.

Despite the confusion, the anger, and the anguish, over the past 10 days Canadians have come together beautifully with an outpouring of love and support for those who perished, those who survived, and for their families. It has been incredible to see the compassion that Canadians have shown our neighbours in their time of pain.

Tributes like Jersey Day, hockey sticks, athletic tape, and head-sets placed on our porches, from Timbits Hockey to the National Hockey League and all levels in between, Canadians have wrapped Humboldt and the Broncos in their arms to mourn and to give comfort to those who need it.

Hockey is Canada. Canada is hockey. Humboldt is Canada. Humboldt is hockey.

This game, this beautiful game, will see the puck drop again in Humboldt, and when it does, all of Canada, and indeed all members of the House, will be cheering for Humboldt and our Broncos.

National Volunteer Week

[Eva Nassif, Liberal, Vimy, QC]

Mr. Speaker, this week is National Volunteer Week, and I am delighted to rise to congratulate all those who volunteer in their communities.

I would like to highlight the work of Simone Langevin, who passed away on March 27. She volunteered with the Relais communautaire de Laval for 12 years and was named volunteer of the year in 2017 for her dedicated contribution to her community. Like her, we can be part of a group that is greater than the sum of its parts and that ultimately benefits society as a whole.

I would like to thank all those who give of themselves to their communities. No matter the cause they choose, people who give their time are a treasure because they truly believe in what they are doing.

Humboldt Broncos Bus Crash

[Erin Weir, NDP, Regina—Lewvan, SK]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on behalf of the NDP to mourn the loss of life in the horrific bus accident 10 days ago. We also pay tribute to the heroic work of Saskatchewan's first responders and extend condolences to everyone touched by this tragedy.

Hockey brings people together as a touchstone of Canadian identity, and nowhere more so than in Saskatchewan. While our province has been too small to support an NHL team, Saskatchewan has produced by far the most NHL players per capita of any province or state in the world.

But the young people who were killed were not just great hockey players; they were pillars of the Humboldt community. They embodied a spirit of public service that inspires all Canadians, one that we should strive to emulate here in this Parliament.

[Dane Lloyd, Conservative, Sturgeon River—Parkland, AB]

Mr. Speaker, on April 6 Canada experienced a national tragedy after a collision in Saskatchewan claimed the lives of 16 people and forever changed the lives of many others. Sturgeon River—Parkland's own Conner Lukan and Parker Tobin passed away in this terrible crash. Conner and Parker grew up in Sturgeon River—Parkland and both played for the Humboldt Broncos. They are survived by their friends, family members, and teammates, whose lives they touched.

I would like to thank the first responders, whose actions on the scene saved lives, and also the nurses and physicians who have spent countless hours attending to the needs of the victims and their families. They have the thanks of a grateful nation.

For Lorne and Robin, Ed and Rhonda, no words I say can ease the pain of their loss. However, I want them to know that the thoughts and prayers of the people of Sturgeon River—Parkland and our nation are with them, and that they are in our hearts. God bless.

[Rodger Cuzner, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso, NS]

Mr. Speaker, as a former Junior A hockey coach and the father of a Quebec Major Junior Hockey League graduate, I can speak first-hand to the near sanctity of the team bus. Aspiring young Canadians spend days, weekends, even weeks on what serves as the team's rec room, lunchroom, bedroom, and library. It is their sanctuary. However, when the bus pulls out of the home rink parking lot, parents and billets alike think more in terms of “I hope the team gets a win and brings back some points.” I know I can never recall thinking, “I hope they all make it back.”

That unspoken confidence in the team bus has been shattered, and the collective heart of a hockey nation has been broken. We mourn together.

We know that the first responders, who inherently and willingly accepted a high degree of danger and risk when they signed on to the job, could never have imagined the horror and tragedy of that night.

The Humboldt Broncos website posted, “They woke up that morning with hopes to win the game but instead they united a nation.”

To the family and friends of all involved, know that our country shares your grief, today and always.

Humboldt Broncos

[The Speaker, Geoff Regan]

As members of Parliament, we gather in this chamber to represent the people of Canada and to express their views and their wishes.

Today, on their behalf, we honour the memory of those who lost their lives or were injured in the tragic Humboldt Broncos accident.

In the name of all Canadians, and in tribute to the Humboldt Broncos, I ask all members to rise in unity and observe a moment of silence.

[A moment of silence observed]

Natural Resources

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, almost 10 months ago, an openly anti-pipeline government took office in British Columbia. We have been urging the Prime Minister to take action ever since, but now the Trans Mountain pipeline conflict has escalated into a crisis. Every time the resource transportation issue comes up, the government's response is the same: delays and obstruction.

Why does the Prime Minister always wait until the eleventh hour to do something about issues that are vital to economic development?

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, may I begin to speak as a Manitoban and as a prairie hockey dad? On behalf of my family and all Manitobans, I offer our sincere condolences to the people of Humboldt and of Saskatchewan. This is a tragedy that we all feel personally in our families and in our communities.

The Prime Minister was very clear yesterday on the government's position of ensuring that the pipeline be built. He offered ways in which the government intends to act. He has instructed the Minister of Finance to engage in financial discussions with Kinder Morgan. He is discussing with his government legislative ways to reassert federal jurisdiction.

This pipeline will be built.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, the reason the stakes are so high for Trans Mountain is because of the government's disastrous energy policy from start to finish.

It vetoed northern gateway, something that had gone through an independent, evidence-based analysis. It killed energy east. It has driven out $87 billion worth of investment in the energy sector. It has brought in Bill C-69, which has further shaken confidence in Canada's economy.

Why is that the Trans Mountain project had to become a crisis before the Prime Minister finally took action?

[Jim Carr, Liberal, Minister of Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, the government approved the Line 3 replacement project. It is already under way with construction in Alberta and Saskatchewan. There will be further construction in the coming weeks in Manitoba.

We are in support of the Keystone XL project. We have approved the TMX project. This will result in tens of thousands of jobs being created for Canadians. It will give us an opportunity to expand our export markets. As members know, 99% of the export of oil and gas in Canada goes to one country, the United States.

At the same time, we are investing unprecedented—

[The Speaker, Geoff Regan]

The hon. Leader of the Opposition.

Public Safety

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, today, in committee, the Prime Minister's national security adviser completely debunked the conspiracy whereby the Indian government was behind the invitation of a convicted terrorist to an event in India hosted by the Prime Minister.

Will the Prime Minister stand and withdraw the false accusations he made here in the House on February 27 and issue an apology to the Government of India?

[Ralph Goodale, Liberal, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure there will be further opportunities to respond to similar questions.

Since this is my first opportunity as a member of Parliament from Saskatchewan, may I express my deep condolences to those who have suffered loss in the terrible tragedy that has befallen the Humboldt Broncos and join with all of those in the House who are expressing prayers for the speedy recovery of all those who have been injured?

The demonstration of solidarity in the House of Commons today is extremely important to the premier and the province and all the people of Saskatchewan, a province that both the Leader of the Opposition and I share.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the hon. minister for his sincere words. I know I speak on behalf of all members of the Conservative Party and all Canadians who have come together over this tragedy. I appreciate the non-partisan sentiments that have brought us all together in tribute to the victims of the crash.

On February 27, the Prime Minister advanced the theory that Jaspal Atwal's presence at a Government of Canada event in India was orchestrated by rogue elements within the Indian government. Today, the Prime Minister's national security adviser said that the Prime Minister's theory is false.

Will the Prime Minister stand and withdraw the false accusations he made on February 27 in this House and issue an apology to the Government of India?