Mr. Speaker, today we stand together in grief. On behalf of Canada's New Democrats, I extend our heartfelt and sincere condolences to the families, friends and comrades of the four Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in Saturday's devastating fire at CFB Wainwright. We honour them by speaking their names. They are Sergeant Morgan Wong of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, serving with the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, and Private Shaun Farrell, Private Aidan Goulding and Private Hayden Lykkemark, all of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry.
They were so young. They were four Canadians who answered the call to serve their country, four lives cut tragically short. Behind each of these names is a family whose world has been turned upside down. Their parents, partners, children, siblings and friends are facing an unimaginable loss. I want to say to those families that we cannot begin to imagine your grief, but please know that Canadians across the country are mourning with you.
We also think of the 39 military personnel who were injured, including the at least 19 who are in critical condition. We think of their families, who are gathered at hospital bedsides, hoping and praying for good news. We pray for them.
Military bases are much more than places where our armed forces work and train. They are communities within communities. Military personnel, their families and civilian employees share their lives with the people of surrounding towns, such as Wainwright. Their children attend school together. Their neighbours are teachers, nurses, firefighters, paramedics and small business owners. A former military spouse once told me that a military base is the heartbeat of its community. Her words resonate, especially today. Our hearts go out to the entire Wainwright community.
I represent Courtenay—Alberni on Vancouver Island, home to Canadian Forces Base 19 Wing Comox and Nanoose Bay, also known as CFMETR. The communities of my riding are home to hundreds of active and retired military personnel, civilian employees and their families, and a network of eight Royal Canadian Legion branches that have supported veterans for generations. On their behalf, and on behalf of the people of Courtenay—Alberni and Vancouver Island, and of New Democrats, I offer our heartfelt condolences to the families and comrades of those we have lost. We know that when tragedy strikes one military family, it is felt throughout the entire military community.
I also want to express our profound gratitude to the military and civilian first responders who rushed into danger to rescue others and fight this terrible fire on Saturday. To the firefighters, paramedics, air ambulance crews, doctors, nurses, emergency personnel and everyone who responded with such courage and compassion, thank you. We thank you. There will be difficult questions about how this tragedy happened, and those questions deserve thorough, transparent answers, but our first responsibility is to those whose lives have been forever changed.
We need to also recognize that not all wounds are visible. Tragedies like this can leave lasting psychological and emotional scars on survivors, fellow service members, first responders and their families. Canada has a responsibility to understand those impacts and ensure that everyone affected has access to timely, compassionate and sustained mental health care and support. Our obligation to them does not end as the headlines fade. The Prime Minister can count on New Democrats to work in full co-operation with the government to support those families and everybody impacted.
To every member of the Canadian Armed Forces, every civilian employee and every military family, your service matters, your sacrifice matters and you are not alone. To the four soldiers we have lost, we owe them our gratitude, our remembrance and a lasting commitment to those they leave behind. May they rest in peace.