Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Prime Minister from the bottom of my heart for his thoughtful words. They were truly touching.
I also thank the Leader of the Opposition for sharing thoughts that are very difficult to say out loud.
It is hard for any one of us as parents to imagine what the community of Tumbler Ridge is going through.
I would also like to thank the leader of the Bloc Québécois for saying something very important, namely that we stand together and are united at this time. I would also like to thank him for mentioning the tragedy that is unfolding today in the Anishinabe nation. Meegwetch.
I would also like to thank the leader of the New Democratic Party, who, like me, is a member of Parliament from British Columbia.
There are no words. Politicians will try to find words. I will try not to.
I want to send my love to our dear friend, the member of Parliament for Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies. This is the kind of thing none of us want to have happen in Canada, but it happened, and in a place like Tumbler Ridge, which is so small. Everyone knows everyone, and I know that the member of Parliament knows everyone. It is a time that our hearts are broken.
We are not just a nation, we are a proud nation. We are also a family.
We love each other.
Today, our hearts are broken.
I think of Matthew 5:4, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”, but that comfort may feel far, far away right now if you are in Tumbler Ridge. Know wherever you are that we are praying for the injured, for the 12-year-old little girl fighting for her life in hospital. We will be with you this day, yes, and whether we are believers or not, we are all one in the human family and we hold you all close. If there is ever any opportunity for us, as individual members of Parliament, to do anything to alleviate the pain, the suffering and the grief of the people of Tumbler Ridge, we are with you today.
We always will be.