Members of parliament in the House of Commons reacted with shock to the April 6 Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy.
Several MPs from across Canada voiced their support and condolences in the wake of the tragedy, and observed a moment of silence.
Not surprisingly, it was Saskatchewan MPs who had the most to say when the Commons reconvened April 16, their first sitting since the tragedy.
Regina-Wascana Liberal MP Ralph Goodale, the minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, provided extensive remarks reflecting on the tragedy and expressing his condolences. The remarks are recorded in Hansard.
Goodale: Mr. Speaker, ever since about five o'clock in the afternoon a week ago last Friday, hearts have been aching in Saskatchewan. Tears have been flowing. Shock and trauma have gripped an entire province. Prayers have been uttered by the faithful of every possible creed, as the cruel reality settled in that a terrible highway crash had devastated the Humboldt Broncos hockey team.
… The outpouring of interest and concern is likely unparalleled. It is a way to show that we care. It is basic human kindness. That, too, is what defines us. Everyone affected is thankful for that.
Hon. Andrew Scheer, leader of the Opposition and member for Regina Qu-Appelle, expressed his condolences as well.
Scheer: … So many young boys and girls have ridden the bus down those long stretches of highways, in good weather and bad. So many parents have followed along. So many families have opened their doors to billet young kids playing out their dreams. That is why this tragedy has shaken us all so much.
However, in times of crisis, in times of tragedy, a Canadian in Humboldt, Saskatchewan becomes the neighbour of a Canadian in Newfoundland, British Columbia, or the territories. For days, Canadians have been leaving hockey sticks outside their front doors in a show of mourning for the lives lost in the Humboldt Broncos family. In our hockey-obsessed country, a stick left against a garage door or on a front porch is as normal a sight as the school bus pulling up to the curb in the morning, as comforting as mom calling the kids in for dinner. Last week, those sticks became a symbol of a nation coming together to grieve and to support the families and friends of the Humboldt Broncos.
… To the community of Humboldt and to the towns across Canada from which the victims came just to play the game they love, we say we grieve with them and we will remember them. No matter where they live, no matter how quiet the nights seem, no matter how small the town feels, we are all their neighbours now.
Another Saskatchewan MP, New Democrat Erin Weir from Regina-Lewvan, said the following:
Weir: … 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.
On Tuesday, April 17, Kelly Block, MP for Carlton Trail-Eagle Creek spoke. Block, whose riding includes Humboldt within its vast area, donned a Broncos jersey and was emotional as she spoke in the Commons on the tragedy.
Block: Mr. Speaker, Friday, April 6 marked a very dark day for the community of Humboldt, the province of Saskatchewan, and all of Canada.
While there are no words to capture the devastation and heartbreak that too many families are experiencing right now, there is hope. A debt of gratitude is owed to our emergency medical services personnel, doctors, nurses, crisis workers and chaplains, who performed their duties with dedication and professionalism under the most difficult of circumstances.
Saskatchewanians are strong and resilient, but this tragedy has reminded us that we need one another. At times like this, we draw on our loved ones, friends and neighbours for strength. The outpouring of support from Canada and around the world, and from members on both sides of this place, also reminds us of what is truly important in life: faith, love, family and community.
We love you, Humboldt, and our thoughts and prayers remain with you and all those touched by this tragedy.
