Commons statement on the Ocean Ranger: hearts are always heavy on Valentine's Day


I gave the following one-minute statement in the House of Commons today (Friday, Feb. 14th, 2014).

Mr. Speaker,

Much of the island of Newfoundland is being battered today by a winter storm, a somber reminder of this day, 32 years ago, when a vicious blizzard struck the province, eventually bringing down the indestructible drill rig Ocean Ranger in the early morning hours of Feb. 15th.
Eighty-four men lost their lives.

Hearts are always heavy in my province on Valentine’s Day.
The tragedy of the Ocean Ranger highlights the terrible price we pay as a seafaring people.

It also highlights how fast and badly things can go wrong, and enforces our need for the highest of health and safety regulations.

I end with a quote from the great Canadian songwriter, Gordon Lightfoot, which captures the waiting ... waiting for word of life or death.
“Does anyone know where the love of God goes,
When the waves turn the minutes to hours?”

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