00:07yesterday afternoon a violent fast-moving fire swept through Canadian Armed Force Base in Wainwright
00:16Alberta and what followed was one of the worst tragedies for the forces Canadian soil in peacetime
00:25I regret that I can confirm at this time that Forest Service members have lost their lives and
00:32their next of kin has been notified dozens more are seriously wounded now as the situation is
00:42evolving rapidly I have asked that a detailed account and a formal briefing be provided this
00:51afternoon by senior officials on the ground in Wainwright including the Minister of National
00:59Defence Canada's Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Major General Wade Rutland of the Canadian Army
01:08and they will be joined at that briefing by provincial ministers and senior officials
01:16I would like to take this opportunity to commend the close collaboration that has occurred between
01:21all levels of government since last evening Premier Smith and I have been in regular contact our
01:28ministers and our officials have coordinated the response deploying resources from the Canadian Armed
01:34Forces from public safety local fire department first responders Alberta emergency and medical services
01:47the nation is a morning for those brave members of our Armed Forces whom we have lost and I have
01:57asked that the flags and all federal buildings to be flown at half-mast to honour them our hearts go
02:07with and we are praying for the wounded and we stand in solidarity
02:12and compassion for the families the friends and the colleagues of all those affected by this tragedy
02:23Canadians come together in crisis that is the best of our country military and civilian crews fought this fire throughout
02:33the night in some of the worst conditions imaginable risking their lives to protect their fellow Canadians
02:41stars stars air ambulance crews flew in from Edmonton and from Saskatoon paramedics nurses and doctors in Wainwright in Edmonton
02:50and Red Deer in Calgary are caring for the victims the people of Wainwright are taking care of their own
02:58and I would like to thank and I would like to thank those Albertans and Canadians who are giving blood
03:03who are feeding and housing the emergency crews and who are providing solace and comfort to those in their darkest
03:11hour
03:14those affected came from bases right across this country they included reservists and soldiers from the storied Princess Patricia's Canadian
03:26light infantry
03:28throughout Canada's history the Princess Pats have fought for freedom democracy human dignity in the first world war in the
03:37second in Korea in Afghanistan and during numerous
03:42peacekeeping missions over decades that is the record that is the standard those are the values of the women and
03:53men who were training yesterday on the Alberta prairie when disaster struck
04:01and that commitment that service those ideals are the debts that we as Canadians voted them
04:09our country our country depends on the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces our rights our freedoms our
04:17very way of life are fought for and defended every single day by Canadians who answer the call and CFB
04:25Wainwright is where the women and men of our Armed Forces learn to do the hardest things this country can
04:31ask of anyone those we lost those who were injured
04:37we're training to defend Canada to serve Canada to serve Canada and now Canada serves them we will be there
04:47for their families for as long as they need we will care for the injured through every step of their
04:53recovery and we will stand by the women and men of our Armed Forces as they bear the weight of
04:59this loss they will not carry it alone
05:03because in Canada we take care of one another
05:17because in Canada we take care of one another
05:23and we take care of one another
05:24one the bigger one
05:26one another
05:27weats
05:51c'est
05:52Many others have been severely hurt.
05:58As the situation has evolved rapidly, I have asked that the other
06:03responsible members on the ground at Wainwright,
06:06like the Minister of National Defense, the Minister of Civil Protection
06:11and Major General Wade Rutland of the Canadian Army,
06:16present this afternoon to the Canadian population
06:19a detailer of the events during an official information session.
06:29The Ministers and the Haute-Responsables provincial
06:33will join them.
06:39Our country is in deuil.
06:43We will mourn the loss of these courageous members of our armed forces.
06:51I ask that the drapeaux of all the federal edifices
06:55will be put in place for their homage.
06:59And our thoughts and prayers accompany the wounded.
07:06We express all our solidarity and compassion for families,
07:12friends and colleagues of all the people touched by this tragedy.
07:20Our country is a country of women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces.
07:26Every day, the Canadians and Canadians respond to the call to defend our rights,
07:34our liberties and our mode of life.
07:39It is at the military base of Wainwright that women and women of our armed forces
07:43learn to accomplish the most difficult missions that our country can offer.
07:53Those who have lost and who have been hurt
07:59were trained to defend Canada and serve the country.
08:08Today, it's the turn of Canada to be at their service.
08:14We will be there for their families as long as they will need us.
08:21We will accompany the wounded at each stage of their establishment.
08:29And we will accompany the women and men of our armed forces
08:34while they are suffering from this loss.
08:40They will not be able to carry this burden alone.
08:45Because in Canada, we will take care of each other.
08:52Thank you very much.
08:54Thank you very much.
