Motions — Canada—Deaths of Soldiers and Shooting at Parliament

I seek leave to move a motion without notice in relation to the attack at the Canadian Parliament today.

💬 Mr SPEAKER: Is there any objection to that course of action? There is none.

I move, That this House express its condolences to the family of the soldier killed in Ottawa today and its deep concern at the attack at Parliament House. As we consider this motion, many New Zealanders will feel concern and sympathy for the Canadian people, who are dealing with the frightening, threatening, and tragic events that have occurred in Ottawa this morning and near Montreal 2 days ago.

We should be careful not to jump to conclusions or rush to comparisons in situations like this, but we also do have to recognise that we live in a very different world today than we did only a short while ago. The threat of terrorism today is greater than it has been at any previous time in our history. This requires even a geographically remote and peaceful country like New Zealand to be vigilant and cautious. It must not be, though, a vigilance or a caution that causes us to turn on ourselves with judgments en masse or reactions that deny New Zealanders their freedoms, their rights, and choice. At the core of those freedoms is the right to religious expression, the right to political expression, and the right to respect, so long as none of those expressions seek to impede the freedoms of others. As a close friend and ally of Canada, we must ensure we preserve the values of freedom that we share. These shared values are the values that the Canadian people are now called on to defend.

On behalf of the people of New Zealand, we express our solidarity with the people of Canada at a time when they are most visibly and dramatically in need of our support. We extend our condolences to the families of the two soldiers deceased in the violent acts of the past 48 hours, and simply offer to our Canadian friends all that is embodied in our uniquely New Zealand salutation kia kaha.

In support of that motion, the Labour Party joins with the Government in expressing its condolences and sympathies today to the family and friends of Corporal Nathan Frank Cirillo, the Canadian soldier who was gunned down while performing his duties outside the Ottawa National War Memorial. This was a brutal act that appears to have been planned and premeditated, and it comes on the heels of another Canadian soldier who was deliberately killed in a hit and run incident.

These events have clearly come as a shock to Canadian citizens, who live in a country that is peace-loving and has been largely immune to that sort of violence. Our thoughts today are with the Canadian people who are coming to terms with that horrific event. We also acknowledge the quick response of the Canadian security services, which may well have saved other innocent lives as the gunman entered the Canadian Parliament.

It is a reminder that we need to be vigilant in these indeed troubled times when events from elsewhere and overseas impinge and force themselves on to our societies as well. But it is also important to acknowledge that these are the actions of a very small number of extremists. They are not representatives of many of our communities. Much attention has gone on to the Muslim community within New Zealand. It, like others in our society, is a community who are Kiwis, who are hard-working, peaceful, and law-abiding. Indeed, together with Phil Goff, I attended a march on the weekend where Muslims took to the streets, on Queen Street, under the banner of “Not in My Name” to abhor what was perpetrated in the name of Islam. We need to be watchful but never prejudge.

As a close friend of Canada we extend our condolences to the people of Canada.

The Green Party joins with the Government in expressing its condolences to the family of the soldier killed in Ottawa today and its deep concern at the attack at Parliament House. The Green Party expresses its solidarity with Canadians and with the Canadian Parliament today. Our thoughts are with all of those caught up in the shooting in Canada. Our sympathies are especially with the family and friends of the soldier killed while guarding the National War Memorial. We also hope for the speedy recovery of the people who were injured in the attack. This is a horrible attack. We hope for peace and for order to be restored in Ottawa. Kia kaha.

New Zealand First joins other parties in expressing condolences to the family of the soldier killed in Ottawa today and our deep concern at the attack on the Canadian Parliament. An attack on the institution of Parliament is an attack at the very heart of democracy. It is significant and a very serious development. Without security for the processes of government and Parliament there is only one path, and that is anarchy

In New Zealand First we believe that our country needs to be more vigilant. We must follow the events in Canada and see what lessons may apply to New Zealand and, indeed, to security in our Parliament and its precincts. In any country an attack on Parliament is a very, very black day.

Anei rā te mihi atu ki a koe e Te Mana Whakawā, koutou o Te Whare nei. Ā, tēnei tāku e tū ake nei ki te mihi nō te mea ko tēnei taku wā tuatahi ki te kōrero, hoi anō, hei te rā tū taku wā tika. Nā reira, i roto i te tūnga o Te Ururoa, o Te Pāti Māori i tēnei wā au e tū ana. He tuku mihi ki tēnei o ngā rangatira kua mate i tēnei rangi nā reira. Tēnei te mihi ki a koutou ōku pou, ōku rahi, tēnā koutou.

[Here indeed is my acknowledgment to you, Mr Speaker, and to you collectively of this House. I have greeted you in this manner because it is the first time I have made a statement, and, furthermore, the proper time would have been when I make my first speech. So in this instance I am standing for the Māori Party in the position of Te Ururoa. I pay a tribute to the leaders who have passed away today. I salute you, my pillars and my greatness, acknowledgments to you collectively.]

I stand today on behalf of the Māori Party to express our heartfelt sympathies to the Canadian Parliament, the Canadian people, and, most of all, to the family and loved ones of the soldiers whose lives have been tragically stolen. The young lives of those soldiers will be for ever entrenched as heroes to be remembered forevermore by their children, by their parents, and by all of those who loved them dearly.

To be a member of Parliament is the greatest honour and privilege—to be of service to one’s people. Today we mourn with all of our peers across the world as we consider one of our own brothers, as we do with all of our own security staff who stand to protect us here. One of our brothers amongst us has been killed today in our world. We have a whakataukī from home: Aorangi tū noa papa kotinga, takoto noa. It means: Aorangi stands alone while I will be struck down to lie forlorn. It referred to the tragic execution of a Wairarapa chief.

I am reminded of how senseless the loss of life is that comes from events such as today’s in Canada. They have huge ramifications for the communities from which these individuals come. It is also time to acknowledge this serjeant-at-arms, who today stood up to protect parliamentarians while standing guard at the Ottawa National War Memorial in front, poignantly, of the tomb of the fallen soldier. It was a noble action well beyond the call of duty and one that represents the incredible calibre of the people who do so much to protect those working in the Houses of Parliament both here and across the globe.

Our thoughts are with the family of the fallen soldier and the guards who have lost their lives in today’s attacks and the attacks of this week. Nō reira e te Whare, tēnā koutou.

I join with others in expressing sympathy to the Parliament, the people, and the families of those so tragically killed in Canada in the events of recent days. When we think of Canada from this distance we think of a country not unlike ours in terms of being a peaceful, tranquil place where these sorts of things do not happen, and when they do, the shock becomes all the greater. I think it would be somewhat idle, premature, and foolish to speculate further upon this incident in the absence of full information. Suffice it to say, it is a shock to people who value freedom and who value democracy.

Our thoughts must be with those who have been adversely affected, particularly the families, and the thought that those men carrying out their lawful duty were cut down in this way is abhorrent. My deepest sympathy goes to the people of Canada, to the families of those who have lost loved ones, and to the Parliament of Canada, as a fellow institution to this one.

Motion agreed to.