Ottawa, Ontario – The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and of the Official Opposition, issued the following statement on the anniversary of the Lac-Mégantic tragedy:   

“In the early hours of July 6, 2013, the small town of Lac-Mégantic was rocked by an unimaginable catastrophe in the centre of town. Canadians across the country were horrified to see downtown Lac-Mégantic engulfed in flames and residents forced to flee their homes. This horrific tragedy remains the deadliest rail accident in Canadian history, claiming the lives of 47 people and forever scarring the lives of thousands more.  

“Ten years later, the residents of Lac-Mégantic live with the pain of this catastrophe. Today, on this solemn anniversary, we share their grief and join them in remembering the victims and mourning all that was lost in this tragedy. 

“We also pay tribute to all those who courageously helped on the front line. Quebecers and all Canadians are eternally grateful to the firefighters who spent two days battling the flames, and to the incredible paramedics and police officers who helped restore safety in the community.

“Above all, we pay tribute to the people of Quebec who came together in this time of crisis to help find the missing, participate in the rescue efforts and comfort one another in their grief. On this tragic night, Quebecers showed extraordinary resilience, as they have done throughout their history. Even in the face of such incredible devastation, they remained united in their deep love for their community, and found the strength to overcome this horrific catastrophe. Canadians will never forget. 

” As we continue to remember, it is essential that we take concrete steps to secure our rails so that such a tragedy never happens again.”