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THE HONOURABLE STÉPHANE
DION SALUTES THE EFFORTS
OF ALL THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED IN THE SEARCH,
RESCUE AND INVESTIGATION OPERATIONS
FOLLOWING THE SWISSAIR FLIGHT 111 CRASH
OTTAWA, ONTARIO, December
10, 1998 – The Honourable Stéphane Dion, President of the Privy
Council and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister responsible for
the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, today reiterated the commitment of
the Government of Canada to do everything in its power to find out what led to
the crash of Swissair Flight 111, and to spare no effort to identify the
safety problems highlighted by this tragedy.
"September 2, 1998, is a
sad day that will long remain etched in our memory," stated Mr. Dion,
in reviewing the circumstances surrounding the crash of Swissair Flight 111
off Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia, in which all 229 people on board lost
their lives.
"In the very first hours
following this tragedy, thousands of volunteers and experts rushed to the site
to undertake search and rescue operations," noted the Minister. He
mentioned in particular the exemplary generosity and dedication of the residents
and countless volunteers in Nova Scotia, who were deeply moved by the
tragedy.
"I would draw to the attention
of all Canadians the extent of the work that has been accomplished so far and
the difficult conditions in which it has been carried out," added Mr. Dion.
"Volunteers and experts have witnessed some horrible scenes during their
long hours of hard work to determine the causes of this tragedy."
"We cannot stress enough the admirable and
consistent level of cooperation achieved by experts from various federal and
provincial agencies and departments during the different stages of this
operation," he insisted. "The Medical Examiner’s staff deserves
special note," added Mr. Dion, "because of the comfort they provided
to the families of victims through their tireless work."
"In fact," said the
Minister, "this investigation conducted by the Transportation Safety Board
of Canada has brought together a multidisciplinary team of investigators and
experts, whose combined knowledge covers a broad range of activities, including
search and rescue, deep-sea diving, recovery and dragging operations,
pathological analysis, environmental protection, and safety investigations.
Experts from various countries have also been called upon for technical
assistance."
This operation has entailed
coordinating the work of several thousand people. Long working hours, often in
dangerous conditions, and prolonged separation from families, have taken their
toll on these men and women both physically and emotionally.
"And yet, in spite of the
day-to-day problems, the demanding work and the danger, all these men and women
have shown an exemplary spirit of cooperation, initiative in solving problems,
thoroughness in the face of numerous details, and perseverance far above and
beyond the normal call of duty" added Mr. Dion.
He concluded by saying, "On
behalf of all Canadians, I wish to pay tribute to these men and women, who are
helping to improve passenger safety worldwide through their extraordinary effort
and devotion."
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For information:
André Lamarre
Press Secretary
(613) 943-1838
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