Carney confirms 4 service members dead after CFB Wainwright incident

Good afternoon and good morning. Yesterday afternoon, a violent, fast-moving fire swept through Canadian Armed Forces Base in Wainwright, Alberta. And what followed was one of the worst tragedies for the forces on Canadian soil in peacetime. I regret that I can confirm at this time that four service members have lost their lives and their next of kin has been notified. Dozens more are seriously wounded. Now as the situation is evolving rapidly I have asked that a detailed account and a formal briefing be provided this afternoon by senior officials on the ground in Wainwright including the Minister of National Defence, Canada's Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Major General Wade Rutland of the Canadian Army and they will be joined at that briefing by provincial ministers and senior officials. I would like to take this opportunity to commend the close collaboration that has occurred between all levels of government. Since last evening, Premier Smith and I have been in regular contact. Our ministers and our officials have coordinated the response, deploying resources from the Canadian Armed Forces, from public safety, local fire department, first responders, Alberta emergency and medical services. The nation is in mourning for those brave members of our armed forces whom we have lost. And I have asked that the flags on all federal buildings to be flown at half-mast to honour them. Our hearts go with and we are praying for the wounded. And we stand in solidarity and compassion for the families, the friends and the colleagues of all those affected by this tragedy. Canadians come together in crisis. That is the best of our country. Military and civilian crews fought this fire throughout the night in some of the worst conditions imaginable, risking their lives to protect their fellow Canadians. Star's air ambulance crews flew in from Edmonton and from Saskatoon. Paramedics, nurses and doctors in Wainwright, in Edmonton, in Red Deer, in Calgary, are caring for the victims. The people of Wainwright are taking care of their own. And I would like to thank those Albertans and Canadians who are giving blood, who are feeding and housing the emergency crews, and who are providing solace and comfort to those in their darkest hour. Those affected came from bases right across this country. They included reservists and soldiers from the storied Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Throughout Canada's history, the Princess Pats have fought for freedom, democracy, human dignity in the First World War, in the Second, in Korea, in Afghanistan, and during numerous peacekeeping missions over decades. That is the record. That is the standard. Those are the values of the women and men who were training yesterday on the Alberta prairie when disaster struck. And that commitment, that service, those ideals, are the debts that we as Canadians owe to them. Our country depends on the women and men of the Canadian armed forces. Our rights, our freedoms, our very way of life are fought for and defended every single day by Canadians who answer the call. And CFB Wainwright is where the women and men of our armed forces learn to do the hardest things this country can ask of anyone. Those we lost, those who were injured, we're training to defend Canada, to serve Canada. And now Canada serves them. We will be there for their families for as long as they need. We will care for the injured through every step of their recovery. And we will stand by the women and men of our armed forces as they bear the weight of this loss. They will not carry it alone, because in Canada we take care of one another. A violent fire that spread quickly affected the Wainwright military base in Alberta. This This is one of the worst tragedies on Canadian soil that the Canadian Armed Forces has seen in peacetime. It is with deep sadness that I can confirm that four service members lost their lives and their loved ones have been informed. Dozens of others have been seriously injured. As the situation is evolving quickly, I have asked that those in charge on the ground in Wainwright, including the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Major General Wayne Rutland provided a detailed account this afternoon to the people of Canada at a formal briefing. Ministers and other senior officers from the provincial and federal levels will be joining them. Our country is in mourning. We are mourning the loss of those courageous members of our armed forces. I have asked that the Canadian flag be flown at half-mast at all federal buildings and our thoughts and prayers are with those wounded. We express our solidarity and compassion for the friends and families and colleagues of all those who have been affected by this tragedy. Our country relies on the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces. Every single day, Canadian women and men answer the call to defend our rights and freedoms and our way of life. At the Wainwright military base is where those men and women learn to carry out the most difficult missions that we ask them to perform, and this is where the men and women who were killed and wounded train to serve our country. Today, it is up to Canada to serve them. We will be there for their families as long as they need our support. We will support the injured at every step of their recovery. And we will stand with the men and women of our Canadian Armed Forces as they bear the weight of that loss. They will not have to bear that burden alone, because in Canada, we take care of each other. Thank you very much.