Prime Minister Harper announces inquiry into Air India bombing

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Thank you Mr. Speaker.

On June 23, 1985, Air India Flight 182, on its way from Montreal to London, England, exploded in mid-air near the coast of Ireland.

A total of 329 passengers and crew members, including more than 80 children, perished as a result of this tragic incident.

In January of the following year, the Canadian Aviation Safety Board concluded that the destruction of this aircraft was caused by a bomb.

Clearly, this was an act of terrorism - one that claimed hundreds of innocent lives.

Canadians, and indeed citizens of all countries around the world demanded that those who perpetrated such an act be brought to justice.

Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, this has not yet been possible, and we must tragically admit, may never come to pass

More than 20 years have passed since this terrible tragedy took place, and while Canadians have not forgotten what took place, there has been a tendency to see this issues that surround this incident as a problem related to politics in India.

But we must never forget that the vast majority of those who perished on Flight 182 were citizens of our country. They were Canadians.

They and their families came here, just as our ancestors did, to seek a better life for themselves in a country with unlimited opportunity.

The stories and the dreams of those 329 men, women, and children, along with those of their families, were shattered on that terrible day back in 1985.

It is our duty, as Canadians, to do everything in our power to prevent a similar tragedy from ever happening again.

There have been numerous investigations into the bombing of Air India Flight 182.

But for reasons known best to themselves, previous governments failed to establish a formal public inquiry.

The one step that would have helped bring closure to the families of the victims, while providing answers to key questions that remain unsolved and could help prevent future terrorist acts against Canadian citizens.

A full public inquiry is required.

That is what we promised to the families.

And now it is going to happen.

This inquiry will be launched immediately and led by an outstanding Canadian, retired Supreme Court Justice John Major.

Justice Major has met with the families in Ottawa, Vancouver and Toronto and has developed detailed terms of reference with their full support and cooperation.

He has agreed to serve as Commissioner for this inquiry and I have every confidence that he will conduct a thorough and compassionate investigation into the events surrounding this tragedy.

Mr. Speaker, I wish to point out that this inquiry is not about retribution.

Nor is it about replaying the criminal trials that took place surrounding this case in Vancouver from 2003 to 2005.

There is nothing that would be served by such a course of action.

What this inquiry is about, however, is finding answers to several key questions that have emerged over the past 20 years about the worst mass murder in Canadian history.

It is a reflection of our compassion as a nation to those who lost mothers, fathers, siblings, relatives and friends to this terrible act of terrorism.

It is our sincere hope that this action may bring a measure of closure to those who still grieve for their loved ones.

This inquiry is about analyzing the evidence that has come to light since1985 and applying it to the world we live in today.

Now more than ever, the Government of Canada must be prepared to take action to protect our citizens from the threat of terrorism.

Under Justice Major’s guidance, we hope that a focused and efficient inquiry will provide information that will help ensure that Canada’s police agencies and procedures, its airport security systems and anti-terrorism laws are the most effective in the world.

In closing, I wish to acknowledge and honour the efforts of the families of the victims of Air India Flight 182 and  their perseverance pursuing  the launch of a full public inquiry.

Some of the spouses or parents of those who lost their lives in this tragedy have themselves died over the past two decades.

Their cause has, in many cases, been taken up by their children or other relatives.

Despite a long and agonizing wait, their faith and their commitment to seek the truth, no matter how painful it may be, has never wavered. They serve as an example to all of us..

Mr. Speaker, we cannot undo the past.

But we can provide some measure of closure to the families of those who lost loved ones on Flight 182.

And, by seeking answers and confronting shortcomings in our current system, we can ensure that we save lives in the future.

I would urge all honourable members to support our Government’s efforts in this area.

Thank you.