Speech

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Prime Minister Harper announces inquiry into Air India bombing

May 1, 2006
Ottawa, Ontario

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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.

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News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Prime Minister Harper announces inquiry into Air India bombing

May 1, 2006
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the appointment of retired Supreme Court Justice John Major as a Commissioner to look into certain aspects of the 1985 Air India bombing, including key questions raised in Bob Rae’s November 2005 report.

The Commission of Inquiry into the Investigation of the Bombing of Air India Flight 182, established under Part I of the Inquiries Act, will be free to hold public or in camera hearings while at the same time ensuring that the inquiry does not jeopardize ongoing criminal investigations or proceedings.

“The families of the victims continue to demand answers that only a full public inquiry can provide into the senseless slaughter of the victims of Air India Flight 182,” stated the Prime Minister. “As a nation we have a responsibility to ensure that we have learned from our past mistakes and that we are equipped today to identify and deal with terrorist threats before more Canadians become innocent victims.”

Both the Prime Minister and Mr. Justice Major have met with the families of the victims and discussed the terms of reference for the Inquiry. The Inquiry’s terms of reference will give the families of the victims of Canada’s worst mass murder an opportunity for appropriate participation in the Inquiry.

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Backgrounder

The Commission of Inquiry into the Investigation of the Bombing of Air India Flight 182 is established under Part 1 of the Inquiries Act and allows the Commissioner to hold hearings, either in public or in camera, anywhere inside or outside Canada in order to provide a report on the following questions:

whether any systemic issues relating to the assessment of the potential threat posed by Sikh terrorism prior to 1985, and the response to that threat by Canadian government officials, have been resolved and, if not, the further changes in practice or legislation that are required to resolve them,

whether any systemic problems in the effective cooperation between government departments and agencies, including the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, in the investigation of the bombing of Air India Flight 182, either before or after June 23, 1985, have been resolved and, if not, the further changes in practice or legislation that are required to resolve them,

the manner in which the Canadian government should address the challenge, as revealed by the investigation and prosecutions in the Air India matter, of establishing a reliable and workable relationship between security intelligence and evidence that can be used in a criminal trial,

whether Canada's existing legal framework provides adequate constraints on terrorist financing in, from or through Canada,

whether existing practices or legislation provide adequate protection for witnesses against intimidation in the course of the investigation or prosecution of terrorism cases, and

whether the unique challenges presented by the prosecution of terrorism cases are adequately addressed by existing practices or legislation and, if not, the changes in practice or legislation that are required to address these challenges, in particular whether there is merit in having terrorism cases heard by a panel of three judges.

whether further changes in practice or legislation are required to address the specific aviation security breaches associated with the Air India Flight 182 bombing, particularly those relating to the screening of passengers and their baggage.

The Inquiry’s terms of reference also call for the Commissioner to accept as conclusive or to give such weight as he considers appropriate to the findings of other examinations of the circumstances surrounding the bombing of Air India Flight 182, including:

the report of the Honourable Bob Rae entitled Lessons to Be Learned of November 23, 2005.

proceedings before the superior courts of British Columbia.

the 1991-1992 Security Intelligence Review Committee review of Canadian Security Intelligence Service activities in regard to the destruction of Air India Flight 182.

the report of the Honourable Mr. Justice B. N. Kirpal of the High Court of Delhi of February 26, 1986.

the Aviation Occurrence Report of the Canadian Aviation Safety Board into the crash involving Air India Flight 182 of January 22, 1986.

the 1985 report of Blair Seaborn on Security Arrangements Affecting Airports and Airlines in Canada.

the reports prepared by the Independent Advisory Panel assigned by the Minister of Transport to review the provisions and operation of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority Act and to review the actions taken since 1985 to address the specific aviation security breaches associated with the Air India flight 182 bombing.

The Government has not set a specific timeframe for the Inquiry’s report of findings and recommendations to be submitted.

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News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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Renewal of NORAD Agreement to be voted on by House of Commons

May 1, 2006
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced that there will be a debate and vote in the House of Commons in support of the renewal of the North American Aerospace Defence (NORAD) Agreement.

“The Speech from the Throne committed this government to submitting significant international treaties for vote in Parliament,” said the Prime Minister. “For nearly five decades, the NORAD Agreement has represented one of the most fundamental elements of the Canada-U.S. defence relationship. The renewal of the agreement is an important undertaking that should be considered by the House of Commons, and I thank the leaders of the Opposition for agreeing to bring this before the House in a timely way.”

NORAD is a binational military command first established to monitor and defend North American airspace. NORAD now also monitors and tracks man made objects in space and detects, validates and warns of attack against North America by aircraft, missiles or space vehicles, while it continues to provide surveillance and control of Canadian and U.S. airspace. Under the new agreement, NORAD would also provide warning of maritime threats.

The NORAD Agreement was first signed by the governments of Canada and the United States on May 12, 1958, and has been renewed for varying periods since that time.

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The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications
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