Senators’ Responses to the Attack in Toronto
Hon. Ratna Omidvar: Honourable senators, I too rise with a heavy heart to honour the victims of yesterday’s horrific act of violence in my beautiful hometown of Toronto, and, in fact, on behalf of all independent senators.
As Senator Harder pointed out, it was a particularly beautiful day yesterday, bright and sunny, and the sidewalks were unusually busy. This senseless attack claimed the lives of 10 people and injured 15 others. I think about the quirks of fate — what if it had been a cold and icy day? Perhaps they would not have been on the sidewalk. But it was a warm and sunny day, and they were there, and so was a white van. The carnage in North York stretched more than a kilometre along Yonge south of Finch, lasting a full 26 minutes from the first alarm to the arrest of the suspect.
Their untimely death took the hopes and dreams of families, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, daughters, sons and friends. Their lives have forever been changed by this senseless act.
In the middle of this senseless tragedy, we can take some small comfort in noting how well our public institutions of emergency and care excelled in responding under a very stressful set of circumstances. The fire department, the paramedics, the Toronto police, in particular in the person of Constable Ken Lam, who successfully and fearlessly apprehended the perpetrator without taking him down. They are all to be commended as are the many regular citizens who were surrounding the carnage and who were offering help and commiserating with their fellow citizens.
Toronto is a strong and resilient city. We won’t let this tragedy break our spirit, but at this point today, we are grieving and I believe we need comfort. So when I need comfort, I turn to books, and perhaps these words from John Donne will help:
Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls; because it tolls for thee.
Hon. Art Eggleton: Honourable senators, I rise today to speak on the abhorrent attack on innocent Canadians that happened yesterday in Toronto. While the motivation behind the attack remains unclear, it shares the hallmarks of similar events that we’ve seen around the world.
We all too frequently see on the news attacks like this in other places, and it’s easy to forget that Canada remains vulnerable to those who would seek to harm us. This is not due to any weakness on our part but, rather, our strengths: our open and accepting way of life, our pluralistic society and our freedoms. Having lived in Toronto my whole life and having had the honour of being its mayor for 11 years, I remain convinced there is no better place that demonstrates these principles that we hold so dear.
It is because of these strengths that Toronto and Canada remain a target for those who would turn to violence because they are unhappy with the way things are. What they fail to realize is that we will not change. As we saw in the attack on the Quebec City mosque last year, Canadians react to these events by reinforcing the sense of community and acceptance that has defined our country for so long.
I would like to thank Toronto’s first responders for their quick actions yesterday. Like many of you, I’ve seen the video of Constable Ken Lam staring down what appeared to be a gun and calmly making an arrest. He did so without discharging his weapon. Because of his actions, the attacker has been charged and will be brought to justice.
In the meantime, 15 individuals have been injured, some critically, while 10 others have lost their lives.
We express our sympathies to the families of those who have lost their lives. We extend our best wishes for recovery to those who are injured. No words of condolence can ease the pain of these individuals or their families, but I say to all of them, just know your country is with you.
Hon. Peter Harder (Government Representative in the Senate): Honourable senators, we find ourselves gathering once again to express our disbelief and shock in the face of horror and tragedy.
That a sunny day in a long-awaited spring — the kind of day that brings out the best in people and brings people outside — should be a day of darkness and senseless death is beyond our comprehension. It is too soon to speculate or do more than mourn those who lost their lives and comfort those who are healing and grieving with open and compassionate hearts.
Once again, we express our thanks and deepest respect for first responders who, selflessly and bravely, protect and save lives and bring order and caring to scenes of chaos and suffering.
We also acknowledge the leadership of municipal, provincial and federal authorities to make sense of the senseless and protect us all from harm.
Indeed, just as the horrific actions that led to this tragedy in no way represent who we are as Canadians, our response to this tragedy is very much an expression of who we are.
To the city of Toronto, we grieve with you and know that the vital energy of your great city—a city that is safe and livable—will turn to the important task of healing and caring.
Once again, as Canadians, we draw on our wellspring of compassion, a source that is deep and generous.
Once again, we rise in respect and silence as well as offer words in the hope that they offer solace and give expression to our boundless empathy and solidarity.
Hon. Larry W. Smith (Leader of the Opposition): Honourable senators, I rise today with a heavy heart to offer my deepest condolences to the victims and their families of the terrible incident that took place in Toronto yesterday. To the 10 people whose lives were taken, our prayers are with your families during this difficult time. To the 15 people who continue to fight in hospital, we offer you our prayers as strength for your perseverance during your recovery.
There is no place for this kind of violence in our cities, our communities or our country. We stand with all of those impacted by this tragedy.
I would like to especially thank the men and women who make up our dedicated police force and first responders for their brave efforts in times of crisis. Thank you for your bravery, your diligent action and your commitment to keeping our communities safe.
Together, we stand in support for all people of Toronto, and across Canada, as we work together to encourage kindness in our communities. May we come together in solidarity to support those who were impacted by this tragedy and thank those who work so hard to protect our communities.
Hon. Frances Lankin: Honourable senators, today Toronto mourns and the rest of Canada mourns with them. We know what happened, and as we’ve seen in incidents across the globe, a vehicle was used to commit a despicable act of violence. Ten innocents have had their lives stolen from them, 10 families shattered. Fifteen other innocents are in the hospital, countless others sent into panic, not knowing if their loved ones were safe or not.
What was a beautiful early spring day, that moment when Canadians awake from winter and fill the streets, turned into a nightmare. We won’t soon forget the sight of bodies covered by tarps lying in our streets. The sight of Yonge Street, empty and blocked off with yellow tape, captures how many of us feel now.
We are shaken and wounded as a city, a province and a country. To those suffering now, victims, families and first responders, I send my deepest condolences.
In that moment, while we knew what happened, we did not yet know why. Was it an act of organized terrorism, a criminal act? What was the motive?
Despite the sense of oblivion, once again in tragedy we’ve shown our strength and maturity as people. Our first responders as well as other citizens on the scene came together to help those that were injured. And media across the country showed caution, striking the right tone of sadness, not anger, recognizing this as a tragedy, likely not terrorism.
And as we’ve now seen in footage online, one exceptional police officer, Ken Lam, confronted the seemingly armed and manifestly dangerous murderer alone. And when he easily could have, he did not pull the trigger. This is a remarkable example of policing at its best, treating all life with the dignity that it deserves, even when facing one who has committed horrendous crimes. That officer, that man, is a hero.
Despite the evil in some, as a whole, Canadians can be uniquely wise and compassionate.
Indeed, this murderer was likely mentally unstable, and it appears he had made comments revealing this online, self-identifying as an “incel,” or involuntarily celibate. This man, like others online, felt frustration with the lack of attention he was receiving from women. This subculture leads young men down a path of misogyny and reactionary thinking, leading to a place where they feel they need to take revenge out on society. So beyond rethinking of ways to make pedestrian spaces more protected in busy areas, we must pay greater attention to these dark corners of the Internet where disillusioned youth turn violent, whether it is jihadist radicalism or misogynist radicalism.
But that is for tomorrow. Today we mourn.
Be strong, Toronto.
Hon. Victor Oh: Honourable colleagues, I rise today with a heavy heart to extend my thoughts and prayers to all those impacted by yesterday’s attack at Yonge Street and Finch Avenue.
Toronto has long been recognized as one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. This neighbourhood is known for its large concentration of Chinese, Korean and Iranian populations, as well as for being a home to many newcomers.
The grief and sorrow that we feel right now spans beyond Ontario, to the rest of Canada and the entire world. We are connected by our common humanity and by the familial ties that bind us together.
Colleagues, many of you know that Toronto is my home. It is where I have lived for most of my life. It is where I raised my children and where they have chosen to raise their own families.
I must have walked those streets countless times with them. I’m aware that it could have been me, or someone close to me, who was injured or died. It is hard not to find this senseless and horrific act of violence personal, because it is. It affects me personally and those around me.
Remarkably, amidst the tragedy and loss, the true character of this city and nation has shone through. We have witnessed over the past day an outpouring of love, compassion and unity. I am especially thankful to the brave first responders working at the scene and the medical teams treating those injured. I am also deeply moved by the stories of ordinary citizens who banded together to help one another.
It is clear that we are stronger together and will not let fear or hate take over. We will remain true to the values that make us who we are. We will not let this tragedy undermine our sense of safety and security.
Today and always, we are Toronto the good, Toronto the strong.
Hon. Howard Wetston: Honourable senators, today as Canadians, we grieve the inexplicable murder of 10 people and another 15 who were injured. We stand together with those who have lost their loved ones and with those on the long road to recovery.
Yesterday was an especially heartbreaking day, an attack with a van, a motor vehicle, a weapon of choice. Unfortunately, honourable senators, it is a method we are all too familiar with following the tragic events in Barcelona, London, Nice, Stockholm and Berlin.
How do we make sense of such a senseless travesty? I suggest it may be past our understanding, but we need to give it meaning and find our way through it. I think it is helpful to recall the words of former President Barrack Obama in response to the Orlando nightclub shooting in 2016. He noted that an attack on any of us, regardless of race, ethnicity or religion, is an attack on all of us and on the fundamental values of equality and dignity that define us as a country, and no act of hate or terror will ever change who we are or the values that make us.
This is a tragedy not just for Toronto but for our country. I extend my heartfelt sympathies to the families of the victims of this senseless act.