Manmeet Bhullar honoured by Alberta MLAs
'Thank you for the time you gave us, thank you for your inspiration,' Tory Leader Ric McIver says
Alberta MLAs offered humourous stories and teary tributes Wednesday to their colleague Manmeet Bhullar, who was killed earlier this week in a traffic crash.
There was laughter, too. Wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with Bhullar's favourite expression — "with great beard comes great responsibility" — Progressive Conservative Leader Ric McIver told affectionate stories offered by each member of the caucus that highlighted Bhullar's sense of humour and dedication to public service.
"Farewell Meeta," McIver said, using Manmeet's nickname. "Thank you for the time you gave us. Thank you for your inspiration. We loved you. It is now up to all of us to continue the great work you have always done."
- Manmeet Bhullar died trying to help a driver in distress
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As MLAs jumped to their feet, McIver crossed the floor to shake hands with Premier Rachel Notley, Wildrose Leader Brian Jean, Liberal Leader David Swann and Alberta Party Leader Greg Clark.
Premier Rachel Notley spoke about how she and Bhullar were first elected in 2008.
"It wasn't long before I came to appreciate his sense of humour, his sense of duty, his sharp intelligence and his powerful compassion fuelled by his faith," she said.
Notley praised Bhullar for his time as Human Services minister, when he lifted the veil of secrecy around the deaths of children in care.
"He led it with an unprecedented openness born, I believe, out of a confidence that he felt it was simply the right thing to do," she said.
Jean offered his condolences to Bhullar's family, friends and the PC caucus. In a poignant moment, Jean offered his sympathies to Bhullar's mother and father.
"No greater loss than a son," said Jean, whose own son died earlier this year.
The Wildrose Party offered their question slots to allow PC members to ask the government questions about Bhullar's favourite issues.
PC MLA Rick Fraser broke down in tears as he asked Notley to rename the Federal Building after Bhullar. Notley said the government is open to hearing ideas on how to honour the memory of the Calgary-Greenway MLA.
Infrastructure Minister Brian Mason committed to restoring the school construction website that was established during Bhullar's tenure as minister. He said it would be expanded to include all capital projects in Alberta.
Painful phone calls
Members of the PC caucus spoke to the media for the first time Wednesday about how they learned about their colleague's death.
"When we got the news on Monday, it was probably one of the most painful moments, maybe the most painful moment in our career," Calgary-North West MLA Sandra Jansen said.
She and McIver were with Calgary-West MLA Mike Ellis at the time. When Speaker Bob Wanner gave them the news, McIver said he asked him to repeat it, because it couldn't sink in.
"I didn't want it to be true," he said. "I flat out didn't want it to be true."
The MLAs then faced the painful task of notifying former PC MLAs around the province who loved Bhullar "like a son and a brother," Jansen said.
"And to hear that horrible response at the other end, it was just a heartbreaking, heartbreaking moment for us," she said.
"They cried, they screamed, they had to be told three times, they didn't believe it," McIver said.
Members of all political parties and Speaker Wanner joined the PC caucus in their offices Monday to grieve with them.
The caucus flew to Calgary on Tuesday to meet with Bhullar's family.
"They're sad. They're torn up," McIver said. "Their statement says it all. The light of their life went out."
Bhullar was driving from Calgary to Edmonton in the first major snowstorm of the year on Monday when he stopped to help a motorist near Red Deer. He was struck by a semi-trailer that was passing by.
