MLA Manmeet Bhullar's death marked with tribute in Alberta legislature

A bouquet of white roses lay on the desk of Manmeet Bhullar as colleagues from all parties paid silent tribute to the Conservative MLA on the way out of the Alberta legislative assembly Tuesday.

Bhullar, 35, was killed in a crash while driving from Calgary to Edmonton Monday during the region's first major snowstorm of the year. He was struck while helping a stranded motorist on the side of Highway 2.

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MLAs somberly walked into the house for a brief session Tuesday morning, where they immediately voted to adjourn for the day. As they filed out, MLAs gathered around Bhullar's desk and paid silent tribute.

MLAs reflected on Bhullar and the dangers of travelling Alberta highways in the winter to get to the legislature.

"I'm shaken, as everybody in the house is," interim Liberal Leader David Swann said.  "I take the bus partly because I don't feel safe on the roads in conditions like this. I really feel for his family and the community that he's left."

"Manmeet and I are the same age and it really hit home last night, going home to my family and he didn't have that same chance last night," said Wildrose MLA Nathan Cooper. "It's just horribly, horribly, horribly saddening."

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Brian Mason reflected on facing Bhullar in the legislature when he was in opposition. Bhullar served as a cabinet minister under Conservative premiers Alison Redford, Dave Hancock and Jim Prentice. 

Mason laughed as he recalled how he tried to purposely get under the skin of Bhullar when he was a cabinet minister, but usually failed.

 "He's a big guy," Mason said. "And very passionate in what he believed in and very, very prepared to defend his honour. And I respected that in him."

Mason became somber as he reflected on how Bhullar died while helping another person. 

"That's an indication of his commitment to service to the public," he said. "That's what he believed in and if he died doing that then that's a real statement to what kind of person he was, to his character."

On a conference call from Ottawa where she was attending a first ministers meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Premier Rachel Notley expressed her condolences on behalf of the NDP caucus. 

She and Bhullar were elected for the first time in 2008. She praised him for making deaths of children in care more transparent when he was the minister of Human Services. 

"With his energy, youth and passion, I expected to see Manmeet in public life for decades to come," she said. 

None of the PC caucus members were in the legislature Tuesday. 

Tributes include moment of silence at the Ontario legislature

Former premier Jim Prentice, who has not been heard from publicly since May, broke his silence to issue a written statement about Bhullar. 

Prentice said he is heartbroken by his death and expressed condolences to Bhullar's wife and family. 

"He was a pillar of strength for everyone who knew him. He certainly was to me," Prentice wrote. "His family, friends, and community are devastated. Beyond that we are all poorer by the loss of this one man's courage, compassion and sense of justice. Knowing Manmeet, he would now want us to carry on with his work."

The legislature will return to normal Wednesday, starting as usual at 9 a.m., opening with a prayer and ministerial statements.

Flags at the legislature have been lowered and will remain so until sunset on the day of the popular Calgary MLA's funeral. 

On Twitter, people have been tweeting their tributes to Bhullar using a hashtag suggested by the family: #nicetomanmeetyou.

The province also set up an online book of condolences. 

Legislature Speaker  Robert Wanner issued a statement, saying: "On behalf of all Members of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta I extend our most sincere condolences to those closest to Manmeet, his friends and beloved family and his colleague from this Assembly.

"May you find comfort in knowing that Manmeet touched many lives. Our province has lost a good person."

Earlier today the Ontario legislature stood in a moment of silence to honour Bhullar.

Bhullar was killed in an accident Monday afternoon when he left his car to go to the aid of another motorist, whose vehicle had rolled, on the Queen Elizabeth II Highway north of Red Deer.