On Thursday, March 12, of this year, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and indeed all of Canada suffered a profound and unimaginable loss. Cougar Flight 491 tragically went down off of our shores, taking with it 17 lives. Lost that day were fathers, sons and a daughter, brothers and a sister, uncles, friends and colleagues. And while we may have lost them physically from this earth on that day, they will never ever be lost in our memories, in our hearts and in our prayers.

On that final day, these individuals were doing what they did every other day � going to work, performing their jobs, providing for their families. It was, I am sure, a day like most others. For one man it marked the beginning of a new and exciting career. For others it was an unremarkable morning and common place after years of devotion to an industry they loved. Little did they know as they took off on that fateful flight that they were leaving behind families and friends who would be left to mourn lives that were taken much, much too soon.

I cannot bear to think of the devastation and anguish of those who are left behind. I cannot bear to think of their sadness and their pain. And yet, I know that eventually as time begins to heal those aching hearts there will be left behind a legacy of love from each of those 17 precious individuals.

The people of this province know all too well the dangers and perils of living from the sea. For centuries we have mourned the loss of our fishers who were the pioneers of working from home in the most inhospitable of natural environments. They know the hazards and risks, and there are many families of fishers who can relate all too well with the heartache of this tragedy.

Like true Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, those 17 individuals thought not of themselves when they went to work on March 12. They did not dwell on the inherent dangers of earning a living from the unforgiving seas that surround us. They were brave; they were courageous; and they will forever be remembered in our hearts as heroes.

We will never forget them and we will always keep in our thoughts and prayers those who have been left behind.

And they left behind one miracle; one amazing individual who will be remembered as the lone survivor in one of our most tragic offshore accidents. Rob Decker remains to remind us of those we have lost; and to represent some hope for the future in the most dismal of times. We wish him good health and a complete and fast recovery.

We also honour those selfless individuals who participated in the search and rescue and recovery efforts, and pay tribute to their outstanding work under the most trying of circumstances.

As we remember these brave souls who found their resting place in our seas, I would quote portions of the famous poem Sea Fever by John Masefield: "I must go down to the sea again, to the lonely sea and the sky; and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by. I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull's way and the whale's way, where the wind's like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over."

Those lost on March 12, 2009 were:

• Thomas Anwyll, Langley, British Columbia
• Peter Breen, St. John�s
• Gary Corbett, CBS
• Captain Matthew Davis, Holyrood
• Wade Drake, Fortune
• Wade Duggan, Witless Bay
• Corey Eddy, Sibley�s Cove
• Keith Escott, Goulds
• Colin Henley, St. John�s
• First Officer Tim Lanouette, Comox, British Columbia
• Ken Macrae, Kingston, Nova Scotia
• Allison Maher, Aquaforte
• Greg Morris, Logy Bay-Middle Cove-Outer Cove
• Derek Mullowney, Bay Bulls
• Burch Nash, Fortune
• John Pelley, Deer Lake
• Paul Pike, Shearstown

I would ask all honourable colleagues and all present in the public galleries to rise today to join me for a moment of silence to honour our fallen friends.