Message from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada,
on the death of Corporal Benoit Chevalier, 6 May 07
“My husband Jean-Daniel Lafond and I were deeply saddened by the news of the terrible accident that occurred in Sinai, claiming the life of Corporal Benoit Chevalier, Control Operator from 3 Wing, Bagotville, Quebec. Corporal Chevalier belonged to the Canadian Contingent of the Multinational Forces and Observers in El Gorah, of which Canada is among the 11 participating states. Members of the Canadian Forces involved in this operation are committed to carrying out peace efforts in this region. We applaud their remarkable work. I join Canadians in offering our most sincere condolences to the family, loved ones and colleagues of Corporal Chevalier. Our thoughts are with our fellow Frenchwomen and men who are also mourning the loss of numerous soldiers as a result of this tragic accident.”
Statement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the death of Corporal Benoit Chevalier, 6 May 2007
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on the death of Corporal Benoit Chevalier: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Corporal Benoit Chevalier who died in an aircraft accident while working with the Multinational Forces and Observers in the Sinai. On behalf of Canada, I also extend my condolences to the families and friends of the eight French personnel who died in this accident. Corporal Chevalier served our country with distinction and honour. He was part of a 28-member Canadian contingent deployed with the Multinational Forces and Observers, a peacekeeping mission established to monitor compliance by Israel and Egypt with the 1979 Camp David Accords. The Multinational Forces and Observers have included a Canadian contingent since 1986. The people of Canada strongly support the Canadian Forces as they continue to represent Canada in the world and help to spread peace and democracy while keeping Canadians safe."
Statement by the Minister of National Defence on the death of Corporal Benoit Chevalier, NR–07.033, 6 May 07
The Honourable Gordon O'Connor, Minister of National Defence, issued the following statement today on the death of Corporal Benoit Chevalier: “We deeply mourn today’s loss of a dedicated Canadian Forces member who died in an aircraft accident in the Sinai in Egypt. Corporal Benoit Chevalier, an Aerospace Control Operator from 3 Wing Bagotville (Quebec), was part of a team of six air traffic controllers deployed to provide flight services for the Multinational Forces and Observers in the Sinai. A highly regarded and important member of the Canadian Forces personnel assigned to this operation, Corporal Chevalier was fulfilling a key role in the Canadian contingent. His comrades will forever remember him as an extremely thoughtful and professional airman. My heartfelt sympathies and thoughts are with the family and friends of Corporal Chevalier, who should be extremely proud of this member’s honourable service to his country. I would also like to extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the other personnel who died in this accident. We will mourn the memory of this brave Canadian, who echoes our values as a nation helping to spread security and stability across the globe. I am deeply honoured by the commitment and professionalism that Corporal Chevalier demonstrated.”
Statement by the Hon. Stéphane Dion, Leader of the Opposition, on the Death of Corporal Benoit Chevalier, 7 May 07
On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary Caucus, I extend my sincere condolences to the friends and family of peacekeeper Corporal Benoit Chevalier. Cpl. Chevalier, 25, was one of nine foreign peacekeepers on board a plane that went down Sunday while attempting an emergency landing in the middle of the Sinai Peninsula. A skilled and valued member of the Canadian peacekeeping team, Cpl. Chevalier was deployed from CFB Bagotville, Quebec, to provide flight services for the Multinational Forces and Observers. We send our deepest sympathies to the friends and family of Cpl. Chevalier, as well as to those of the eight French military personnel whose lives were also lost in this tragic incident.
Statement by NDP Leader Jack Layton on the death of Corporal Benoit Chevalier, 6 May 07
“We are all deeply saddened by the news that Corporal Benoit Chevalier, from Bagotville Quebec, was killed in an aircraft crash in the Sinai desert during a training session. Like all of our brave Canadian soldiers, Chevalier answered the call of duty, and that's the reason that all Canadians are so supportive of all our military personnel. “On behalf of all New Democrats, I would like to offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the fallen soldier and to the entire community of Bagotville, as they cope with this terrible news. “I would also like to extend my condolences to the 27 other Canadians serving in the multinational peacekeeping force in the Sinai region and thank them for their continual efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. “As families and communities deal with their grief I hope they can find solace in knowing that these soldiers’ courage will never be forgotten. They will always be remembered in the hearts of all Canadians.”
