Triumph Out of Tragedy

Wednesday, 27 November 2013 17:16

L-R Richard, Jordan, Laurie and Cassandra Hawkins died from carbon monoxide poisoning in Woodstock in 2008.

Persistence finally pays off for Ernie Hardeman's private members bill in honour of Hawkins family

If at first you don't succeed, try and try again.

That was the mantra of MPP Ernie Hardeman after bringing his private member's bill back to the Ontario Legislature 5 separate times.

But today, the bill's approval finally came as the 5th anniversary of the Woodstock tragedy that started the motion approaches. The late OPP Constable Laurie Hawkins and her family were discovered lifeless in their Woodstock home after Laurie failed to show up for a shift on December 1st, 2008.

Today, Hardeman broke down in tears presenting his bill one last time, pleading with members to honour their memory by passing the bill. "It's a great step to honour the Hawkins-Gignac family and know that some good came from this tragedy. Please join me in honouring the memory....(pauses and sobs)...of Laurie, Richard, Cassandra and Jordan...by protecting all Ontario families. Thank you."

The legislature erupted with applause, and then later, approved the bill's 3rd reading. Regulatory changes will be made in the Ontario Fire Code over the next few weeks before being signed off on by the Community Safety Minister, Madeleine Meilleur.

Hardeman expects CO detectors to become the law early in the new year.

“It has been five painful years since we lost Laurie, her husband Richard and their children Cassandra and Jordan,” said John Gignac, co-executive director of the Hawkins-Gignac Foundation for CO Education and Laurie’s uncle. “I know they are looking down today very pleased that this law has finally passed. The Hawkins and Gignac families, and any family touched by carbon monoxide tragedy, owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Hardeman for his tenacity. Thanks to him, all Ontarians will now become better educated about this silent killer and the importance of installing CO alarms in their home. There is no doubt lives will be saved as a result of this law.”

In reflecting on it today, Hardeman tells Heart FM many people ask him why it's taken so long to pass a common sense law, but that's not his focus. "It's been somewhat disheartening on process, but having said that, today's a day about celebrating its success, rather than the challenges of getting there."