The truck driver responsible for the Humboldt Broncos bus crash last April has been given eight years behind bars.
Judge Inez Cardinal, who called the collision “catastrophic,” handed Jaskirat Singh Sidhu his sentence on Friday morning.
Sidhu received eight-year sentences for each of the 16 fatalities and five-year sentences for each of the 13 people that were injured in the crash. The sentences will be served concurrently.
Sidhu will likely be deported after he serves his sentence.
Four former St. Albert Raiders hockey players – Stephen Wack, Jaxon Joseph, Conner Lukan and Logan Hunter – died in the crash.
Chris Joseph, Jaxon's father, told reporters outside the courtroom his family was not happy with the sentence and there was no number that would have made him happy.
“We are disappointed. We knew we were going to be disappointed going in, but we thought Judge Cardinal was very professional, very prepared and I think she came back with the number that was best for all parties,” he said.
“It seems like something that would kind of appease our families yet not really be appealable by the defendants.”
The Wack family say they are relieved to have court proceeding behind them.
“Our family is relieved that this chapter of the Humboldt tragedy can be closed. We appreciate the difficult task that Justice Cardinal was faced with and are thankful for her efforts. We would also like to acknowledge the diligence of the RCMP investigation, led by Murray Chamberlain and the strong case put together in such short order by the Crown,” Alan Wack, Stephen's father, said in an emailed statement.
For many of the families, the battle now is about making roads safer.
“We are still fighting for seatbelts. We are still fighting for driver training. We are still fighting for road safety. We have a lot of energy still left in us,” Joseph said.
The Wacks have also advocated for safer roads and seatbelts, with Tricia Wack penning an emotional letter to PostMedia last year calling for seatbelts on buses.
“While the crash scene depicts devastation, look more closely and you will see the majority of bus seats intact. What would the outcome have been if the team had been wearing shoulder harness seatbelts that day?” Wack wrote.
“Seatbelts can only save lives if people wear them. Let’s enact law to empower bus drivers and those in authority on buses to facilitate the wearing of those bus belts.”
Earlier this year, families affected by the bus crash gathered in Melfort, Sask., to deliver victim impact statements. In theirs, the Joseph family asked the judge to set a precedent with Sidhu's sentencing.
“There needs to be a huge precedent set for the future of our communities,” Andrea Joseph said.“I am a kind and loving person, but this mother is hurt and broken and shattered, and I promised Jaxon as he laid there on that cold, hard gurney that I would fight for him for the rest of his life. I would do anything for my baby.”
Cardinal said she considered the victim impact statements when making her decision in this case.
“I want all victims and their families to know their voices have been heard in these proceedings,” she said.
“Most find the pain unbearable. Families have been torn apart.”
While delivering her sentence, Cardinal said the collision was avoidable and that attention to the road matters.
“Mr. Sidhu’s actions directly killed 16 innocent people and injured 13 more ... the impact will reverberate for years to come.”
Cardinal also noted Sidhu pleaded guilty and expressed remorse for his actions.
The Crown asked the judge to consider a sentence of 10 years on each count, to be served concurrently, followed by a 10-year driving ban.
The defence did not seek a specific sentence, but cited cases with a range of 1.5 to 4.5 years behind bars.
