Trenton, Ontario…Cheryl Gallant, MP Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, expressed her appreciation to the women and men of the RCAF at the conclusion of the special program for Parliamentarians that she attended recently at CFB Trenton.
“I was particularly impressed by the search and rescue command centre and its ability to co-ordinate search and rescue not only for all of Canada, but incidents well beyond our borders. The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre consists of Canadian Forces Personnel on one side of the room and the Canadian Coast Guard on the other. Their close proximity allows personnel to communicate in a way to enable the closest, most capable aircraft or marine vessel responds to the people in distress.
“Last year 48 Canadian students, their 8 teachers and crew were cast adrift after their ship the S.V. Concordia capsized and sank in a storm off the coast of Brazil. Signals from the emergency beacon were monitored here in Canada, as was the rescue operation,” stated Cheryl Gallant, MP.
The Canadian Forces Parliamentary Program seeks to inform elected representatives about the capabilities and mission readiness of the Canadian Forces in the various services.
“It was a pleasure to witness first hand, the difference having the proper equipment for our men and women in uniform has made to do their job. While the ‘decade of darkness’ had a devastating impact on all branches of the services, the RCAF had a particularly challenging time.”
“The Conservative government played catch-up with many badly needed pieces of equipment when we replaced the liberals. The decision by the Chretien Government to cancel the EH-101 Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters required the RCAF to re-configure the Griffon helicopter for SAR operations.”
“Participating with 436 Squadron on a local flying mission in a CC-130J Hercules was for me a highlight of the tour. My flight in a CC-150 was equally memorable. I can not wait to take a flight in one of our new Chinook helicopters when they start arriving at CFB Petawawa,” said MP Gallant.
“As a member of the Standing Committee on National Defence and on behalf of the women and men stationed at CFB Petawawa, I am committed to ensuring that our soldiers have the proper equipment to do whatever task their country calls upon them to do,” concluded Cheryl Gallant, MP.