41st PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION
EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 183
CONTENTS
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
ORAL QUESTIONS
[Oral Questions]
National Defence
Mr. Lawrence Toet (Elmwood—Transcona, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, our government stands with the people of Ukraine. Last week, members of 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment left for eastern Europe. Our government is also providing satellite images to the Ukrainian military so it can monitor Russian troop movements and see if they are respecting the conditions of the Minsk agreement.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence update the House on the activities of the HMCS Fredericton?
Mr. James Bezan (Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, CPC):
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for Elmwood—Transcona for his strong support for Ukraine.
The HMCS Fredericton is participating in a joint NATO training exercise with warships from several allied and partner nations in the Black Sea. This strengthens not only our operational readiness, but also our ability to work with NATO allies and security partners in the region.
Since arriving in the Black Sea, Royal Canadian Navy sailors have been confronted by Russian warships and buzzed by Russian fighter jets. Indeed, the HMCS Toronto entered the Black Sea last September, to be circled by Russian military aircraft as well.
We are there as part of Canada and NATO’s steadfast commitment to our allies and security partners in the region in the face of Russia’s continued aggression toward Ukraine.
