Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, 19 years ago, by an Order in Council, the Government of the Northwest Territories adopted the destroyer, HMCS Mackenzie. Since September of 1981, a model of this 366-foot destroyer has resided in the Northwest Territories and was first displayed in the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform this House that the model of the HMCS Mackenzie is now on display here in the great hall of this Legislative Assembly building, where we hope a will stay. We also have a plaque of the Mackenzie and pennant, and a replica of the ship's wheel here on permanent display.
The Mackenzie was designed as an anti-submarine destroyer and was named after the Mackenzie River and the ship travelled some 850,000 nautical miles during her commissioned years, or if we put it in more understandable terms, 24 trips around the world at the Equator.
The Mackenzie has had some exciting moments. She was involved in the first high-seas boarding and the seizure of a foreign vessel by the Canadian Navy since the Second World War. She also made a dramatic rescue of the entire crew of the Pacific Mariner, after other ships and other attempts had failed. She has had the distinction of participating in both the 75th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Navy and the 50th anniversary of the Royal New Zealand Navy. The Mackenzie is unique in other ways, as the edges and the surfaces of her upper decks were rounded, a feature designed for two purposes: first, in war, the radioactive or chemical contaminants could easily be washed off; second, being designed for very cold climates, the rounded edges would prevent ice build-ups.
Commencing in 1972, the Mackenzie was used ... I seek consent to conclude, Mr. Speaker.