Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to recognize the service to the North of the outgoing commander of Joint Task Force North, Brigadier-General Chris Whitecross.
Since she arrived in 2006, General Whitecross has travelled widely in the North, elsewhere in Canada and overseas. During the past two years the North and the concerns about Canadian sovereignty and security have been of much greater interest to Canadians everywhere. Wherever she has gone, General Whitecross has been a strong advocate for the North and for the Canadian Forces in this part of Canada.
In the North the Canadian Forces are represented by over 1,500 Canadian Rangers, over 1,600 Junior Canadian Rangers and over 400 cadets. In my riding there is an active Canadian Ranger patrol and also a Junior Ranger patrol group.
The Canadian Rangers are Canadian Forces reservists, and they are the eyes and ears of the Canadian Forces in the North and provide assistance to regular army troops when they operate in the North. As volunteers, Canadian Rangers support search and rescue in most communities in the North. The Junior Canadian Rangers is the largest youth program in the North and is based on community values and helps pass on local traditional knowledge and values. Both the Canadian Ranger and the Junior Canadian Ranger programs are strong and effective in the North and make a real contribution to local safety, national sovereignty and preservation of land skills.
As Commander, General Whitecross has helped inform decision-makers in Ottawa on northern concerns. She has fostered strong ties with other government departments, both territorial and federal, and improved relations with the regions and communities. As a woman in this position of authority and command, she’s been inspirational to women in the North.
Mr.
Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to
conclude my statement.
Unanimous consent granted.