It will be my pleasure.
That includes escorting commercial and military shipping through sea ice to deliver essential supplies to residents of the North, a search and rescue capability, and a first-response role in incidents of pollution.
It also includes our platforms supporting scientific work, such as collecting scientific data at sea, hydrographic charting, mapping Canada's continental shelf and search work, such as the work that led to the discovery of one of the ships of the Franklin expedition.
Also in the Arctic, the Canadian Coast Guard ensures that our fleet continues to provide effective support in security and law enforcement.
This includes our participation in Arctic exercises such as Operation Nanook, in which we have been participating for a number of years, together with our partners from the Department of National Defence.
Similarly to the marine security enforcement team program and its recent transition to new mid-shore patrol vessels, the icebreaking capability of the Canadian Coast Guard will be considerably enhanced in 2022 with the arrival of the CCGS John G. Diefenbaker.
This will be the first polar icebreaker and it will replace the CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent as the flagship of Canada's Arctic fleet.
The CCGS John G. Diefenbaker will be able to serve in the Arctic for longer periods each year and in more difficult ice conditions than we do currently.
In closing, while the Canadian Coast Guard may not have a direct security mandate, legislated or not, we do make an important contribution to Canada's maritime security.
Thank you.