The surveillance of all of Canada is important.
As you indicated, it's very much a system of systems. It's a whole-of-government requirement in doing that. That's why I was really happy that Commissioner Jody Thomas and the navy were standing side by side on Navy Day. I don't know if she was quite happy with that title, but as I said then and as I'll say now, we're two sides of a coin and indivisible in looking after the safety, security, and defence of our country.
We need to start that system with space-based capabilities, which we're currently moving out on, and then we have to make sure that the lines of communication are enabled between the government departments responsible for those types of activities. I'm happy to say that there are many navies around the world that are looking at our maritime security operation centres as a model by which they can look after the safety, security, and sovereignty of their nations. I think that's a great story for Canada.
Also, we need to work with the army, navy, and air force under the rubric of all the exercises that we are currently taking part in in the Arctic. I think those are foundational to understanding the challenges. I say to people that what's interesting when we're operating in the Arctic is that in many respects it's almost more demanding than deploying overseas. The distance from Esquimalt to Nanisivik, the naval base we're constructing, is about the same distance from Esquimalt to Japan. To go from Halifax to Nanisivik is about the same distance as going from Halifax to London.
There are many challenges. In many respects, although it's a sovereign operation, it's almost expeditionary in terms of going forward.
There are a number of aspects. I'm really happy that Admiral Norman had the vision to appoint the command team for the HMCS Harry DeWolf. They have been working with navies around the world and our own Coast Guard to understand how to operate in the Arctic. They've actually done a number of reconnaissance trips into the Arctic to better understand how we can sustain and maintain those platforms going forward.
To end where I started, I guess, it's a full team. It's the whole of government and it's a system of systems, and the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Coast Guard both have important roles to play there. I'm really happy that those lines of communication exist. We're pressing on with that.