Mr. Speaker, the Minister of National Defence has discussed this issue at length in the House. We have been open and forthcoming about the incident. There is no mystery and there is no doubt.
As the minister stated, a signal from an emergency locator transmitter, ELT, was detected on January 21 by a Hercules aircraft during a routine flight. Canadian forces policy dictates that search and rescue, SAR activity, be initiated whenever an ELT transmitter emission is detected because such emissions can indicate the possibility of danger to human life or property.
A Labrador helicopter was dispatched to assist the Hercules in searching for a possible distress situation. From the air members of the SAR team were able to identify the general area. The helicopter then set down in the area and crew members set out to further localize the source with hand held equipment.
Before the source of the signal could be identified, crew members were approached by an individual. He stated that shots had been fired at the aircraft and that they should leave the area. Comments were advisory and did not convey any threat. The air crew did not hear any shots being fired nor did they detect the presence of weapons. Let me reiterate that there is no physical evidence that shots were fired at the SAR helicopter and reports that bullet holes were found in the helicopter are absolutely false.
There were never any reports of an aircraft going down in the area, nor was there any visible evidence of a possible distress situation. With this in mind the air crew was correct in its decision to avoid the unnecessary endangerment of personnel by leaving the area. The ELT stopped transmitting the following day.
Chief Peltier and the Minister of National Defence have discussed this issue to their mutual satisfaction. There is no dispute over what is Canadian airspace and there is no dispute that the Canadian forces will continue to use airspace in the conduct of legitimate defence and search and rescue activities.