Mr. Speaker, the government understands that Canadians want their tax dollars well spent whether on health care or defence. The government is committed to ensuring that Canadians get the most value for their dollars. This means in part making sure that Canadians forces have the right equipment for the job.
The Canadian forces are often called upon to perform difficult and sometimes dangerous work. If they are to do what Canadians expect them to do, they must have the tools to do the job at a price we can afford.
Beyond the international commitments Canadians are well aware of and justifiably proud of, our forces first and foremost carry out a full slate of missions at home. Among the more important of them is the national search and rescue service.
Search and rescue is of paramount importance to thousands of Canadians from those who make their living in the remote regions of the country, be it at sea, on land or in the air, to the many Canadians who simply enjoy boating, camping, fishing and the great outdoors.
Over the last 50 years Canadian forces provided primary search and rescue helicopter services to Canadians. They have truly established a tradition of excellence and have saved many lives over the years. This success can be attributed directly to the unselfish effort of highly skilled and dedicated search and rescue personnel.
We can cite a few examples of the last couple of years to highlight their achievements. They have provided vital lifesaving, morale boosting and support during the devastating floods in the Saguenay and the Manitoba Red River Valley in July 1996 and the spring of 1997 respectively. These success stories are remarkable, particularly when we think of the unique challenges we face in Canada. Our geography comes immediately to mind, a huge land mass and one of the longest coastlines in the world.
The Canadian forces must be able to operate in extremely harsh conditions including the Arctic. They must be prepared to respond to emergencies anywhere in the nation.