Mr. Speaker, I want to pay tribute today to a Canadian company that is playing a leadership role internationally through the provision of rapid deployment evacuation air services.
Skylink Aviation, based in Toronto with operations throughout the world including a freight service in Windsor, has demonstrated incredible courage moving people out of dangerous circumstances.
It provided evacuation services on behalf of UNICEF and the world food program in flood ravaged Somalia. On May 16 and 17, Skylink flew into Jakarta, Indonesia and evacuated 420 Canadian nationals. Skylink was the only cargo carrier to provide food and medical supplies to Afghanistan while evacuating seriously ill people and UN personnel.
Last Friday, Skylink undertook a most dangerous mission in Eritrea on behalf of the United States state department. During bombing and air fire resulting in the downing of an Ethiopian plane, Skylink landed and safely evacuated 220 people out of Eritrea to Frankfurt.
It is most gratifying to see a Canadian company demonstrating leadership and courage in the protection of human lives throughout the world.