Mr. Speaker, today in Halifax family and friends of Canada's military gathered with the Governor General and members of parliament as Canadians bid farewell to the 1,000 men and women of Canada's armed forces embarking on Operation Apollo.
The frigate Charlottetown, the supply ship Preserver and the destroyer Iroquois will leave Halifax as the main body of the Canadian naval task group. These ships will meet up with the HMCS Halifax, which is already serving in the Persian Gulf area.
It is never easy to commit troops to war and we sincerely wish them Godspeed and safe return. They perform an important role in obtaining peace and security in the world.
These ships will join an aircraft carrier battle group and actively participate in protecting the force. These men and women have been well trained and are prepared to do duty. They will be missed by their families, but they can rest assured they will never be far from the thoughts of all Canadians from coast to coast.