Mr. Speaker, we learned this weekend that the Minister of National Defence's officials were against holding the July 2010 photo op that he used to justify taking a search and rescue chopper for his fishing holiday on the Gander River.
This new revelation comes on the anniversary of the tragic death of Burton Winters on the ice in Labrador. The young man lost his life after search and rescue assets were held back because they might be needed elsewhere.
The question remains, why was the chopper available for the minister but not for an emergency in Makkovik? Where is the public inquiry to ensure this never happens again?