Prime Minister Harper thanks Canadian Navy at Commonwealth heads of Government Meeting

November 29, 2009

PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO — Prime Minister Stephen Harper today thanked the crew of HMCS Ville de Québec in Port of Spain, Trinidad.  The Ville de Québec from CFB Halifax, and also a CP-140 Aurora maritime surveillance aircraft from 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia, are contributing to maritime surveillance and security during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Trinidad and Tobago.

“HMCS Ville de Québec has shown the Navy’s willingness to go into danger whenever Canada is needed around the world,” said the Prime Minister.  “From participating in NATO’s standing naval force in the Atlantic to escorting a relief ship through pirate-infested waters off the coast of Africa to providing security for the Commonwealth Summit, the crew is showing the countries of the Americas that Canada is a good neighbour and that it takes hemispheric security very seriously.”

Under Operation TATOU, the Canadian frigate and aircraft will patrol the ocean surrounding the Caribbean nation as part of the multinational task force providing security to the CHOGM.  The Canadian Forces will also provide one CC-150 Polaris aircraft from 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario, to airlift some 200 military and police personnel from other Caribbean nations assisting the Trinidadian authorities with Summit security.

“It’s an honour to stand among brave and dedicated men and women who have chosen the noble career of serving our great country,” said the Prime Minister.

The Canadian Forces are contributing to multinational security efforts for the meeting at the request of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.  This aligns with the Government of Canada’s commitment to increase engagement in the Americas.


Backgrounder

OPERATION TATOU: CANADIAN FORCES SUPPORT TO THE
COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING

Trinidad and Tobago is among the smallest countries to host an international summit of the size of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.  Canada is one of the participating countries from which the Government of Trinidad and Tobago requested assistance with logistics and security challenges.  The Canadian Forces has therefore mounted Operation TATOU, to assist the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force with maritime surveillance and airlift capacity, for the duration of the meeting.

Assigned to maritime surveillance are the Halifax-class frigate HMCS Ville de Québec from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and one CP-140 Aurora aircraft from 14 Wing Greenwood, based at Greenwood, Nova Scotia.

A Canadian Forces Maritime Liaison Team has also been deployed to Trinidad and Tobago.

The airlift component of Operation TATOU consists of one CC-150 Polaris long-range transport aircraft to bring more than 200 military and police personnel from Caribbean countries to Port of Spain.

Participation by the Canadian Forces in the security arrangements for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is consistent with the CF mandate to defend North America and contribute to international peace and security.

Operation TATOU was previously conducted to support the Summit of the Americas when it was held in Trinidad and Tobago from April 17 to 19, 2009.