Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today it gives me great pleasure to use my Member’s statement to do a special acknowledgement of the crew of the HMCS Yellowknife who are in our gallery today.
They’ve been here for a number of days, and I want to thank them for making the long trek all the way here to Yellowknife, to our community. I believe they are meeting with a number of veterans and seniors, and they’re getting to know folks on the ground one on one. I’m very grateful that they’ve taken this time.
I understand that several of them will be playing in the Midnight Golf Tournament, and I wish them good luck. It is a different course to play, and if you need any help with fixing scorecards, come talk to me. I’m very experienced around that.
The HMCS Yellowknife crew comes to Yellowknife from time to time, and I’d be remiss not to mention the role that former mayor Pat McMahon played. She was a very strong advocate for the establishment of the ship and making sure its crew did don its presence from time to time here in Yellowknife.
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage them to partake in every opportunity that Yellowknife has to offer. I certainly know they are here to meet the community, because they are contributing in their way. But I want to emphasize a special acknowledgement of the fact that they do defend our sovereignty and play a significant role in our Forces.
I want to close my statement by acknowledging each member quickly, and I apologize in advance if I say your names incorrectly. I’d like to acknowledge as follows: Lieutenant Commander Grant Bannister; Lieutenant Larry Moraal; Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class John Malysheff; Chief Petty Officer 2nd Class Frank Vengels; Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott Duguay; Petty Officer 2nd Class Hugh O'Neill; Master Seaman Amanda Dunphy; Master Seaman Kevin Andres; Master Corporal John Hodson; Master Seaman Kumar Ingam; Leading Seaman Erik Lindholm; Leading Seaman Jason Zerdin; Leading Seaman Jennifer Lawless, who I think also is a Yellowknifer; Leading Seaman Catherine Bouchard; Leading Seaman Matthew Houghtling; Leading Seaman Ray Crowder; Leading Seaman James Nauss; Leading Seaman Derrick Fedoryshyn; Able Seaman Amanda McCabe; and Leading Seaman Matthew Rexin.
Mr. Speaker, at this time I want to thank them for coming to Yellowknife. I certainly appreciate their representation here.
Thank you, Mr. Hawkins. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
