Hello everyone.

Yesterday, a Royal Canadian Navy helicopter on a NATO mission, carrying six members of the Canadian Armed Forces, went down with all hands in the Ionian Sea, off the coast of Greece.

They were flying from the Canadian naval frigate HMCS Fredericton, home port of Halifax, as part of Operation REASSURANCE. 

One casualty was recovered and five are missing.

All of them are heroes.

Each of them will leave a void that cannot be filled.

On behalf of all Canadians, I want to offer my deepest support to their families, their friends, their shipmates, and their fellow CAF members. This is another very hard day for Halifax, for Nova Scotia, and for our Armed Forces families.

I spoke to NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg earlier this morning, who offers support and assistance in the times to come.

In the coming days, there will be many questions about how this tragedy occurred.

And I can assure you, we will get answers, in due course.

Yesterday, a Royal Canadian Navy helicopter on a NATO mission, carrying six members of the Canadian Armed Forces, went down in the Ionian Sea, off the coast of Greece.

The helicopter was flying from the Canadian naval frigate HMCS Fredericton as part of Operation REASSURANCE. 

One casualty was recovered and five are missing.

All of them are heroes.

On behalf of all Canadians, I want to offer my support to their families, their friends, their shipmates, and their fellow CAF members. As well as to the people of Halifax and Nova Scotia.

Our hearts are with you.

In a season of grief—a time of hardship, heartbreak and loss for so many Canadians—the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces stand tall.

Bearing the Maple Leaf on their shoulders, they are known around the world as beacons of civility, compassion, and courage.

Whether combatting terrorism, standing by our partners and allies, or supporting peace operations around the world, they do what they always do—step towards danger, so the rest of us can stay safe.

Operation REASSURANCE is Canada at its best—bolstering security and stability in Central and Eastern Europe.

Here at home, we turn to the Forces in times of flood, fire, or other natural disasters.

They never say no.

They always put their shoulders to the wheel.

And now, as we battle the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian Armed Forces are on the front lines, in our seniors’ homes—helping to protect and care for our most vulnerable citizens.

Even as up to 915 soldiers are deployed on Operation REASSURANCE in Europe, reinforcing NATO’s collective defence, the CAF will soon have more than 500 serving in 13 long-term care facilities, in and around Montreal.

And more will go in, as they are prepared for this work.

Earlier this week CAF teams were deployed to assist in five long-term care facilities in Ontario.

These people are working day and night, helping to protect our parents, our uncles, our aunts, and our grandparents.

In a season of grief, the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces stand tall.

Proudly bearing the Maple Leaf, they are known around the world as beacons of civility, compassion, and courage.

Whether combatting terrorism, standing by our partners and allies, or supporting peace operations, they do what they always do—step towards danger, so the rest of us can stay safe.

Here at home, we turn to them in times of flood, forest fires, or other natural disasters.

They never say no. They always put their shoulders to the wheel.

And now, as we battle this pandemic, the Canadian Armed Forces are on the front lines once again.

They are caring for our seniors by helping to protect seniors’ homes.

Up to 915 soldiers are currently deployed on Operation REASSURANCE in Europe.

The CAF will soon have more than 500 members serving in long-term care facilities in Greater Montréal, and more will soon go in.

Earlier this week, CAF teams were also deployed to five long-term care facilities in Ontario.

These people are working day and night, helping to protect our parents, our aunts, our uncles, and our grandparents, and they deserve our gratitude.

Whether at home or abroad, the women and men of the Canadian Armed Forces are the hand of our intentions—the concrete expression of our valour and values as Canadians.

And so we stand with them and we hold out hope to find the missing.

Once again, thank you for joining us.

I will now turn it over to Minister Sajjan, General Vance, and Deputy Minister Thomas