SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Air Force Day on the Hill

Honourable senators, I rise today to mark Air Force Day on Parliament Hill on behalf of Senator Wallin and myself.

Today is an opportunity for parliamentarians to meet, listen to and learn directly from Canadian aircrew, some of whom are here in the gallery.

The Royal Canadian Air Force, or RCAF, plays a valuable and important role in Canada’s security and defence and in upholding the international rules-based order. It has a critical role in bilateral and multilateral military partnerships and alliances.

Honourable senators, the air force is Canada’s and North America’s first line of defence.

As part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, the RCAF detects, deters and responds to foreign military air incursions into Canada. The RCAF also provides transport and logistics across Canada and around the world. Last month, the RCAF undertook Operation BOXTOP: the resupply of Canadian Forces Station Alert, the world’s northernmost military outpost. For the first time ever, the RCAF was joined by the U.K.’s Royal Air Force.

RCAF personnel are also stationed around the world, including with NATO forces in Europe. When called upon, the RCAF has been there for our friends and allies, whatever the mission, including going to the moon.

Like many Canadians, I watched in awe as humans returned to the moon for the first time in over 50 years. Aboard the Artemis II capsule was Canadian astronaut and RCAF Colonel Jeremy Hansen.

Colonel Hansen is one of thousands of Canadians who serve or have served in the air force.

The RCAF is also responsible for looking to the stars through space command, and we have a couple of members with us today. These are things I could never have imagined when I served.

Colleagues, the air force is undertaking its largest modernization in a generation to ensure that Canada remains secure and that the RCAF, with the right capabilities, remains credible and relevant in a dangerous world.

This modernization is about more than just a few new airframes. It is about building an air force for Canada that can operate in a modern pan-domain threat environment now and into the future, an air force that ensures Canada remains a dependable and influential NORAD and NATO ally, and one that can operate seamlessly with our closest allies to deter and, if necessary, defeat technologically advanced adversaries.

This means that the government and parliamentarians need to think not just about one piece of the puzzle — i.e., one type of fighter aircraft — but rather, we need to look at the bigger picture and think about how all this fits together. All of this new equipment will exist and operate within the entire ecosystem that is the air force.

Airframes are not just platforms. It’s the people who make the RCAF work.

That is why I am pleased to rise today, as I often have, to recognize, celebrate and thank the people who serve in the Royal Canadian Air Force and across the Canadian Armed Forces.

Thank you.