Canadian soldiers help with Louisiana evacuations

NEWS RELEASE

CANADA COMMAND

************************* Canadian Forces provide assistance to U.S. hurricane response efforts OTTAWA, ONTARIO - (August 31) - The Government of Canada, in response to a request from the United States Government, deployed a CC-177 Globemaster transport aircraft to Louisiana today to assist with the evacuation of people from areas under threat by Hurricane Gustav.

Designated Operation UNIFY, a CC-177 Globemaster, deployed under the provisions of the Civil Assistance Plan from CFB Trenton, Ont, to Lakefront, Louisiana to assist with American evacuation efforts.

CF aeromedical personnel were also onboard the aircraft to assist with any medical issues.

"The Canadian Forces have a wide variety of equipment, vehicles, and expertise that can be used to offer assistance to those in need," said Chief of the Defence Staff General Walt Natynczyk. "Whether it's helping Canadians here at home, our neighbours to the south, or people in distress across the globe, the Canadian Forces stand ready to support the Government of Canada's efforts in promoting safety and security."

"I am proud of our men and women in uniform for answering this call and know that we have the mechanisms in place to respond to these types of requests quickly and effectively," said Vice-Admiral Dean McFadden, Commander of Canada Command and former commander of the Canadian task group that deployed to the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005 to assist with Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. "This Canadian Forces provision of support to our American neighbours upholds the longstanding tradition of cooperation and mutual support in times of crisis that has long existed between our two countries."

Canada Command is the Canadian Forces formation responsible for the conduct of all Canadian military routine and contingency domestic operations in North America.

Canada Command is working closely with its U.S. counterpart, Northern Command, and U.S. Transport Command, as part of a whole of government approach to ensure appropriate support to the United States.

The civil assistance plan, signed on February 14, 2008, is a bilateral Canada-United States plan that facilitates military-to-military cooperation in support of a civil emergency in either country, once agreement for assistance is reached between the two governments.

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