PM Harper arrives in Resolute Bay to share messages of sympathy and thanks

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is joined by members of the Canadian Rangers as he prepares to present a wreath to Tabitha Mullin, mayor of Resolute Bay. (PHOTO BY DEB RANSOM, PMO)

(updated Aug. 24, 6:15 a.m.)

Despite a forecast filled with fog and brisk winds, Prime Minister Stephen Harper arrived in Resolute Bay today, where he met with community members and first responders involved in the rescue and recovery efforts of First Air flight 6560 on Aug. 20.

Harper also took the time to address the Canadian Armed Forces personnel participating in Operation Nanook — which his office called “the largest Canadian Arctic military exercise in history” — who helped after the Aug. 20 crash.

“Saturday’s tragedy was felt by all Canadians across the country and around the world. Our thoughts and prayers continue to remain with family members, friends and colleagues of those who died and those who are recovering from this terrible accident,” Harper said in an Aug. 23 news release on his visit to Resolute Bay.

“Once again, I want to extend my gratitude to all those involved in the rescue efforts, including the herculean efforts by Canadian Armed Forces personnel. The Canadian Armed Forces’ success in conducting large-scale operations in the North is a testament to their training, professionalism, and outstanding ability to perform in the most harsh and rugged regions of the world.”

“It is with a heavier heart that I commence this year’s trip and my third visit to Resolute Bay,” Harper said in Resolute Bay. “Though Resolute Bay appears on the map to be a very long distance away from many Canadians, the reality is that the families here are in the thoughts and prayers of millions of Canadians from coast to coast to coast.”

Harper was originally scheduled to arrive in Resolute Bay on Aug. 22, but delayed his arrival in the wake of the Aug. 20 crash.

Harper had planned to witness the emergency response to a simulated crash involving two aircraft coming into Resolute Bay.

According to the planned simulation, on Aug. 22, “Nuna,” a Canadian charter aircraft carrying an international expedition with 40 people on board, was to crash into the nearby plateau, about 13 kilometres from Camp Nanook, leaving 15 dead and 25 injured.

“Immarq,” a cargo plane with four people on board, was to see no survivors as it crash landed in Resolute Lake.

In reality, the simulation would have used already existing crashed planes and member of the armed forces made up as victims.

As part of that exercise, he was to have seen a wing of an submerged aircraft that crashed in Resolute Lake in the 1940s be raised up and unveiled for him by Navy divers.

The divers had spent part of their time at Operation Nanook underwater there, attaching small floats to the wing and other parts of the plane, so that they could raise it up during the visit of the Prime Minister to the site.

There was also a plan under discussion to see the retrieved remnants of the plane remain at the lake where they could become a monument and tourist attraction in Resolute Bay — an idea that likely has not been discussed since the Aug. 20 crash that killed 12 and injured three.

According to the original schedule for Harper, he was to tour the facilities of the Polar Continental Shelf Program with its director, Martin (Marty) Bergmann.

Bergmann was one of the casualties of First Air flight 6560.

“Marty Bergmann spent his life in pursuit of sharing the importance and relevance of the Arctic through science,” Harper said. “He engaged northern communities and worked to integrate traditional knowledge in the advancement of science. During his impressive career in the government…he worked tirelessly to support researchers in the country’s vast and remote North and has been a leader in rejuvenating Canada’s Arctic research infrastructure.”

Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks to members of the Canadian Armed Forces and Canadian Forces Aug. 23 during his visit to Camp Nanook in Resolute Bay. (PHOTO BY DEB RANSOM/PMO)