[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 98 (Tuesday, July 19, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1534]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   WELCOMING HER MAJESTY'S CANADIAN SHIP ``TORONTO'' TO CLEVELAND, OH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 19, 2005

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to welcome Her Majesty's 
Canadian Ship Toronto, where she makes Cleveland her first United 
States stop on a series of port calls along the Great Lakes on Friday, 
July 15, 2005.
  The HMCS Toronto is a multi-role patrol frigate built in St. John, 
NB, in 1992 and commissioned in Toronto, ON, in 1993. Certified 
operational in 1994 and homeported in Halifax, NS, the Toronto has 
distinguished itself and Canada through its participation in some of 
the world's most sensitive operations of the last decade.
  The Toronto participated in Operation Sharp Guard in 1994, patrolling 
of the coast of the former Yugoslavia to restrict importation of arms 
and fuel in an effort to end the civil war in Bosnia-Herzogovina. In 
1995, the Toronto joined Operation Victory in Europe, an international 
flotilla of warships celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Allies' 
victory in Europe. As part of the Standing Naval Force Atlantic in 
1997, the Toronto deployed for North Atlantic operations with the NATO 
squadron and was involved in a major search and rescue operation off 
the coast of Spain. In 1998, the Toronto participated in U.N. patrols 
in the northern Arabian Gulf to affect an embargo against Iraq. In 
November of that year, the Toronto became the flagship for the Canadian 
Task Group Atlantic, beginning an intensive year of operation, sailing 
in every Task Group exercise.
  In 1999, the Toronto participated in Exercise El Morro Castle, a 
series of successful missile engagements against target drones and 
missiles, confirming the effectiveness of the ship's advanced missile 
defense system and crew's training. As part of the 2000 Search and 
Rescue operation at the site of the sinking M/V Leader L, the crew was 
involved in the rescue of 13 crew members in an accident in which 18 
men perished. The following year, the Toronto responded to a distress 
call of a sinking fishing boat while conducting work-ups off the Nova 
Scotia coast and rescued three crew members in an accident that claimed 
one life. In 2001-02, the Toronto deployed in the eastern Mediterranean 
with NATO's Standing Naval Force Atlantic, and later to the northern 
Arabian Sea in international security operations. In 2003, the Toronto 
participated in Operation Splinter, aiding in the clean-up and 
restoration of Halifax following the devastation of Hurricane Juan. 
Last year, the Toronto returned to the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Oman, 
and the Arabian Gulf as Canada's contribution to the global war on 
terrorism.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, I am pleased that the officers and crew 
of the HMCS Toronto chose Cleveland as their first U.S. stop on the 
2005 Great Lakes Tour. I welcome the Toronto to Cleveland and wish the 
Toronto, its officers and crew, and Canada, much success in their 
endeavors around the world.

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