Goderich, Ontario - Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb recently travelled to Wainwright, Alberta to participate in Operation Maple Defender with the Canadian Armed Forces.

The Armed Forces invites Members of Parliament to CFB Wainwright to participate in numerous training and briefing sessions. The goal of the Canadian Forces Parliamentary Program is to provide the country's decision makers with a clearer understanding of the issues facing the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Forces.
 
“The military exercise provided me with a great opportunity to learn more about our Armed Forces and to see our troops in training, “said Lobb.  “Our troops are world class and after speaking with the Colonel at Wainwright and the Major General for the Army they are very happy with the support our Government has provided as well as the support Canadians have given our troops.” 

While in Wainwright, Lobb spend a night in the training field with the troops.  The group of MP’s joined existing training exercises with the navy and army.  They patrolled mock Afghan villages and simulated ambushes against suspected "Taliban" hideouts. Lobb also had an opportunity to ride in one of the Armed Forces newly acquired Chinook Helicopters and take a ride in a LAV III.  The LAV III is the newest in the family of light armoured vehicles produced in London, Ontario.

The trip concluded with the Bold Eagle traditional feast and graduation ceremony.  Bold Eagle is a summer training program that gives Aboriginal (First Nation, Métis and Inuit) youth a taste of military life with the option to pursue a part-time or full-time career with the Canadian Forces afterwards. This initiative is a partnership between the Department of National Defence and Aboriginal organizations from across western Canada.
 
“My grandfather Thomas Raeside was a Sergeant Major in the army and was stationed in Calgary and did training missions in Wainwright so this trip made it even more special,” said Lobb.

For more information on the Canadian Armed forces please visit: www.forces.gc.ca