Statement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper on the death of Corporal Benoit Chevalier

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement on the death of Corporal Benoit Chevalier:

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Corporal Benoit Chevalier who died in an aircraft accident while working with the Multinational Forces and Observers in the Sinai. 

On behalf of Canada, I also extend my condolences to the families and friends of the eight French personnel who died in this accident.

Corporal Chevalier served our country with distinction and honour.  He was part of a 28-member Canadian contingent deployed with the Multinational Forces and Observers, a peacekeeping mission established to monitor compliance by Israel and Egypt with the 1979 Camp David Accords. The Multinational Forces and Observers have included a Canadian contingent since 1986.

The people of Canada strongly support the Canadian Forces as they continue to represent Canada in the world and help to spread peace and democracy while keeping Canadians safe."