British Prime Minister David Cameron made a brief stopover in Halifax Thursday on his way to Toronto for the G8 and G20 summits.
His motorcade was given a police escort from the Halifax Stanfield International Airport Thursday afternoon at about 1 p.m.
He visited the British air craft carrier HMS Ark Royal, which is docked in Halifax as part of the International Fleet Review. British media travelling with Cameron, as well as a reporter from CBC, were allowed to attend; other media were refused access.
A spokesman with 10 Downing Street said the prime minister met with the crew just before 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
He said Cameron addressed about 500 sailors on deck and thanked them for their work in an upcoming international fleet review.
The spokesman said the prime minister decided to make the brief stop before heading to Toronto to recognize Armed Forces Day in the U.K. this weekend.
The Queen will lead the review on Tuesday, a day after she arrives for a nine-day Canadian royal tour. Cameron told the crew he had spoken to the Queen, and she was looking forward to the review, CBC reports.
Celebration time
The aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal is participating in celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the Canadian navy.
