That the Parliament welcomes the posthumous granting of the Freedom of Orkney to the Arctic explorer, Dr John Rae, by Orkney Islands Council; considers that the Orkney-born surgeon's expeditions in the mid-19th century greatly expanded understanding of northern Canada and resulted in the discovery of the final portion of a navigable Northwest Passage; notes his further contribution toward expanding telegraphy and uncovering the fate of the missing Franklin expedition, and supports the impetus in recent years to ensure that Dr Rae gains what it considers the well-deserved recognition that he has previously been denied.
Supported by: Tom Arthur, Jeremy Balfour, Michelle Ballantyne, Colin Beattie, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Donald Cameron, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Maurice Corry, Murdo Fraser, Maurice Golden, Jamie Greene, Alison Harris, Liam Kerr, Gordon Lindhurst, Ruth Maguire, Tom Mason, Liam McArthur, Christina McKelvie, Margaret Mitchell, Edward Mountain, Tavish Scott, Liz Smith, Maree Todd, Brian Whittle