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Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a quadrupling of Canada’s aid to the typhoon stricken Philippines on Nov. 18, 2013.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a quadrupling of Canada’s aid to the typhoon stricken Philippines on Nov. 18, 2013. Photo by Michael Swan

Canada to quadruple emergency aid to Philippines

By 
  • November 18, 2013

TORONTO - In a crowded church basement, surrounded by boxes of emergency supplies donated and packed by parishioners, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced a quadrupling of Canada’s aid to the typhoon stricken Philippines.

Canada’s commitment to emergency aid and rebuilding following Typhoon Haiyan goes from $5 million to $20 million, plus a program of matching grants that will double Canadian donations to registered charities for typhoon relief between Nov. 9 and Dec. 9.

The prime minister made the announcement at Our Lady of Assumption church, the official Filipino parish in Toronto, while parishioners gathered upstairs for a special Mass for victims of the storm.

In a statement, Harper said: "Our government has taken decisive action to address the ravages of the typhoon by working closely with the Filipino-Canadian community, relief agencies and the government of the Philippines to provide ongoing support to those who need it most."

Canada’s official aid to the Philippines started with a $30,000 contribution to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies Nov. 8. Another $5 million was pledged to humanitarian organizations and for emergency relief on Nov. 9. The $15 million announced Nov. 18 will go to the United Nations agencies engaged in emergency relief, the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and other NGOs.

The Canadian military has sent its Disaster Assistance Response Team, DART, to the Philippines provinces of Iloilo and Capiz to provide clean water and medical assistance.

Ottawa has helped a 12-person Canadian Red Cross medical team get its field hospital on the ground in the disaster zone and sent an interdepartmental team of federal civil servants to Manila to consult with the Filipino government.

At Masses everywhere in the Archdiocese of Toronto, 224 parishes have prayed for the Philippines.

"There is a solidarity of love and prayer," Cardinal Thomas Collins told parishioners of Our Lady of the Assumption at a Nov. 15 Mass for typhoon victims.

Collins emphasized the communion all Christians share with the suffering through Christ.

As the day began Friday Nov. 15, the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace had already collected $255,000, all of which will be matched by the federal government.

More in this category: « Cardinal supports Filipino community during typhoon aftermath Church is about mission, not maintenance, says Ottawa archbishop »

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