2010-03-31
New York -- The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, announced today that the Government of Canada will provide $400 millionfor humanitarian and reconstruction programs in Haiti, coordinated with our partners and the Haitian government. She made the announcement at the International Donors' Conference at the United Nations in New York.
Minister Oda also announced that Canadians donated $220 million to eligible Canadian charitable organizations, in support of Haiti, an amount that will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Government. "Recovery and reconstruction will take years and Canada will stand behind these efforts supporting the Haiti Action Plan and the priorities of the Haitian Government," said Minister Oda. "In all of our support for Haiti, we must demonstrate accountability, transparency and results to the international community, to Canadians and, in particular, to the people of Haiti. There will be many challenges ahead, but we must do our utmost to contribute to the Haitian Government's desire to set the foundation for a New Haiti."
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, led the Canadian delegation at the pledging conference.
"The New York Conference, which Canada co-chaired, is an important first step in implementing the principles laid out during the international conference in Montreal last January," Minister Cannon said. "I am proud of Canada's leadership role in Haiti's reconstruction efforts. Today's pledge is another clear demonstration of our commitment to Haiti."
Today's pledge more than doubles Canada's annual support to Haiti. The funds will be provided over the next two years.
The Government of Canada had created the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund to match, dollar for dollar, the generosity of individual Canadians. "I am also proud to report that individual Canadians generously donated $220 million in support of eligible Canadian charitable organizations, an amount that will be matched by the Government.," Minister Oda said.
Half of this $220 million matching fund is going towards today's announcement of $400 million to be spent in coordination with our partners and with the Haitian government. Through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), the Government will direct the remaining half of the matching fund to support the work of NGOs and institutions in a variety of immediate humanitarian aid and long-term reconstruction projects in Haiti.
In the days following the January 12th earthquake, the Government of Canada provided $85 million for humanitarian assistance delivered by national and international humanitarian partners.
In addition, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced in February a contribution of up to $12 million for the building of temporary facilities for key Haitian government departments. These facilities will enable the Haitian Government to more effectively manage and coordinate the hard work ahead.
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Information:
Jessica Fletcher
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation
Telephone: 819-953-6238
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: 819-953-6534
E-mail: media@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Ève Cardinal
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
613-995-1851
Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-995-1874
