Government of Canada committed to improving the well-being of people affected by the devastating storm
November 8, 2014 – Toronto, Ontario – Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
Today, on behalf of the Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development and La Francophonie, the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Finance, alongside Senator Tobias C. Enverga Jr., marked the one-year anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan making landfall in the Philippines on November 8, 2013. They were joined by Her Excellency Petronila P. Garcia, Philippine Ambassador to Canada, members of the local Filipino-Canadian community and Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament for Barrie.
Minister Oliver also announced, on behalf of Minister Paradis, the Typhoon Haiyan Reconstruction Assistance Call for Proposals. This call for proposals, valued at up to $20.6 million over a period of four years, is designed to help restore the livelihoods of people in the Philippines affected by Typhoon Haiyan. It forms part of the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund through which the Government of Canada matched the $85 million in eligible donations made by individual Canadians.
“On this one-year anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan, we pay tribute to the resilience of the people in the Philippines affected by the storm, the work of our partners and the generosity of Canadians,’’ said Minister Oliver. “Our relationship with the Philippines and the Filipino-Canadian community is long and strong, and we will continue our support to help build a better future for the people of that country.”
Typhoon Haiyan, known in the Philippines as Typhoon Yolanda, was one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded. It devastated large parts of the Philippines. It is one of the deadliest typhoons on record in that country, causing more than 6,000 deaths and affecting 16 million people.
From the very beginning, Canada has played a leading role in the global response to the impact of the typhoon by providing significant humanitarian assistance to meet the immediate and early recovery needs of affected people and by deploying a number of experts from various Government of Canada departments to support a broad range of critical needs faced by the Filipino authorities.
“Last year I saw first-hand the resolve and the determination of the people of the Philippines to overcome the crisis, as well as the compassion and dedication shown by Canadian humanitarian workers who went to the Philippines to help those in the worst of circumstances,” said Minister Paradis. “Canadians feel strongly about helping to support communities affected by natural disasters and other emergencies abroad. We will always stand at the ready to provide humanitarian assistance to people who need it.”
Maxime Robert
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Development and La Francophonie
maxime.robert@international.gc.ca
343-203-6238
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada
343-203-7700
media@international.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @DFATD_DEV
Like us on Facebook: Canada is Dedicated to International Development - DFATD
