Speaking Notes for the Honourable John Baird Leader of the Government in the House of Commons for the Announcement of the Pakistan Floods Relief Fund

August 22, 2010
Ottawa, ON


Good morning. Thank you for coming.

As you know, heavy monsoon rains began in late July in Pakistan, and have caused the worst flooding in the last 80 years, leaving millions in need of emergency assistance. On behalf of the Government of Canada, I offer my deepest condolences to all those who have been, and are still, so cruelly affected by this terrible disaster.

The Indus River continues to rise. In addition to the physical devastation left by the floods, the situation is now compounded by health risks, food shortages, and displaced populations.

Canadians have been shaken by the images of devastation and inspired by the resolve and determination of the people of Pakistan to overcome this tragedy.
Canadians have shown that they are always ready to help those in need. In order to support their generosity, I am pleased to announce, on behalf of my colleague, the Honourable Beverley Oda, the Minister for International Cooperation, that our Government has established a Pakistan Floods Relief Fund, in addition to the contributions we have announced over the past few weeks.

The Pakistan Floods Relief Fund has been created by the Government of Canada to further increase the impact of the response by Canadians, and will be administered through the Canadian International Development Agency, CIDA.

For every eligible donation by individual Canadians to Canadian registered charities, and earmarked for efforts to assist the Pakistan relief efforts, Canada will contribute an equivalent amount to the Pakistan Floods Relief Fund.

The equivalent contribution will support continuing humanitarian assistance, early recovery and reconstruction efforts in Pakistan through projects undertaken by the many organizations and NGOs responding to the floods.

The Pakistan Floods Relief Fund will provide effective and accountable financial support to experienced Canadian and international humanitarian and development partner organizations working in the affected areas. It will equal the contributions made to Canadian registered charitable organizations between August 2 and September 12.

We have not placed a dollar limit on the amount of funds that we will provide through this program. To ensure that the donations they collect in response to the Fund are counted in determining the final size of the Pakistan Floods Relief Fund, participating Canadian charities must declare the amount of eligible donations received to CIDA, on or before September 27.

Detailed information on the Fund is available on CIDA's website.

This matching fund is in addition to other assistance already announced. On August 14, the Government of Canada announced an increase in response to the Pakistan crisis to up to $33 million.

Of these funds, up to $25 million will be provided through CIDA in response to appeals from the Red Cross Movement and the United Nations, as well as experienced NGOs on the ground for humanitarian assistance to help meet priority needs that include food, water and sanitation, emergency medical care, shelter, and essential household goods. These funds are flowing and Canadian supplies are already on the ground in Pakistan.

We will also provide an additional $8 million in urgently needed equipment such as bridges, to help the Government of Pakistan restore links to communities cut off by the flooding and help local authorities to provide security to those affected by this disaster.

Canada will continue to work with the Government of Pakistan, UN agencies and humanitarian organizations on the ground to ensure that our collective assistance reaches the affected populations as quickly and effectively as possible.

Thank you.