The federal government will match all donations made to the Red Cross to help disaster victims in Quebec and the Atlantic provinces who were affected by post-tropical storm Fiona on Saturday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced.
During a press briefing in Ottawa, Mr. Trudeau explained that this measure put in place by the federal government will be in effect for 30 days and will concern donations from individuals and businesses.
He mentioned having spoken with the premiers of the provinces affected, therefore with Mr. Legault in Quebec, and having assured them of all the collaboration of the federal government to manage this crisis. He described this operation as “team work”.
“We know that this is an event that has hit people very hard and we will not leave them alone, decided Mr. Trudeau. The federal government will be there with funds and the provinces will be there with funds. »
Nova Scotia has already submitted a request for assistance from the Canadian Armed Forces to begin clearing the debris, which Ottawa has approved.
The Minister of National Defense, Anita Anand, also indicated that the army is ready to intervene in all places where its presence is required.
“We work closely with the provinces and other partners. I promise all Canadians that we will do everything in our power to help you,” said Anand.
The army had also already begun its preparation in anticipation of the arrival of what was until very recently a hurricane. Members of the Armed Forces are already on the ground in “reconnaissance”.
Mr. Trudeau was originally scheduled to travel to Japan this weekend to attend the funeral of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, but he canceled his trip due to the storm.
Mr. Trudeau also confirmed that he will be in the field in the coming days, once it is safe to do so. He added that he did not want to rush things, so as not to hinder the efforts of first responders.
“We can already see a lot of damage and the situation remains critical. Today and tomorrow, I encourage everyone to continue to listen to local authorities and do whatever it takes to stay safe,” Trudeau said.
Rebuild “better”
Fiona arrived with winds blowing around 150 km/h when she made landfall around 4:00 a.m. local time in the east end of Nova Scotia.
Gusts of 90 to 120 kilometers per hour were reported in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Magdalen Islands and southwestern Newfoundland, with gusts reaching 161 km/h on Beaver Island, Nova Scotia.
The storm knocked out power to more than 500,000 customers in the Maritimes. The damage is already estimated at several million dollars.
The Prime Minister pointed out that it was the kind of storm that occurs “once every 100 years”. However, he acknowledged that these disasters are occurring more and more often, which will push the country to better prepare for the consequences of climate change.
“As a government, we have had to respond to more and more extreme weather events over the past few years, whether heat waves, floods, forest fires or hurricanes,” said Mr. Trudeau.
“We’re going to learn how to create more resilient infrastructure, because that’s what we’re going to need. At the same time, it underlines the extent to which we must continue to fight against climate change, because we are experiencing an “event of the century” every few years. »
The Conservatives will be watching the government
A little before the federal announcement, the official opposition in the House of Commons published a press release in which it warns that it will push Ottawa to provide assistance to the disaster victims.
“We want our friends in Atlantic Canada to know they are not alone,” Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said in a statement.
“Conservatives will ensure the federal government supports our provinces and municipalities as they restore services and provide emergency services to those in need. »