Funding Announcement for the Canadian Red Cross Society

Remarks by
The Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety

May 8, 2007
Ottawa, Ontario
As delivered

Hello ladies and gentlemen.

It's an honour for me to be here this morning with you to make an announcement about the Canadian Red Cross Society.

The Red Cross is such an important organization in Canada today and in our history. It's appropriate that during this week of talking about Emergency Preparedness the Red Cross is one of the groups that is front and centre.

Earlier this week in Quebec, the Government of Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding with St. John Ambulance, an organization that delivers important services across the country.

The Canadian Red Cross Society also plays an important role in dealing with emergency management issues and keeping Canadians safe.

The history of the Red Cross dates back to 1909 when the first legislation was signed, tying it in as an auxiliary to the Government. People in that day, almost 100 years ago, were looking forward with some excitement and curiosity to how this auxiliary operation could work hand-in-hand with Government, while not actually being a part of Government.

One of the first events in which the Red Cross was involved, which attracted a lot of national attention, was the disaster in Halifax in 1917. For the first time, the nation got to see that a group like the Red Cross could coordinate, be there on the scene in the first and critical hours, and then do the necessary follow-up relief work.

Through the years, many of us can think of incidents, disasters and emergencies when the Red Cross was there. Without them, things could not have recovered the way they did. Even in international emergencies, we saw how the Red Cross was critically involved in assisting our friends and neighbours south of the border when the Katrina disaster hit there.

Last summer, the Red Cross also helped with the Lebanon evacuation. To have seen the volunteers working in the various sites here in Canada was a very encouraging thing.

Red Cross and other first responders need to be able to care for those who can't care for themselves in the critical first hours after an emergency or a disaster.

For those of us who can care for ourselves, we should. Canadians should have a 72-hour emergency kit handy to take care of themselves and others while first responders like the Red Cross are on the scene assisting those most desperately in need.

Last year we signed a Memorandum of Understanding further articulating the unique relationship between the Government and the Red Cross. Today, I'm pleased to announce funds to the Red Cross of $816,000 to further their own capacity to meet the needs of Canadians in times of emergency and disaster.

I would like to thank the volunteers and Jane McGowan, President of the Canadian Red Cross. It's an honour for us to have you here today.

We look forward to building on our auxiliary relationship, and thank you for being there for Canadians in their time of need.