QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety
Assistance for Victims of Flooding
December 7, 2021
Honourable senators, my question is also for the government leader in the Senate. In response to the recent emergency in my province, the Government of Canada announced it would match every dollar donated to the British Columbia Floods and Extreme Weather appeal of the Canadian Red Cross until December 26. Last week, a request was made from four Conservative members of Parliament from B.C. for the federal government to broaden this support and match donations to other registered charities also involved in the ongoing efforts. This request is not to criticize the important work of the Red Cross here in B.C. but an acknowledgement that the need on the ground remains great and no single organization can do it all. Leader, what is your government’s response to this specific request?
Thank you for your question, senator. There’s no doubt that the ravages that have been visited upon your province — indeed elsewhere but your province in particular — are serious and of great concern to the Government of Canada. That’s why it has provided the assistance that it did and the commitments that it has made. I do not know exactly what the status is of the request made, to which you refer, if I understand correctly, this week or last week. I’ll certainly make inquiries and report back when I have an answer.
Senator Martin, do you wish to ask a supplementary question?
No. I heard the leader say he would be reporting back, so thank you for looking into that.
