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Province Sending Supplies, Experts, Medical Team, But What Asia Needs
Most Now Is Donations
QUEEN'S PARK, ON, Jan. 5 /CNW/ - Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty is
urging all Ontarians to contribute to the relief effort in South Asia.
"We are citizens of the world, we hail from every part of it and we're
connected to every corner of it," Premier McGuinty said.
"The world has been dealt a tremendous blow, so Ontario is responding,
and we will continue to respond, because that's what Ontarians do when our
fellow citizens need help."
To make it easier for Ontarians to donate, Premier McGuinty has asked the
LCBO, the Beer Store and the Wine Council of Ontario to enable Ontarians to
give at all of their outlets.
Thanks to their positive response, donation boxes for tsunami disaster
relief will be displayed at checkouts, starting tomorrow and until January 31,
2005.
Premier McGuinty also announced that he has appointed a long-term,
blue-ribbon committee of leading Ontarians, co-chaired by Hilary Weston and
Peter Godsoe, to ensure Ontario raises funds to facilitate rebuilding and
reconstruction.
"I have every confidence they will give this their all, just as I am
confident that Ontarians will continue to give," Premier McGuinty said.
"We are sending equipment and expertise, but we've been in constant
contact with aid agencies and consulates and they tell us what is needed most
now is cash. That's the best way to get food and shelter, relief and hope to
the people there."
Premier McGuinty provided the media with an update on the Province's role
in relief efforts:
- A $5 million donation, made on behalf of the people of Ontario, has
now been delivered to the Red Cross.
- Ontario has offered the federal government the deployment of the
province's Emergency Medical Assistance Team -- volunteer health care
professionals trained to provide sophisticated primary care in
emergency situations -- with an advance team hoping to leave for Asia
this week.
- Twelve skids of medical equipment were delivered yesterday to a UNICEF
plane scheduled to leave today.
- Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, the Minister of Children and Youth Services,
is assessing the province's adoption procedures to facilitate
placement of orphaned Asian children with their extended families
living in Ontario.
- Dr. James Young, Ontario's Commissioner of Emergency Management, and
Ontario's Chief Coroner, Dr. Barry McLellan, have been working
alongside international experts, doing the difficult job of
identifying victims.
- Ontario is compiling a critical resource roster -- people with special
expertise and needed equipment -- from the provincial government, the
broader public sector, Hydro One and Ontario Power Generation and the
private sector.
- Provincial officials have met municipal counterparts to share
information and work on an inventory of available resources for
reconstruction efforts.
- Supports are being extended to any provincial government employees
affected by the tragedy.
- The Ontario Public Service is being mobilized to coordinate volunteer
activities to support the relief effort.
A special ceremony will be held at Queen's Park at noon on Saturday as
part of a national day of mourning.
Books of condolence will be available to the public at the legislature
soon, and at Ontario Government Information Centres across the province as of
Monday, in keeping with the initiative launched by the Hon. James K.
Bartleman, Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario.
Flags are flying at half-mast at Ontario government buildings, schools
and hospitals.
"Seldom have so many lost so much so suddenly," said Premier McGuinty.
"It's appropriate for us to mourn those we have lost. It's essential that
we help those that have survived."
Backgrounder
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ONTARIO EXPANDS RELIEF EFFORT FOR TSUNAMI VICTIMS
The Government of Ontario continues to expand its relief effort to help
South Asian nations affected by last month's tsunami.
In the coming days, Ontario will launch new initiatives to maximize the
relief effort, including:
- Appointing a long-term, blue-ribbon committee of leading Ontarians,
co-chaired by Hilary Weston and Peter Godsoe, to ensure Ontario raises
funds to facilitate rebuilding and reconstruction
- An immediate assessment of the Province's adoption procedures to
facilitate placement of orphaned Asian children with their extended
families living in Ontario
- Reviewing the capacity of settlement programs to help people
immigrating from the affected areas to adjust quickly to life in
Ontario
- Developing a critical resource roster -- an inventory of experts and
equipment -- available to the relief effort from the Ontario public
service, the broader public sector, agencies and the private sector,
such as Hydro One and OPG
- Arranging for LCBO outlets, Beer Stores and winery stores to accept
donations. Donation boxes for tsunami disaster relief will be
displayed at checkouts starting tomorrow, until January 31, 2005
- Arranging for Beer Stores to accept bottle return refunds as donations
- Offering the federal government the deployment of Ontario's Emergency
Medical Assistance Team -- volunteer health care professionals trained
to provide sophisticated primary care in emergency situations. An
advance team is hoping to leave for Asia this week.
In the days after the tragedy, Ontario responded with a five-point plan,
which included:
- Donating $5 million on behalf of the people of Ontario to the Red
Cross
- Offering expertise in disaster management: Ontario's Commissioner of
Emergency Management, Dr. James Young, joined a federal delegation to
the stricken regions offering expertise in forensic medicine and
disaster management as part of Ontario's contribution
- Working with the federal government to offer any further equipment,
supplies or expertise necessary to help the global relief effort
- Renewing a call for all Ontarians to donate to relief organizations
- Asking all of Ontario's public service employees to give generously.
The Provincial government has also:
- Established a management team of senior deputies and political staff
to coordinate the government's contributions to the recovery effort
- Appointed Emergency Management Ontario to coordinate the Province's
liaison with the federal government
- Established regular contact with federal officials to ensure accurate
and timely information sharing and coordination of requests
- Provided the public with timely and accurate information through
government websites, government offices and MPP's offices
- Been in contact with those communities most affected here in Ontario,
including community leaders and media representatives, as well as
consuls general from the countries involved
- Provincial officials have met municipal counterparts to share
information and work on an inventory of available resources for
reconstruction efforts
- Extended support to any provincial government employees affected by
the tragedy
- Deployed 12 skids of medical supplies on a UNICEF aircraft bound for
Jakarta, Indonesia.
Ontarians wishing to make a contribution to the Canadian Red Cross can
call 1-800-418-1111, contact their local Canadian Red Cross office, or go
online at www.redcross.ca.
Disponible en français
www.premier.gov.on.ca
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca
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For further information: Premier's Media Office, (416) 314-8975
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