Red Cross receives $2.5M funding from feds to support flood relief efforts
Posted May 3, 2019 12:00 pm.
OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) – The Trudeau government is giving the Red Cross $2.5-million to help with relief efforts related to severe flooding across Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick.
The waters are starting to recede in many of the flood zones but the need for help has not.
The Trudeau government is giving the Canadian Red Cross a $2.5-million grant to help with flood relief efforts across the country #cdnpoli pic.twitter.com/Rgcf3NiXTO
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) May 3, 2019
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said this cash will primarily be used by the Red Cross for emergency services not generally covered by federal disaster relief and insurance.
“Including temporary lodging, clothing, food, and other essential supplies,” he explained.
Minister Goodale says the government will work with the @redcrosscanada to figure out where this money can be best spent. Says most will go to emergency services not otherwise covered by federal funding or insurance #cdnpoli
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) May 3, 2019
More than 10,000 people have registered with the Red Cross.
“Registered households may receive $600 per household,” Conrad Sauve with the organization said, adding they’ll begin receiving financial assistance next week.
“This assistance will be in the form of an electronic cash transfer,” he added.
Conrad Sauve of @redcrosscanada says this money from the federal government is in addition to the +$3-million the organization has received in donations from regular Canadians #cdnpoli
— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) May 3, 2019
Both Sauve and Goodale said the need for donations and volunteer work isn’t over yet since the clean up from flood waters will take months.
The public safety minister added the Ottawa River was cresting on Friday in the Ottawa-Gatineau area, but also warned it’s expected to remain high and dangerous for much of the coming week before starting to subside in any appreciable way.