PEMBROKE – Cheryl Gallant, MP, Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, confirmed that Canada will match individual donations to registered Canadian charitable organizations to support humanitarian and early recovery assistance to people affected by the January 12th earthquake in Haiti. 

"Many Canadians are deeply concerned about the suffering and loss of life as a result of the catastrophe in Haiti," said MP Gallant. "People in the Ottawa Valley have shown time and again their generosity to their fellow human being in times of urgent need. I am pleased to confirm that our government shares their compassion, and is prepared to match financial contributions dollar for dollar."

The Government of Canada will match the contributions of individual Canadians to eligible Canadian charitable organizations in support of humanitarian and recovery efforts in response to the earthquake in Haiti, up to a total of $50 million. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) will allocate these funds to Canadian and international humanitarian and development organizations.

“The Ottawa Valley has a special connection to the people of Haiti through the Sisters of St. Joseph and their Mission in Haiti, which includes an orphanage that houses over 400 children. Luckily, the St. Joseph Haiti Mission is in the far northern part of Haiti and was spared the brunt of the earthquake. Local residents wishing to contribute to relief efforts may consider doing so through the Sisters of St Joseph here in Pembroke,” stated MP Gallant.

Donations made by individual Canadians to eligible Canadian charitable organizations over the period of January 12 to February 12, 2010 will be matched by the Government of Canada through the CIDA-managed Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. The Fund will support Canadian and international humanitarian and development organizations with significant in-country capacity to deliver humanitarian, early recovery and reconstruction assistance in Haiti.

“Our hopes and prayers are with the people of Haiti as they re-build after this terrible tragedy,” concluded local MP Cheryl Gallant. 

Details will be made available on the CIDA website at www.cida.gc.ca