International Cooperation Minister Bev Oda
OTTAWA — Canadian citizens have donated 113 million Canadian dollars to help Haiti recover from a devastating quake last month, International Cooperation Minister Bev Oda said Monday.

The minister applauded her compatriots’ “incredible” generosity and urged them to keep giving as all donations to aid groups by week’s end would be matched by the Canadian government.

The announcement brings Canada’s total aid contribution for Haiti to 311 million Canadian dollars (291 million US), including 85 million dollars in emergency aid provided by Ottawa immediately following the quake.

“I encourage everyone to make that one final effort, one big push as we approach February 12th, the deadline for your donation to be doubled by the government’s matching fund,” Oda said.

Former US president Bill Clinton, who is coordinating international aid delivery in Haiti at the UN’s behest, recently also praised Canada’s response, saying: “The Canadian people have been so generous.

“I’ll bet you on a per-capita basis they’re the number one in the world in helping Haiti.”

Source: AFP

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