Government of Canada announces support for the Canadian Red Cross for COVID-19 response as well as floods and wildfires
Date: May 19, 2020
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Fully releasable (ATIP)? Yes
Branch / Agency: Public Safety Canada
Issue: The Canadian Red Cross is facing an increased demand from Canadians for its services and added pressure from shortages in donations and volunteers.
Proposed Response:
- Our Government will provide up to $100 million to help the Canadian Red Cross respond to COVID-19, as well as future response to floods and wildfires.
- This funding will allow the Red Cross to:
- Enhance its response capacity and support public health efforts in response to COVID-19;
- Recruit and train volunteers and staff and adapt its operations to the COVID-19 context;
- Purchase personal protective equipment to be used by its personnel; and,
- Support additional relief efforts this year related to floods and wildfires.
- Our Government will continue to do everything we can to support the health and safety of Canadians through this incredibly challenging time.
Background:
The Canadian Red Cross (CRC) is playing a critical role in Canada’s response to COVID-19. The organization is helping Canadians at quarantine sites, in long-term care facilities, and through its mobile field hospital. The CRC is facing an increased demand from Canadians for its services and added pressure from shortages in donations and volunteers. As such, the CRC needs support so that it may continue providing the expertise, services and relief efforts that Canadians rely upon during emergencies.
On May 16, 2020, the Government announced up to $100 million in funding to help the CRC meet increased demand due to COVID-19, and to support future flood and wildfire relief efforts this fiscal year. This funding includes up to $41 million to address immediate COVID-19 needs, with over $15 million committed to enhance the CRC’s response capacity and $25 million to support public health efforts.
With this funding, the CRC will:
- recruit and train volunteers and staff;
- adapt its operations to the COVID-19 context;
- support quarantine and isolation sites;
- acquire personal protective equipment for its personnel and volunteers;
- provide training to the health care sector and other essential workers on using personal protective equipment, and maintaining infection prevention and control measures within facilities;
- expand their roster of public health and infection prevention and control specialists; and,
- procure and deploy, as necessary, emergency health supplies and equipment, including a mobile field hospital, to prepare for future waves and outbreaks of COVID-19.
In addition, up to $59 million of this funding will be available to support additional relief and recovery efforts this year related to COVID-19, as well as for future floods and wildfires. This will help ensure that the CRC can continue to support Canadians as the situation evolves and new needs emerge, including by providing assistance to those who are evacuated from their homes because of floods or wildfires.
Organizations like the CRC are working hard to adapt to the emerging needs of people, families, and communities, and to modify their existing services so they can continue to deliver the services Canadians rely on. The Government of Canada will continue to be there to support the CRC as they help Canadians get through this difficult time.
Contacts:
Prepared by: Benjamin Gallant, Policy Advisor (343-548-0653)
Approved by: Patrick Tanguy, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister (613-851-1481)
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