Minister Blair reflects on World Red Cross Day 2021

May 8, 2021

Transcript/Captions

Hello everyone, I'm Bill Blair, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.

Today is World Red Cross Day – it's a day when we recognize the work that the Red Cross does to help people in Canada and around the world each and every day.

This past year has been a particularly remarkable year for the Red Cross.

In countries around the world, they have stepped up to play a pivotal role in helping governments respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here in Canada, they have been on the front lines.

The Canadian Red Cross has helped our seniors in long-term care homes, they've made sure temporary foreign workers could work safely, they have staffed our support isolation centres, supported Indigenous communities,
provided mental health help, and they staffed and tested vaccination sites. They have been there for Canadians and they have saved lives.

Every time that we called upon the Canadian Red Cross, they have responded by quickly and courageously answering the call to service.

We know that this has been a difficult year for many, many Canadians have lost family and friends, but in every case, the members of the Canadian Red Cross have never wavered in their dedication.

Their work has truly been an inspiration, and on behalf of the government and all Canadians, I want to thank the Canadian Red Cross for their tireless and courageous work.

We will never forget the role that you have played in fighting the pandemic.

And on behalf of all Canadians, thank you.

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