Government of Canada support for the Canadian Red Cross for COVID-19 response as well as floods and wildfires
Date: June 16, 2020
Classification: Unclassified
Branch / Agency: Public Safety Canada
Proposed Response:
- Our Government is providing up to $100 million to help the Canadian Red Cross respond to COVID-19, as well as to support their response to future floods and wildfires.
- This includes $40.68 million in funding that has already been provided 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, pursuant to the Public Health Events of National Concern Payments Act.
- These funds will allow the Red Cross to:
- Support quarantine and isolation sites;
- 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,
- 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.
- $59 million will remain 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.
- Public Safety Canada is actively working with the Red Cross to enable access to these funds, and to urgently provide support to Canadians most in need.
- This includes working with the Red Cross to provide additional federal support to respond to the crisis that is occurring in certain long-term care facilities in Quebec by providing additional human resources support and reinforcements on a temporary basis.
- The CRC plans to mobilize a humanitarian workforce of up to 900 civilians by the end of July, drawing on three distinct groups: paid volunteers, specialists in emergency and health services and students for paid work placements.
- Public health authorities across the country are working hard to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our communities to reduce its impact.
- 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 is 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.
Public Safety is currently working with the CRC on a new proposal to strengthen emergency health support in long-term care facilities. This additional federal support aims to respond to the humanitarian crisis that is occurring in certain CHSLDs by providing additional human resources support and reinforcements on a temporary basis.
Federal support with the CRC would be provided in three phases:
- First phase (June 13 to June 30)
- Second phase (July 1 to August 15)
- Third phase (August 16 to September 15)
The teams are structured based on the model used by the CAF and are scalable, depending on the specific needs of each CHSLD that the CRC will be serving.
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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