Parliamentary Committee Notes: Donation Matching Efforts in Response to Domestic Emergencies
Issue
Provide an update on federal donation matching initiatives, including those initiated in response to the 2023 wildfire season.
Proposed Response
- In recent months, our Government has coordinated with the Governments of Alberta, Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories on three donation-matching initiatives to ensure the needs of residents impacted by unprecedented wildfires in 2023.
- We are matching donations raised through the Canadian Red Cross’s Alberta and Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada wildfire appeals, as well as through the United Way’s Northwest Territories wildfire appeal.
- Funds raised by these organizations are being used to provide immediate and ongoing relief. They will also be used support recovery and resilience efforts, community preparedness and risk reduction for future all-hazard disaster events.
- We remain committed to supporting communities impacted by the devastating wildfire season and continue to work closely with affected provinces and territories to ensure the needs of residents are being met.
Background
Since 2021,the Government of Canada has announced six fund-matching initiatives in response to large-scale domestic emergencies.
2023 wildfire season
Alberta
In May 2023, the governments of Canada and Alberta announced the establishment of coordinated wildfire donation-matching initiatives with the Canadian Red Cross (CRC). Both federal and provincial donation matching periods were for a 30-day period, from May 8, 2023, to June 6, 2023. During that period, the organization raised $7,626,270, which is eligible to be matched by the federal government. Public Safety (PS) has entered into a funding agreement with the CRC for this initiative. Federal funds are being used to support urgent relief needs and longer-term recovery and resilience efforts over a three-year period. This includes a range of emergency services; support to enable community organizations to assist impacted people and communities with re-entry support and navigational assistance; financial assistance for immediate unmet needs; and other essential services not covered by federal or provincial programs.
Northwest Territories (NWT)
In June 2023, the Government of Canada announced that it would join the Government of NWT in matching donations to United Way-NWT (UW-NWT) to support disaster relief and recovery efforts for wildfire response. The federal donation matching period was for 30 days, from May 15 to June 13, 2023. During that period, $362,280 was raised that is eligible to be matched by the Government of Canada. PS has entered into a funding agreement with the UW-NWT for this initiative. UW-NWT will be redistributing funding to other entities, such as registered charities, not for profits and Indigenous Governing Bodies who have been providing support to impacted residents (e.g., food, shelter, clothing, transportation, emotional, mental health support and trauma counselling).
Nova Scotia
Also in June 2023, the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia jointly announced the establishment of coordinated donation-matchings initiative with the CRC. The matching period was for a 30-day period (May 31 to June 29, 2023). At the end of the matching period, the CRC had raised $5,005,180 which is eligible to be matched by the federal government. The CRC has not yet submitted a proposal to PS for this initiative.
Other recent donation matching initiatives
In 2022, the federal government announced that it would match donations to the CRC’s Hurricane Fiona in Canada appeal. During the matching period, $22,315,730 was raised, which is being matched by the federal government. With this funding, the CRC has provided financial assistance to impacted households in the form of a one-time $500 payment.
In 2021, the governments of Canada and British Columbia, announced they would match donations to the CRC’s BC Fires and Floods & Extreme Weather appeals. Combined, these two appeals raised $37,886,784 during the respective federal matching periods. With this funding, the CRC is supported a range of activities (e.g., emotional support, referrals to services and programs, technical guidance, assessment of damage, programming for Indigenous communities, and financial support).
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