December 29, 2004
What is Canada waiting for?
With the death toll from the weekend's massive earthquake and tsunami now surpassing 60,000, the focus of the relief effort is now to ensure the effected areas have safe drinking water and medical facilities.
Canada has a special military unit that specializes in brining temporary hospitals and safe drinking water to disaster areas - exactly what is needed today. The Disaster Assistance Response Team was set up to respond to a disaster within 48 hours, but DART continues to cool its heels in Kingston while federal government officials try to explain why they haven't been sent to Asia to help. Officially, the Government says that no country has requested the team and that it is making Canada's contribution through financial aid to relief agencies.
Okay, fair enough. But it costs $8-million just to deploy DART as well as an additional cost per day of deployment. So far, Canada's meagre financial effort totals just $4-million. That math doesn't work. It also begs the question, if DART isn't going to be deployed to the worst, most expansive disaster is memory - one that is perfectly tailored to the unit's strengths - why do we have it in the first place?
To put our government's pathetic effort in perspective, on their own, Canadians have managed to match their government's donation to relief agencies. Last night, agencies reported that Canadians had already contributed about $4-million to help the relief effort. That $4-million is made up of small donations, few in excess of $100.
The generosity of Canadians has put their Government to shame. After all, this is the same Liberal Government that predicted tight finances last year and ran a $9-billion dollar surplus. We can easily afford to contribute more than $4-million.
Prime Minister Martin, send DART or top up our contribution to $12-million - pick one or better yet, do both. Just stop stalling and increase our miserly contribution.
Further Reading:
Canada's relief unit ready (Toronto Star)
Canada sends supplies, holds back disaster team (CTV News)
Canada's rapid disaster response team still on hold (CBC News)
Posted by maxthecat at December 29, 2004 08:44 AM
http://www.maxsmewsings.com/mt/archives/2004/12/what_is_canada_waiting_for.php