Mr. Speaker, Canadians have been following with great interest the events taking place in the Philippines since the devastating Typhoon Haiyan. Shortly after the disaster, the Minister for International Development visited the region to assess the damage.
When catastrophes strike, Canadians have always shown themselves to be extremely generous. Recognizing their willingness to help, our government acted swiftly and announced the Typhoon Haiyan matching fund. Yesterday, the Prime Minister announced that $85 million in eligible donations will be matched by the government. It means clean, safe drinking water; nutritious food; warm, dry clothing; and shelter. Much of that money has already been put to use in the Philippines.
I am very proud of our government's leadership on this file, and Canadians can be proud of their response to this tragedy.