Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the seventh anniversary of the terrible tragedy of the Armenian earthquake.
On December 7, 1988 nature unleashed its fury and hundreds of thousands of lives were changed forever by this tragic event. The magnitude of this natural disaster is almost unimaginable. The death toll has never been firmly established, but estimates range upward of 100,000 deaths and over 500,000 additional people injured.
In response to the tragedy the Government of Canada provided over $6 million in aid to Armenia through the Red Cross and Canadians from all regions of our nation donated an additional $2.5 million in humanitarian relief.
When I was in Armenia last year I was told again and again that the people of Armenia are forever grateful to Canada and Canadians.