Mr. Speaker, the 1998 ice storm paralyzed a number of communities in Ontario and exacted an enormous economic cost.
The Government of Canada has worked hard to assist communities and individuals to recover from this disaster.
Today the hon. Minister of National Defence reinforced the Government of Canada's commitment by announcing a third payment of $50 million to the government of Ontario through the disaster financial assistance arrangement program.
This payment brings the total financial assistance provided by the federal government to the province of Ontario to $105 million.
The payment demonstrates our government's commitment to ensuring the well-being of all Canadians and our guarantee that we will provide assistance for each step on the long road to recovery.