welcome, rebuild
The Quebec government provides emergency assistance to $ 300,000 for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan
Quebec, November 19, 2013 - The Minister of International Relations, La Francophonie and Foreign Trade (MRIFCE), Jean-François Lisée and Minister of Immigration and Cultural Communities and Minister of the Charter of the French, M me Diane De Courcy, announced measures that Quebec will implement to assist Filipinos affected by Typhoon Haiyan. Funding of $ 300,000 is offered by the Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ) ($ 200,000) and MRIFCE ($ 100 000). Measures to facilitate immigration applications of those affected by this tragedy will be implemented by the Ministry of Immigration and Cultural Communities (MICC).
Relieve
"On behalf of the Government of Quebec, I would like to express our deepest sympathies to the Filipino people must, with courage and determination to mobilize to overcome this ordeal. We are also all heart with Quebecers who are affected by this tragedy. By this gesture of solidarity, the Quebec government wants to provide support and comfort to the victims of this terrible natural disaster, "said Minister Lisée.
The MRIFCE has an "emergency aid" component in the Quebec International Development Program. This component can withstand some emergency interventions Quebec organizations for international cooperation in the case of natural disasters or humanitarian crises scale in poor countries. The MRIFCE was allowed to make a contribution of $ 100 000 through this program. This assistance will be distributed among the recognized organizations and active in the Philippine territory such as Oxfam-Québec and the Red Cross.
Lisée Minister and Minister De Courcy could directly offer the sympathies of the Quebec government to members of the Filipino community at a meeting with representatives of organizations working with Filipinos in the Montreal area. The ministers were also able to discuss the various issues and needs facing the community due to Typhoon Haiyan.
Welcome
MICC has implemented measures in order to expedite the processing of applications already received by those affected directly and significantly by the typhoon. Thus, it will give priority treatment to immigration applications for skilled workers and applications for family reunification. In addition, Filipino nationals who are currently staying temporarily in Quebec and holding a certificate of acceptance in Quebec will be an extension of it.
"We work closely with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, as we have done in previous natural disasters. Our priority is to accelerate the arrival of the people affected by this disaster, which had planned to settle in Quebec to work or to rejoin their families, "said Minister De Courcy. People personally affected by Typhoon Haiyan can get more information on what is implemented by the Ministry to expedite the processing of applications for viewing www.immigration-quebec.gouv.qc.ca/philippines-haiyan .
Rebuild
"For the government of Quebec, it is important to help the people affected by this natural disaster, especially since Quebec has developed a unique expertise in this type of intervention, thanks to the strength and vitality of the housing industry and the timber industry. For us, it is quite normal to put this expertise to Filipinos and joining the large international mobilization is organized now, "said the Minister of Municipal Affairs, Regions and Land Occupancy Planning, Minister of Transport and Minister responsible for the SHQ, Sylvain Gaudreault.
The sum of $ 200,000 from the SHQ will provide thirty prefabricated buildings used for purposes of hosting or services. These transition homes have been specially designed to meet the needs of displaced as a result of natural disasters or conflicts.
The SHQ is not the first initiative of its kind. In 2010, she was actively involved in the reconstruction of a center for autistic children in L'Aquila, Italy, which had been destroyed during the tragic earthquake that struck the region in April 2009.
