Speech

Good morning.

I would like to acknowledge the presence of the Japanese Consul-General.

Like many Canadians I watched the devastating footage from Japan on March 11, 2011.

The earthquake that devastated the east coast of Honshu Japan, and the tsunami that followed, caused unthinkable suffering for the people of Japan.

In the days that followed, the people of Japan gained our respect and sympathy for how they dealt with this disaster.

Mother Nature has a way of reminding us of her immense power, and what we all witnessed on that day underscored our fragility as human beings.

Japan and Canada are bound together, and not just by the Pacific Ocean. Our political, economic, cultural and people-to-people ties are bolstered by the common values we share.

This is why Prime Minister Stephen Harper vowed to stand with Japan in the moments following the disaster, and why Canada was one of the first governments to offer support.

In response to Japan’s request, we worked with the Canadian Red Cross to provide approximately 25,000 woven thermal wool blankets for the affected people of Japan.

We soon offered other measures, including 150 portable radiation survey meters and 5,000 dosimeters to respond to the nuclear emergency caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

At least 16 Canadian federal departments and agencies collaborated with Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Task Force on Natural Disasters Abroad to provide help to the people of Japan.

Provincial governments, Canadian companies and individual Canadians were also deeply moved by the tragedy and extended a helping hand by donating over $40 million for relief and recovery efforts.

I am proud of Canada’s response to our friends in their great time of need.

As we acknowledged moments ago, just over two years have passed since the disaster.

In the aftermath, the people of Japan banded together to rebuild their country. Some sacrificed their own safety and health to protect neighbours and strangers hardest hit by the disaster.

Others tackled the immense challenge of reconstructing communities from the ground up. The strength, compassion and ingenuity of the people of Japan have carried them through the darkest hours and back into the light of a better tomorrow.

They are to be admired and respected for their tremendous resilience and courage.

As we know, the people of Japan are also known for their volunteerism and sense of giving.

Today the Government of Canada humbly accepted the Government of Japan’s generous goodwill gesture in the amount of approximately $1 million dollars.

This money will assist with the clean-up of tsunami debris on the coast of British Columbia.

On behalf of the Government of Canada and our coastal communities which are and will be affected by the debris, I would like to express my gratitude to the Government of Japan for this heartfelt gesture.

Conservation and environmental protection are absolutely vital to the health, to the well-being and to the economic prosperity of all Canadians.

Environment Canada often works with partners to restore and preserve our natural heritage.

This is why we are transferring Japan’s generous grant to the Province of British Columbia, for them to administer.

Oversight for this funding will be provided by the Tsunami Debris Coordinating Committee, co-chaired by Environment Canada and the British Columbia Ministry of Environment.

This committee ensures that federal, provincial and local governments, First Nations and local stakeholders are coordinated to ensure an effective regional response to the arrival of tsunami debris.

This is important, as our challenge is unique. No one agency or group has the sole responsibility or jurisdiction for responding to this challenge.

Addressing this situation requires the resources and collaborative efforts of governments, local partners, First Nations, and volunteer groups.

My hope is that this funding can serve as a legacy to the enduring friendship between Japan and Canada.

Thank you.