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Federal politicians help raise thousands for victims of U.S. hurricanes

Source: Canadian Press (CP)
Date: September 28, 2005

OTTAWA - The prime minister and all three federal opposition leaders have flipped out - but for a good cause.

Paul Martin and the other leaders flipped burgers Wednesday in support of victims of two devastating hurricanes in the United States.

Martin, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe and NDP Leader Jack Layton worked over smoky barbecues on Parliament Hill as part of the Hands Across the Border campaign in support of the Canadian Red Cross.

Roughly 2,000 people turned out to pay $10 each for a hamburger, but many donated much more, raising a total of $125,000 at the event.

The money is to be used to help victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which flooded large portions of the U.S. Gulf states.

U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins thanked the crowd and said he will never forget the generosity of Canadians in his country's time of need.