The Government of Canada’s response to the tsunami crisis

Immediate Response
Canada's response to date

• Foreign Affairs Canada (FAC) is responsible for coordinating the overall Government of Canada response to the crisis. FAC convened a special disaster task force that brought together resources and expertise from more than a dozen federal departments and agencies. Canada’s missions abroad and staff at headquarters were deployed quickly to affected areas, and worked around the clock to respond to the consular needs of Canadians, and to work with governments in affected areas and with aid organizations to determine how Canada could best support humanitarian assistance efforts. An emergency operations centre was also immediately set up in Ottawa to help Canadians concerned about loved ones.
  
  
• The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) responded immediately by working with multilateral and non-governmental organization (NGO) partners to channel Canada’s aid. The Government of Canada has allocated $425 million towards a comprehensive response over the next five years, of which $383 million is managed by CIDA. Included in Canada’s response was a promise to qualified aid groups that, subject to guidelines, the Government of Canada would match public donations. The public responded with over $213 million in contributions. Following a substantial relief effort, the rebuilding in tsunami-affected areas is underway. CIDA continues to work with its partners towards reconstruction activities in the tsunami-affected areas.

• The Department of National Defence sent military aircraft with requested emergency supplies to affected areas beginning on December 28. It also deployed the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to Sri Lanka.
  
  
• The Canada Revenue Agency and the Department of Finance recognized the desire of individual Canadians to help by extending the 2004 deadline for tax-creditable donations to eligible charities. The Department of Finance also manages Canada’s offer of a moratorium on debt repayment for affected countries.
  
  
• Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada provided access to national emergency stockpiles and offered expertise to help curb the spread of disease.
  
  
• Citizenship and Immigration Canada is enabling Canadians and permanent residents to sponsor the immigration of close relatives from tsunami-affected areas more easily.
  
  
• Social Development Canada is clarifying Canada’s position on international adoptions from affected areas.
  
  
• The Royal Canadian Mounted Police provided a Forensic Team to help identify victims in Thailand.
  
  
• The Canadian Space Agency provided satellite images to help humanitarian agencies assess the damage and speed up relief efforts.
  
  
• The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Canada continue to provide geoscience expertise to help increase knowledge of the science behind the earthquake that caused the tsunami. They will also work with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to help expand early warning systems.
  
  
• International Trade Canada will be the single point of reference for Canadian companies interested in participating in the reconstruction phase.

Canada's response to date

The Government of Canada is determined to help affected countries recover from the crisis and move forward.

To learn more about Canada’s response, please consult the News section.