Ontario pledges $200K to Leyte victims
Ontario pledges $200K to Leyte victims
(Speech of MPP Mario Racco at Queen’s Park on March 2, 2006)
Mr. Speaker,
Two weeks ago when a devastating mudslide buried a village in the Philippines, our government immediately offered their assistance.
The Honorable Mike Colle, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration announced that the Ontario government will donate $200,000 on behalf of the people of Ontario to help the victims.
We will continue to work closely with the Consul General of the Philippines, Alejandro Mosquera, to continue to assist the victims, their families, their community and to ensure that the funding we have provided will be used in the most appropriate manner.
Thornhill has a very active and vibrant Filipino community… In fact, when I was a Councillor at the City of Vaughan, we signed a friendship agreement with Baguio City, in the Philippines, to encourage cultural, social and educational exchanges and to promote new business opportunities. Vaughan’s Sister City program was the first International Partnership agreement ever signed between cities in the Philippines and Canada.
Ontario is a richly diverse province, defined by the contribution made by all members of our communities, from all over the world.
On behalf of myself and the people of Ontario our deepest sympathies go out to the victims of this tragedy and as promised, we will continue to assist in any way that we can.
Thank you Mr. Speaker
Mario G. Racco,
M.P.P. Thornhill
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