Christmas is the season for giving.
We give presents to our families, our friends and the people who make our communities a better place.
We donate to local charities like the food bank to help those who have less than we do. We also donate to groups like Operation Christmas Child to help them bring a message of hope beyond our borders, in some of the world’s forgotten places.
We give because others have given to us. We give to set an example for our youth about the importance of charity. But, mostly, we give because we can.
By international standards, Canada is one of the world’s most wealthy nations.
We enjoy a first-world standard of living. We provide our fellow citizens with education, health care and a social safety net that simply does not exist in the third-world. Although there are those among us who suffer, generally-speaking assistance is available for any Canadian who requests it.
As some of the world’s most affluent people, Canadians have also chosen to reach beyond our borders and help those suffering through poverty, war and disaster. Our federal government does so through many avenues, led by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
Most recently, CIDA was called to action in the Philippines. On Dec. 4, Typhoon Bopha struck the island of Mindanao, levelling most buildings with 120-mph winds, killing 700 and leaving nearly 900 missing. Our government moved immediately to provide $250,000 in emergency assistance through the Philippine Red Cross.
This was the second time this year that Canadian emergency aid was deployed to the Philippines. In August Canada provided $100,000 to help the more than 4.4 million people affected by flooding near Manila.
To date, Canada has provided more than $1.1 million in humanitarian assistance in response to the impact of natural disasters in the Philippines in 2012. This support was provided to the Philippine Red Cross, through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
In dire circumstances like these, providing immediate emergency aid in an efficient manner can spell the difference between life and death for thousands of people.
Sadly, many countries are ill-equipped and unable to provide such assistance in a timely manner. We are not one of those countries.
Sometimes people ask me, “why do we give?” to those suffering through poverty, war and disaster.
My answer is simple. We give because we can.
