Canadians have been reaching very deep into their pockets and wallets. By Monday morning, February the 8th, Canadians have already collected $113 million for Haiti, hit by an earthquake on January 12th. The Canadian government has promised it will match individual donations made by Canadians and created the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. Through this fund, the Government of Canada will match the contributions of individual Canadians to eligible Canadian charitable organizations in support of humanitarian and recovery efforts in response to the earthquake in Haiti. Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, Monday announced the amount of eligible donations, which was far more than expected and it showed that Canadians really care.

Canadians have been very generous so far and four days are left for donations to be matched by the federal government. The funds will probably be higher as there are still more concerts, various events and fund raisers for Haiti taking place in Canada. "We are encouraging every Canadian to make an additional effort to support the victims of the earthquake in Haiti," Minister Oda said. February 12th is the deadline for matching donations, and it means that donations by Canadians will be doubled by the government's matching fund.

Oda said that the matching funds will not come from other programs at the Canadian International Development Agency. She said the agency has a pool of funds that can be used in times of disaster.

The federal International Co-operation Department said that Canada, through the Canadian International Development Agency, has already provided about $85 million in humanitarian aid through UN agencies, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and to Canadian organizations such as CARE, Médecins du Monde, Save the Children, Oxfam Quebec, the Centre for International Studies and Co-operation, and World Vision. Victims of the earthquake in Haiti have been supported by Canadian International Development Agency which has distributed more than 17,500 tents, shelters or tarps, 2,000 mosquito nets, nearly 5,000 hygiene kits or kitchen sets, 3,000 blankets and almost 10,000 buckets or jerry cans.

Astounding donations in Canada make Canadians probably the most generous nation in the world. The Canadian government will act generously as well. As the first decision of matching individual donations only to $50 million had been rejected and criticized, the government has changed its tactics. Whether it is political action or good will to help those in need, it could finally help to improve the federal government's trust.

Jana Paskova