THIS is MY Canada

Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:11 am » by **Sceptilief**

In the past few years I have felt my pride and identity as a Canadian slipping away as our government continued to try and emulate the way other countries are run.

Our mission is Afghanistan has bothered me to no end, because I don't believe that we are the type to shoot people we don't know, in battles that don't involve us with a people that had previously had respect for us.

Following suite with many other countries in times of Disaster, we've felt it good enough to throw money at the problem and proclaim that we're being humanitarian.

But tonight, as I picked up a paper hot off the presses, I read an article that warmed my heart and lifted my pride once again; we have taken a crucial first step in helping out a very damaged Japan by offering, not money, but personnel & troops to help recover the perished, as well as the best of our Chemical, Biological and Nuclear technical expertise in a situation that is slipping precariously into a dark abyss.

This is what Canada is about. Helping People in their time of need without question. And not phony help in the form of money, but genuine Humanitarian Aid through what we know and what we can physically do.

And it is this Canada I hope to see again as we go into a dangerous war-ridden future. Not picking up guns and bombs, but picking up fallen people and helping them to walk again.

Here is the CBC Story:

Canada offers Japan military and other aid
By Meagan Fitzpatrick, CBC News
Posted: Mar 14, 2011 9:21 AM ET
Last Updated: Mar 14, 2011 6:33 PM ET

Ottawa says it's ready to provide "any and all" possible aid to Japan, including sending Canadian troops, following Friday's deadly earthquake and tsunami.

Japan's ambassador to Canada, Kaoro Ishikawa, said Ottawa was one of the first governments to offer support in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. Following its initial offer to help, Canada was asked to outline specific ways that it could offer assistance, and it has now done that.

The offers of assistance include a 17-member, victim-identification team that is on standby and ready to be deployed to Japan.

Canada has also offered chemical, biological, and nuclear technical expertise and equipment, according to a statement from Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon's office.

The Canadian Forces are also willing to send personnel and planes to help with humanitarian relief efforts, and that could involve deploying its Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART).

The decision to send the rapid response specialists to disaster zones is made based on a joint recommendation from several government departments: Foreign Affairs, National Defence, and the Canadian International Development Agency.

The DART unit is only sent to an area if the government there makes a formal request for it. When DART has been deployed in the past, in Haiti, for example, its members provided medical care, temporary shelter and safe drinking water.

Diane Ablonczy, minister of state for foreign affairs, told CBC's Power and Politics that Japan has called in assistance from some of the countries who have offered, but she wouldn't say the DART unit would go.

"We're co-operating and collaborating with the Japanese government. And they will know what they will need and they know what we can provide and we just wait until they're ready for us to move ahead with some of the things that we've suggested," Ablonczy said to host Rosemary Barton.

There are no plans for the government to match Canadian donations to Japan, she said.

Ishikawa said any disaster relief teams would have to be self-sufficient, because local infrastructure is so decimated. Relief workers would have to have their own food, water, sleeping equipment, and sanitation kits, the ambassador said.

He also noted that interpreters would be required, because many Japanese don't speak English, particularly in the rural areas.

"It's put us in an awkward position," Ishikawa said, referring to the logistical difficulties of accepting offers of assistance. "We are not refusing at all any help; we need help."

Ishikawa has relayed the offers of assistance to the Japanese government and Canada is now on standby to fulfil any official requests for help.
Expresses his gratitude

The ambassador expressed his gratitude for the offers of support from the Canadian government, and also said the moral support offered by Canadians has been extremely valuable.

"We need that kind of encouragement. Moral support is indeed what we really need at this point, and we are receiving that from Canada, and I really want to say thank you for that," he said.

"We are really grateful for the kind words of compassion and support and actions offered by many foreign governments, including and to start with, Canada."

A bouquet of flowers was laid by the gate of the Japanese embassy in Ottawa, and Ishikawa said he was deeply touched by the gesture.

"That is a typical case of Canadian kindness," he said.

Cannon is in Paris on Monday to meet with his G8 counterparts, with the international response to the disaster in Japan expected to dominate discussions.

"Our government has been actively engaged since learning of this tragic event," Cannon said in a statement. "As Prime Minister Stephen Harper stated, Canada stands ready to provide any and all possible assistance to the people of Japan."

Cannon's office said government officials are in contact with the United Nations and the International Red Cross, which have dispatched disaster-assessment teams to Japan.

The government is advising Canadians who want to help the people of Japan to donate money to experienced humanitarian organizations.

Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:14 am » by **Marley**

Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:15 am » by **Roadkill**

Went to Canada last summer. Went to Vancouver and Whistler. Very nice area and the people are very friendly.

And they make awesome grilled cheese sandwiches.

Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:29 am » by **Domdabears**

Screw Canada. I'm not even allowed in there. (found out today)
So for that, I call it...

Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:30 am » by **Roadkill**

domdabears wrote:Screw Canada. I'm not even allowed in there. (found out today)
So for that, I call it...

And they have standards, what a great place! :owned:

Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:34 am » by **Domdabears**

roadkill wrote:
domdabears wrote:Screw Canada. I'm not even allowed in there. (found out today)
So for that, I call it...

And they have standards, what a great place!

LOL
I guess.

I'm still better looking than you.
So I got that going for me.

Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:35 am » by **Roadkill**

Well, I would fuck me.

Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:45 am » by **Domdabears**

Come at me like that again, theauthority and I'll put you in time out.

Lighten up little woman.

Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:45 am » by **Theauthority**

If you talk the talk you should walk the walk. DON'T EVER talk down on people who help others in a time of need because it will come back to bite you in the ass.... trust me and remember that. We would always be there to help even ignorant people like you. I know you read that post before you deleted it and remember what I said while you go to sleep tonight. and be careful whatever you do... wouldn't want you to ever need some help in any way....

My heart goes out to those in Japan.

You don't joke about things like that horrible disaster Domdabears (supermoderator), theres nothing funny about it at all...

Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:50 am » by **Mrmcnuggets**

Canadas an awesome place. For those of you in Canada, lets say persay in the case of the world catastrophie I gotta make a run for there, even though I have a passport, where would be the best access with a snow mobile from NE, with out running into Elmer Fudd and Smokey the bear :headscratch: