Prime Minister Justin Trudeau provided an update on the morning of Monday, September 26 from Ottawa on Hurricane Fiona.
The post-tropical storm, which made landfall in eastern Nova Scotia on the morning of Saturday, September 24, brought damaging winds, flooding, and power outages to much of Atlantic Canada and parts of Quebec. Trudeau said many homes and communities have no power and roadways are crippled in some areas.
"The scale of the damage means that people are still facing a tough time. Many parts of Nova Scotia and PEI, as well as southwestern Newfoundland, continue to experience the effects and damage left by the winds and coastal flooding," Trudeau stated. "I want to offer my condolences to the loved ones of the woman who lost her life in Port aux Basque, and to the loved ones of the person who passed away in Prince Edward Island. Canadians are thinking of you in these difficult times. Our thoughts are also with people who've lost homes or businesses, people who have been evacuated and aren't sure of when they'll be able to get home. People who are having difficulty accessing services and support due to road washouts and debris, and people with young kids who won't be going to school today," Trudeau added.
In terms of response, Trudeau said the federal government was steadfast in immediately getting relief efforts underway.
"In Nova Scotia, the Canadian Armed Forces are available to clear road links and to restore electricity. On PEI, some smaller communities are isolated and tens of thousands remain without power. The Canadian Armed Forces have arrived there to help remove debris from roadways and assist with the restoration of the power grid," Trudeau shared. "In Newfoundland and Labrador, the federal government is helping by providing detailed aerial imagery and mapping of damages. We're also deploying military personnel to support local authorities on the ground, and naval vessels and aircraft are also on high alert to assist, if necessary," Trudeau said.
With regards to how Canadians can try to assist, Trudeau said the federal government will match all donations to the Canadian Red Cross over the next 30 days.
"I know Canadians are watching with consternation, the images they've seen, or, like so many Canadians, having friends and family members in Atlantic Canada that we've been worried about, it's an opportunity to step up, and give what we can," said Trudeau.
