The County of Lambton is donating $100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross in support of wildfire relief efforts in Wood Buffalo and the city of Fort McMurray.
Council members unanimously supported the motion during committee meetings in Wyoming Wednesday.
The $100,000 will come from the Operations and Contingency Fund, and equates to less than $1 per person in the county.
Sarnia Councillor Anne-Marie Gillis says the motion she brought forward supports on the entire region in need of relief efforts.
"If you look at the devastation that's occurred, some of the municipalities in the municipality of Wood Buffalo have been wiped out," she says. "Rather than focus it on Fort McMurray, which has a huge need, and that's where all the news has been, other communities are hurting just as much."
It is anticipated funds will be matched by the federal and Alberta governments, bringing the entire contribution to a total of $300,000.
Meanwhile, Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley says the city has come under heavy criticism for putting off approval of a proposed $25,000 donation. He says he respects other municipalities within the county federation that have already approved their own contributions.
"I still believe the City of Sarnia, like the other municipalities that have stepped up, should make a direct donation," he says.
He says it will be on the agenda for the next council meeting on May 30.
St. Clair Township has donated $25,000, Point Edward $5,000 and Brooke-Alvinston $2,500.
