Canadian leaders, relief agencies stand by to help U.S. after Katrina

[Spazito]

EDMONTON (CP) - Canadian officials have started getting ready to send whatever type of aid the United States requires to help with the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan said Wednesday.

snip

"Yesterday, the Department of Human Health Services in the U.S. contacted our public health agency and asked for an inventory of emergency supplies that, if they need them, we could send at a moment's notice."

snip

Prime Minister Paul Martin was set to speak by phone Thursday with U.S. President George W. Bush about what Canada can do to help the reconstruction effort.

B.C.'s provincial Heavy Urban Search and Rescue team was leaving for Lafaeyette, La. on Wednesday.

more

http://www.canada.com/national/story.html?id=bf2cdd09-28ae-4092-b61c-ae97294e7dae

[VegasWolf]

1. Bush doesn't want Canada's help. He is afraid the Canadians will

send some of those gays down here.

[BrklynLiberal]

2. duh........

"Officials in McLellan's office said there had been no official request from the U.S. for help."

[CHIMO]

3. Looks Like maybe It Is Official

Language.

Canadian leaders, relief agencies stand by to help U.S. after Katrina

EDMONTON (CP) - Canadian officials have started getting ready to send whatever type of aid the United States requires to help with the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan said Wednesday.

"Yesterday, the Department of Human Health Services in the U.S. contacted our public health agency and asked for an inventory of emergency supplies that, if they need them, we could send at a moment's notice."

B.C.'s provincial Heavy Urban Search and Rescue team was leaving for Lafaeyette, La. on Wednesday.

The state's governor's office had requested help from the team, Solicitor General John Les said.

http://www.canada.com/national/story.html?id=bf2cdd09-28ae-4092-b61c-ae97294e7dae

In other words there was a request do do an inventory between the two federal governments. Then a Governor spoke to provincial people bypassing Bush and his administration.
McLellan(the Canadian equivalent to the US Homeland Security position) spoke to Homeland Security in the CBC article. And it would appear that he didn't request anything.

Also McGuinty(Premier of Ontario) was offering direct aid to the US ambassador.(So now it is in the US fed ballpark.

Looks like people are bypassing the roadblocks in the Bush admin to get things done.
http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/08/31/Canadian_relief_Katrina20050831.html

Seems like communications are working in spite of Bush.

[daleo]

4. I suppose people will learn to work around Bush

I just hope he doesn't arrest aid workers as terrorists.

[CHIMO]

5. Or

Catch them with their softwood boats! With maybe some seeds wedged somewhere in the boat.

[VegasWolf]

6. The Canadian people are always anxious to help. too bad we don't

have competent leadership here that know how to utilize these
resources. Thanks Canada, we appreciate you even if this sorry
excuse of an administration does not.

[AspenRose]

7. I know, it's embarrassing and frustrating, isn't it

I love Canada. What great neighbo(u)rs.

Merci, Canada.

[Spazito]

8. It seems that where the request doesn't have to come from bush

but from others, there is help on the way.

"Some aid was already heading south Wednesday. A crew of 10 hydro-line workers from Chatham-Kent Hydro in Ontario was on its way to help restore power to homes and businesses."