TFUS01 - CANADA: STATUS OF ASSISTANCE 4 -

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 OTTAWA 002741 SIPDIS SENSITIVE FOR R, WHA/CAN; WHA/EPSC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL ECON AEMR ASEC CASC MARR AMGT US CA SUBJECT: TFUS01 - CANADA: STATUS OF ASSISTANCE 4 - SEPTEMBER 12, 2005: JOBS AND SCHOOLS REF: A. OTTAWA 2689 ¶B. OTTAWA 2669 ¶C. OTTAWA 2638 ¶D. STATE 162270 ¶1. Canadians are still offering to assist with emergency relief, but we are also starting to receive offers of recovery assistance. Past reports have mentioned offers by Canadian schools to assist students from the affected area. Jobs -------------- ¶2. WCG International, through its Sacramento-based US affiliate JobWave, has offered (free of charge) the technology to match job seekers with job offers nationwide. They are very eager for a USG contact who can facilitate their ability to access information from job seekers and say they, through their existing connections with Chambers of Commerce and small business, will find the jobs. They are offering their management team to meet with USG officials and suggest focusing on Texas as there is a concentration of victims there. However, they can provide service through out the US and can communicate with people by voice mail accounts (should the job seekers not have access to the Internet). WCG officials told the Ambassador and separately the DCM that Eloise Anderson will be spearheading their Katrina initiative. She can be reached at 916-798-7985 or eanderson@jobwaveamerica.com . She is the former director of the Department of Social Services in California and the former Administrator of the Division of Community Services in Wisconsin. Action request: Post requests that the Task Force let us know if if seems likely that the USG will be able to follow up on this offer. Communications assistance -------------- ¶3. Former Deputy Prime Minister John Manley has recommended to the DCM a company that can provide real-time information sharing across multiple agencies. Black Coral LIVE is a software platform for shairng and disseminating critical geospatially referenced data and other relevant information and has been designed to be used by non-experts such as first-responders. Its data can be displayed on devices ranging from personal computers to hand held devices. Education -------------- ¶4. The web site for the Association of Univesities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) www.aucc.ca/katrina/index e.html has a compilation of offers from Canadian institutes of higher learning, with offers ranging from a willingness to consider US students to offers to assist with tuition, room, and board. Several list deadlines of this week. US students interesting in studying in Canada should contact the schools directly. Many are making decisions on admission and financial aid on a case-by-case basis. ¶5. The University of Quebec at Chicoutimi is offering to host students. They will cover tuition, lodging, etc. and have been trying to contact a French language professor in New Orleans, who has taught there in the past, to offer her a space to teach and the option of bringing some students. They have not yet tracked her down. ¶6. Other Quebec schools have listed their offers with the AUCC (above). ¶7. The Nova Scotia College of Art and Design is offering to accept displaced visual arts students on a case-by-case basis as space permits. Contact is admissions@nscad.ca 902-494-8129. More information is available at www.nscad.ca Paramedics -------------- ¶8. The Quebec paramedics (CTAQ) would like to send 50 EMS personnel and perhaps several ambulance vehicles. Abigail Friedman, CG Quebec City, is in touch with Mr. St-Jean and can convey any suggested contact information to him. Pumping Equipment -------------- ¶9. CG Quebec City has also received an offer from Luc Gaudreault of San Hydro in Chicoutimi, Quebec, offering pump and vacuum trucks and equipment. Province of Alberta -------------- ¶10. Alberta has made a C$5 million contribution to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund. Province of Quebec -------------- ¶11. The government of Quebec has contributed 20,000 cots to the Red Cross. Other Quebec citizens, including the American Colony, continue to contribute funds to the Red Cross. Other offers -------------- ¶12. A Canadian official who manages a Klesmer Band has offered to hold a benefit concert. The disk jockey for the upcoming Marine Ball has offered part of his fee as a contribution to Katrina relief. ¶13. CG Quebec has received several offers of housing for hurricane victims, including a 2.5 bedroom summer home. Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa DICKSON