Benefit Concert for German Flood Victims 

Speaking Notes for the Hon. David Kilgour

Secretary of State (Asia-Pacific) and 

Member of Parliament for Edmonton Southeast at

German-Canadian Cultural Centre

September 28, 2002

Edmonton

"Guten Abend, meine Damen und Herren." (Good evening, ladies and gentlemen).

Saxony experienced its worst flooding in over one hundred and fifty-five years. The vast flooding affected more than 4 million people and forced more than 100,000 to evacuate. Thousands lost their homes and businesses and had their lives changed forever.

More than 30,000 families were left homeless. What’s worse, two thirds of the flood-victims had no insurance to cover the costs of this tragedy.

When you lose all your belongings, possessions and basic life necessities it makes little difference whether you live in Sudan, India or Germany. In times of crisis, we all rely on the international community for its support and assistance.

That’s where the German-Canadian Business & Professional Association of Alberta (GCBPAA) has stepped in. The group - comprised of 85 successful Alberta businesspeople and professionals of German heritage - have come together to raise funds for the flood victims and I’ve heard we’re on pace to reach the target of $25,000 tonight.

Together with their partner in Germany – The Chamber of Industry and Commerce in the City of Leipzig, Saxony – the German-Canadian Business Association are selecting two small businesses who have been affected by the flood and working to get them get back on their feet.

On behalf of the Federal Government I’d like to congratulate the German-Canadian community here tonight  - who incidentally happen to be the second largest community in Alberta - for showing such remarkable compassions and initiative. Your selflessness and commitment will surely improve the lives of so many who, just weeks ago, lost everything.

Well done!