CANADIAN HELLENIC CONGRESS ΕΛΛΗΝΟΚΑΝΑΔΙΚΟ ΚΟΓΚΡΕΣΟ CONGRÈS HELLÉNIQUE CANADIEN 1220, rue de Beauharnois, Suite 109, Montréal (QC) H4N 1J5 [email protected] – www.chcongress.ca

August 8, 2021 Via electronic mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

The Right Honourable , P.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada Langevin Block Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

SUBJECT: RAVAGING WILDFIRES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA AND GREECE

Dear Prime Minister,

We are writing to you with a great deal of concern and grief. The aggressive wildfires currently burning in British Columbia are forcing people to leave their homes and consequently lose their properties, if not their lives. Similar calamity strikes Greece at this moment. Hundreds of thousands of acres are being swept by ravaging wildfires and properties are vanishing. The means by which to resist these wildfires are insufficient and numerous allied countries – EU and non-EU members – have offered their assistance to Greece.

Hellenes in Canada have contributed, and continue to contribute, to the development of our great country, Canada. The Canadian Hellenic Congress (CHC) has already urged Canadians of Hellenic descent to assist our fellow Canadians in BC, as well as, our compatriots in Greece, affected by the devastating wildfires (a copy of the CHC’s statement is attached hereto).

Dear Prime Minister, we strongly urge you to provide aid to Greece, by means your Government deems appropriate, for instance: Canadair Amphibious firefighting aircrafts, a team of expert firefighters or other. Such actions by our Canadian government will most certainly be appreciated by Canadians of Hellenic descent and further contribute to the strong relationship between our two countries.

We thank you in advance for your action on this matter of grave concern to us.

Sincerely,

Dr. Theodore Halatsis President

C.c.: , MP – Churchill—Keewatinook Aski; [email protected] , MP – London North Centre; [email protected] , MP – Saint-Laurent; [email protected] , MP – Vimy; [email protected] The Honourable Leo Housakos, Senator; [email protected] ______The Canadian Hellenic Congress is a national democratic communal institution that represents, advances, advocates and promotes the interests and concerns of Canadians of Hellenic descent and Hellenism in general. The Congress is the national voice of Hellenes and their communities and/or organizations across Canada.