Ottawa pledges to match funds raised for families of Iran plane crash victims
TORONTO — The federal government promised Wednesday to match all contributions to a fundraising campaign that aims to provide financial relief for the families of the 57 Canadians killed in a plane crash in Iran earlier this month.
The prime minister’s parliamentary secretary, Omar Alghabra, said Wednesday that Ottawa will equal all donations made so far to the “Canada Strong” campaign and would continue to do so until the fundraising effort reaches its goal of $1.5 million.
Alghabra said the money raised through the campaign, spearheaded by Toronto-based entrepreneur Mohamad Fakih, will be used to cover funeral costs and otherwise help victims’ families navigate the aftermath of the deadly crash.
“What happened to flight PS752 was nothing short of a national tragedy,” Alghabra said at a news conference in Toronto. “To those who lost family members, friends and loved ones, I want you to know that the entire country is mourning with you and we will do everything we can to provide you with the support you need.”