Japan gives Canada $1 million to help for shore clean up of tsunami debris

VANCOUVER – The government of Japan is giving Canada $1 million to clean up debris that has landed on the British Columbia’scoast from the 2011 tsunami.

Japanese Consul General Seiji Okada (say-gee OH-kah-DA)says the money is a demonstration of goodwill for a nation that was among the first to offer help.

Okada says Canadians opened their wallets and donated millions of dollars to aid Japan.

The federal government is turning over the money to the province for coastal cleanup.

B.C. Environment Minister Terry Lake says the volumes of debris first feared have not appeared on the BC coast.

Lake says so far the costs of up to $500,000 have been covered by existing federal, provincial and local government budgets.