Haiti

Haiti is a priority for Canada at the United Nations. Canada is one of Haiti’s principal donors, and has committed $520 million for reconstruction and development between 2006 and 2011. A significant portion of that support is being provided to Haiti through the United Nations.

Haiti is a longstanding, important partner for Canada. The relationship between our two countries is built on strong links between peers, on continued support for development and security in Haiti, on the shared use of French as an official language, and on the presence of a large Haitian community in Canada.

The Caribbean island nation has been subject to ongoing political and economic crises for decades. Haiti needs immediate support, focusing on security, as well as assistance aimed at long-term political and economic development.

Canada is coordinating its resources and activities in an integrated approach to address the current situation in Haiti. This strategy aims to strengthen good governance and democracy. It also aims to make the country more secure. Finally, it aims to address basic human needs.

• Canadian Statements on Haiti

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MINUSTAH: Supporting Security, Human Rights and the Rule of Law

Canada works closely with the UN in the pursuit of a coherent and cohesive approach to ensuring Haiti’s security and stability.

From March to August 2004 the Canadian Forces deployed 530 troops as part of the UN-mandated Multinational Interim Force that quickly brought stability to Haiti in the wake of the departure of former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide. The Multinational Interim Force then facilitated the transition to MINUSTAH, the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti established by UN Security Council Resolution 1542 of 30 April 2004.

The UN’s most visible involvement in Haiti, MINUSTAH has stabilized the security situation in Haiti and has made some progress in rehabilitating the impoverished nation by assisting with the conduct of elections, building up institutional capacity, and helping to develop a more effective police force, legal system and correctional services.

MINUSTAH remains irreplaceable as the only institution that can provide stability and security in Haiti. Robust and proactive implementation of the MINUSTAH mandate is key to creating the secure environment required for development.

Canada supports MINUSTAH with annual funding of about $15 million and the provision of Canadian police. Those officers and other legal experts are helping to implement urgent reforms of the Haitian National Police and judiciary. Canada also makes an important contribution to Haiti due to our historical and cultural links. French-speaking Canadian police officers are an especially vital component of the UN presence in Haiti.

Canada has typically had four Canadian Forces staff officers and up to 100 police serving with the UN Stabilization Mission. Until August 2006, that support included a Canadian Police Commissioner for two successive terms. During the lead-up to the 2006 Haitian elections, Canada sent an additional 25 experts on police services to provide strategic support for the security efforts of UN police over the electoral period. Additional experts are deployed as required at the UN’s request to assist with the implementation of the MINUSTAH mandate.

 
MINUSTAH's Jordanian Battalion assists a
school, Lycee de Damia, near Cité Soleil
MINUSTAH Photo/Sophia Paris

In Resolution 1542 of 2004, the Security Council supported the establishment of the Core Group, comprising representatives of the Organization of American States (OAS), the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), international financial institutions and other interested stakeholders.

The Core Group continues to facilitate the implementation of MINUSTAH’s mandate and acts to enhance the effectiveness of the role of the international community in Haiti. Canada works in close cooperation with Argentina, Brazil, Chile, France, Peru, and the United States pursuant to this resolution. Working with these countries to achieve stability and security in Haiti is an important element of promoting regional stability in the Americas.

In February 2007, Canada announced a $5 million contribution to the Police Reform Programme, made to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). It funds the construction and outfitting of a new building for the Inspectorate General as well as provide other fundamental tools to the Haitian police services.

A further $5 million contribution through UNDP to the Community Security Programme is helping to improve security in the communities most affected by gang violence. Through the creation of Committees for the Prevention of Violence for Development, communities will implement strategies to reduce the influence of armed groups, prevent conflict and provide counselling to victims of violence and former gang members. The committee will also define and implement new social programs.

UN Funds and Programs: Promoting Development

 

While MINUSTAH provides stability, Canada is working with UN funds and programs to strengthen governance, rebuild infrastructure and promote economic recovery in Haiti.

For example, Canada’s funding has helped the World Food Programme (WFP) provide Haitian children with school lunches that improve their education and nutrition, helping them to escape poverty. Nutrition has been improved for 1,800,000 people with the help of more than 150 health centres via the WFP.

With support from Canada, the UN Development Programme provides assistance to Haiti through projects in the areas of governance, the environment, poverty reduction, crisis prevention, and HIV/AIDS.

Security and humanitarian crises are inextricably linked. Haiti is a paradox in this regard, in that the situation facing the country is not a classic humanitarian emergency. Instead, insecurity in Haiti is demonstrated most starkly by economic factors such as poverty, unemployment and the lack of basic social services. The economic reconstruction of Haiti is essential to the development of a stable and secure country.

International donors are a vital component to the reconstruction efforts in Haiti. Canada works closely with donor countries to ensure consensus in the areas of political, institutional, economic and security reforms.

Haiti is the leading beneficiary of Canada’s development assistance in the Americas. Canada is the second-largest bilateral donor to Haiti after the United States, and has committed over $520 million over the 2006-2011 period for reconstruction and development in Haiti.

On July 25, 2006, the newly-elected Haitian authorities held the first international pledging conference since the inauguration of President René Préval and the establishment of his government on May 14, 2006. The conference was successful in reinforcing Haitian leadership and responsibility for the country’s development agenda. The international community responded with commitments totalling (Cdn) $820 million for the period ending December 2007. Canada announced its $135.5 million contribution for the same period and a total commitment of $520 million for 2006-2011.

Canada provided over $190 million for the 2004-2006 period and remains committed to working with other donors to ensure timely disbursement of commitments in support of Haitian priorities.

The International Conference on Haiti held in Madrid in November 2006 served to reaffirm international commitment and broaden international support for Haiti and the efforts of its elected authorities to launch the country on the path of sustainable development. The Madrid Conference also reiterated the importance of a stable and predictable environment for the success of reconstruction efforts in Haiti and reaffirmed its support for the work of the UN Stabilization Mission in this regard.

ECOSOC Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti

As outlined in the UN Economic and Social Council’s decision 2004/52, the mandate of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Haiti is to “follow closely and provide advice on Haiti’s long-term development strategy to promote socio-economic recovery and stability with particular attention to the need to ensure coherence and sustainability in international support for Haiti, based on the long-term national development priorities, building upon the Interim Cooperation Framework and stressing the need to avoid overlap and duplication with existing mechanisms.”

The Group is chaired by Canada's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador John McNee. Other members are Haiti, Benin, Brazil, Chile, Spain, and Trinidad and Tobago. Since the first resolution in 2004, the Group's mandate has been renewed twice by ECOSOC at the request of the Prime Minister of Haiti.

Canada will continue to work with the UN and other international partners in support of the reconstruction and development agenda of the Haitian government.

Resources

• Canada-Haiti: Hand in Hand for a Better Future