November 12, 2004

NEWS RELEASE

Prime Minister Paul Martin today announced that he will travel to Port-au-Prince on November 14 to discuss Haiti’s social and economic reconstruction, and stabilization efforts.



“Canada and Haiti have held close relations for half a century,” said the Prime Minister. “Since February 2004, Canada has played a leadership role in the international effort to bring stability and security to Haiti. During my visit, I will underline Canada’s support of the interim government and our intention to remain involved for the long term.”



After a meeting with interim President Boniface Alexandre, the Prime Minister will participate in a working meeting with Prime Minister Gerard Latortue where topics of discussion will include the implementation of the Government of Haiti’s Interim Cooperation Framework (ICF). The ICF, presented at the July International Donors Pledging Conference, identifies priority interventions and related financing needs to support the country’s economic, social and political recovery over the next two years. Canada has pledged close to $147 million in support of the ICF.



The Prime Minister will attend a working lunch hosted by Prime Minister Latortue, which will include the participation of members of the cabinet, leaders of political parties, and representatives of civil society. During this meeting, PM Martin will reassert the need for all parties to participate in the implementation of the democratic process leading to elections in 2005.



Later that day, Prime Minister Martin will visit the TIMKATEC project in Pétion-Ville. Created in 1994, TIMKATEC is a facility for street kids ages 5 to 17 that offers shelter, food, schooling, health services and leisure activities. The Government of Canada through the Canadian International Development Agency has funded several projects at TIMKATEC for a total value of $40,000 between 1995 and 2004.



The Prime Minister will then meet with members of the Canadian police contingent of MINUSTAH, including UN Civilian Police Commissioner David Beer. Canada is contributing 100 police personnel from the RCMP and other partner Police Departments to the UN mission. He will also meet with the Special Representative of the Secretary General, Ambassador Juan Gabriel Valdes, to discuss security in the country and the work of the UN Stabilization Mission (MINUSTAH). The Prime Minister’s trip will end with a meeting with local partners involved in the reconstruction of Haiti.



Accompanying PM Martin on this trip will be the Minister responsible for the Francophonie, Jacques Saada.




Backgrounder


CANADA-HAITI RELATIONS

• Canada and Haiti have maintained uninterrupted diplomatic relations since 1954. Canada maintains an embassy in Port-au-Prince and Haiti maintains an embassy in Ottawa.
  
  
  
  
• Canada and Haiti are both members of La Francophonie. The two countries also cooperate in other international forums, including the United Nations and the Organization of American States (OAS).
  
  
  
  
• Prime Minister Paul Martin and interim Haitian President Boniface Alexandre met once before, during this year’s UN General Assembly in September. This will be the Prime Minister’s first visit to Haiti. Recent visits to the country by Canadian government representatives have included the September 2004 trip by Minister of Foreign Affairs Pierre Pettigrew to Port-au-Prince and Gonaives. Haitian Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Danielle St-Lôt travelled to Canada in October 2004.
  
  
  
  
• Since the 2000 political crisis, Canada has supported the democratic process in Haiti. Following the February 2004 departure of President Bertrand Aristide, Canada has played a leadership role in international efforts to stabilize and rebuild the country, and is committed to remaining involved in Haiti over the long term.
  

• In March 2004, as part of the UN-mandated, U.S.-led Multinational Interim Force, approximately 500 Canadian Forces personnel, consisting of an infantry company group, national support and command elements and a helicopter squadron comprised of six CH 146 Griffon helicopters, were deployed to Haiti. The Canadian contingent remained in Haiti to facilitate the transition to the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), and redeployed to Canada in mid-August 2004. Canada continues to provide Canadian Forces personnel to the MINUSTAH headquarters, including the Chief of Staff, Colonel Barry MacLeod.
  
  
  
  
• Canada has provided 100 police personnel and leads the MINUSTAH civilian police operation with David Beer as the UN civilian Police Commissioner, making us one of the largest contributors of civilian police to the mission.
  
  
  
  
• We have contributed $180 million over two years to Haiti’s reconstruction and development efforts, including a pledge of $147 million in support for the transitional government’s Interim Cooperation Framework and funding for Canada’s contribution of police officers.
  
• Canada has provided a total of more than $20 million in humanitarian assistance:
  
  
  
  • $5 million in support of UN programming, including humanitarian, transition and reconstruction efforts;
    
  • a $5-million pledge to strengthen the Special Mission of the OAS in Haiti;
    
  • almost $2 million to Canadian, Haitian and international organizations working in Haiti;
    
  • $1.95 million in humanitarian assistance and food aid to the World Food Program, the Pan American Health Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross;
    
  • $1 million to the International Organisation of La Francophonie to help restore and maintain Haiti’s democratic institutions;
    
  • $1 million in humanitarian assistance to victims of the spring flood in Haiti and the Dominican Republic; and
    
  • $4.5 million in humanitarian assistance to the victims of tropical storm Jeanne and the use of Canadian Forces Hercules CC-130 and Airbus CC-150 aircraft to transport Canadian Red Cross and Government of Quebec humanitarian aid, as well as charitable donations gathered by Montreal’s Haitian community.
    

• Canada’s imports from Haiti totalled $18.6 million in 2003 and included textile products, fish and seafood, twine, cocoa, fruits and nuts. Canadian exports to Haiti, which totalled $20.7 million in 2003, include dairy products, vegetables, paper, meat, fish and seafood.
  
  
  
  
• Canada and Haiti signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Least Developed Country (LDC) Initiative on July 22, 2003. Tariffs and quotas on most Haitian exports to Canada, except certain agricultural products, have been eliminated under Canada’s LDC Initiative. This includes all eligible textile and apparel goods, an important and promising sector for Canadian investment. Approximately 45 companies, mainly Haitian exporters, work in the textile sector and import both raw material and equipment. Based on the LDC Initiative, some Canadian companies are looking to shift garment production to Haiti.
  
  
  
• With a population of 8.3 million, Haiti offers potential business opportunities in sectors such as agriculture and agri-food, automotive parts and equipment, building products, education, energy, health and medical industries, information and communication technologies, maritime transportation and ports, services industries, capital projects (road construction and improvement) and tourism.
  

• Canada’s assistance program to Haiti comprises bilateral assistance and support for the work of the Canadian International Development Agency’s (CIDA) partners, including international organizations such as the UN Development Programme and Canada’s many non-governmental organizations. Canada is one of Haiti’s key bilateral development partners.
  
  
  
  
• CIDA’s current bilateral program is grounded in a new strategy that takes into consideration the nature and scope of the crisis in Haiti and includes measures to ensure that aid is not subject to risks related to the political situation. The program concentrates on the following priorities: basic education, health, economic development, human rights, justice and security.
  
  
  
  
• Canada is the second-largest bilateral contributor of development aid to Haiti after the United States. In 2003, Canadian official development assistance to Haiti totalled $23.8 million.
  
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