Playing a Leadership Role in Haiti Relief Efforts
It has been just over a month since the devastating earthquake struck Haiti. Our heartfelt condolences continue to go out to all of the people affected. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Stephen Harper became the first head of government to visit Haiti since the earthquake in order to assess the humanitarian situation on the ground and discuss the process of rebuilding the country.
Following the earthquake, our Government mounted rapid and comprehensive humanitarian and consular efforts, involving multiple federal government departments and agencies. We’ve been working closely with the Government of Haiti, the United Nations and members of the international community on recovery and reconstruction efforts.
Our leadership role has included:
• Acting swiftly to evacuate over 4,100 people from Haiti;
• Hosting the Ministerial Preparatory Conference in Montreal a few weeks ago to ensure an effective and coordinated international response;
• Important cash contributions to facilitate rapid action by trusted and experienced humanitarian partners, disbursing some $85 million for emergency relief and recovery efforts to date in support of appeals by the United Nations, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Canadian non-governmental organizations working in Haiti;
• Close to 2,000 Canadian Forces personnel being deployed to Haiti to provide urgently needed aid to Haitians, including search and rescue, food, water and shelter, medical care, and security, as well as road clearing and reconnaissance;
• Making investments in our Canadian Forces, such as buying new CC-177 Globemaster aircraft, which allowed us to answer the call without reservation or hesitation and to arrive in Haiti less than 24 hours after the earthquake struck;
• The deployment of Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Correctional Service of Canada employees to help re-establish and strengthen Haiti’s correctional system and screen Canadian evacuees.
• The implementation of special immigration measures, including giving priority to new and existing sponsorship applications from Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have family in Haiti.
• Uniting 183 Haitian children with their adoptive parents in Canada.
The compassion and generosity of Canadians has been a testament to the values we share. Canadians can take pride in the role Canada has played to assist the Haitian people. Recovery, as well as efforts to build a better Haiti, will take years, and Canada will stand behind this international effort.
