Minister Joly hosts ministerial meeting on Haiti with international partners

From: Global Affairs Canada

News release

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, hosted a ministerial meeting today with key partners to discuss the security situation in Haiti.

Minister Joly thanked the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), including Jamaica and other participants, for facilitating the political dialogue among Haitian stakeholders held in Jamaica from June 11 to 13, 2023. She noted that Canada will continue to support the various dialogues aimed at broadening political consensus about the crisis in Haiti.

Minister Joly also reiterated that Canada will continue to build on its significant investments in Haiti by establishing a Canada-led Joint Security Coordination Cell (JSCC). This cell will look to enhance the coordination and mobilization of international efforts in security assistance, working closely with the Haitian National Police (HNP), international partners, and the United Nations to foster a sustainable environment for long-term peace and security in Haiti. Canada will continue its efforts, in coordination with key partners, to disrupt armed gang activities through logistical, technical and operational support and through cooperation with the HNP.

The Minister announced that Canada has imposed sanctions on 2 more individuals: former member of parliament Prophane Victor, and former senator Gracia Delva. These sanctions impose a dealings prohibition that effectively freezes any assets these individuals may hold in Canada. These individuals are now also inadmissible to Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

It was also announced that Canada will allocate $10 million in funding to the UN Development Programme’s (UNDP) multi-donor basket fund on security in Haiti and $3 million in funding to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes’ (UNODC) anti-corruption project. These contributions will help bolster the HNP capacity to address immediate security needs and long-term capacity-building, as well as strengthen Haiti’s capacity to fight corruption and impunity.

Quotes

“Canada has been a long-time partner and ally of Haiti, and we will continue to work with the international community to advance a Haitian-led solution to the crisis. We call on all our partners to continue working together to achieve this objective.”

- Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Quick facts

  • Ministers and representatives from the following countries and international organisations were present at the meeting: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, CARICOM, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, the European Union, France, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Norway, Panama, Peru, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Senegal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Kingdom, the United-States, UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), and the UNDP and UNDPPA.

  • On March 24, 2023, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an additional $100 million in funding to provide enhanced policing support and equipment to the Haitian National Police, bolster Haitian-led solutions to the crisis and support peace and security.

  • On February 15-16, 2023, Prime Minister Trudeau attended the Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, where he announced that Canada had imposed sanctions against Jocelerme Privert, a former interim president of Haiti, and Salim Succar, a lawyer and former associate of former Haitian presidents Michel Martelly and Joseph Lamothe. He also announced the delivery of three additional Haiti-purchased mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles, and the deployment of two Royal Canadian Navy Kingston-class ships to Haiti.

  • Since November 2022, Canada has imposed sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations against 21 members of the Haitian elite in response to its egregious conduct in providing illicit financial and operational support to armed gangs.

  • Canada initiated the establishment of the UNDP Basket Fund and made an initial contribution of CAD$10 million. Since then, seven other donors have joined Canada and have contributed over US$19 million to the fund target of US$28 million.

Associated links

Contacts

Maéva Proteau
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Maeva.Proteau@international.gc.ca

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Global Affairs Canada
media@international.gc.ca
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