Monday, May 1, 2006
Ottawa -- The Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of International Cooperation, and the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced additional financial assistance in an amount of $48 million to promote good governance and democracy in Haiti. The announcement was made after a meeting with Haiti's President-elect René Préval, who is in Canada until May 3.
"Canada's commitment to promoting good governance and democracy speaks to Canadian values and also answers the needs of Haitians," said Minister Verner. "We are determined to support the Haitian people as they pursue these two objectives. I am convinced that Canadian support will be used to reinforce institutions, with the ultimate goal of providing Haitians with a better quality of life."
Canada's additional assistance makes it possible for several projects to move ahead, including the Local Development Program in Haiti ($20 million) and the project to strengthen Haiti's parliament ($5 million). Canada will also be providing $5 million to several organizations promoting democracy and human rights. Finally, $18 million will be spent on debt relief.
"The Government of Canada is pleased to welcome president-elect René Préval during this visit, and ensures him of Canada's support for his government's efforts to address the challenges facing the Haitian people, said Minister MacKay."
Over the last two years, from April 2004 to the end of March 2006, Canada has spent over $190 million funding reconstruction and development projects in Haiti to meet needs identified by the transitional government. Canada intends to continue cooperating with the government of Mr. Préval. Haiti is the largest beneficiary of Canadian development aid in the Americas.
The funding announced today is built into the existing fiscal framework.
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Information:
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Telephone: (819) 953-6534
E-mail: info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
Telephone: (613) 995-1874
Website: www.international.gc.ca
Backgrounder – Projects funded by Canada in Haiti
Local Development Program in Haiti ($20 million)
A consortium made up of the Centre canadien d'étude et de coopération internationale (CECI), the management consulting firm CRC SOGEMA, the École nationale d'administration publique (ENAP) and the Société de coopération pour le développement international (SOCODEVI) will implement the Local Development Program in collaboration with Haitian institutions.
This program will help these groups take charge of their own local socio-economic development, tackling the problem of poverty directly by emphasizing small business promotion, environmental protection and agricultural productivity. The program will also support the efforts of State institutions to develop a national policy for local development, and to put in place a coordinating structure that represents all of the local development stakeholders.
Project to strengthen Haiti's Parliament ($5 million)
The project to strengthen Haiti's Parliament, led by the Centre parlementaire, seeks to build the capacities of Haiti's parliamentary institutions from the standpoint of good governance and national dialogue. This project will support the 48th Parliament of Haiti throughout its five-year mandate. It will consist of three parts: continuing education for newly elected parliamentarians with a view to providing them with the tools and knowledge they need to carry out their duties; capacity building for parliamentary administrative personnel; and provision of equipment that everyone needs to perform their tasks, particularly with respect to research and archives.
Democracy and peace support fund ($5 million)
This is a local fund that supports good governance and human rights and seeks to promote democracy and peace in Haiti. Over the next five years, the fund will support initiatives involving peaceful conflict resolution, civic education, strengthening of democracy, respect for human rights and a culture of peace---in other words, the building blocks for inclusive, sustainable development.
Contribution to help pay down debt ($18 million)
Canada will contribute 18 million dollars to pay down part of Haiti's debt to the Inter-American Development Bank. Through this support, Canada is responding to appeals made by the International Monetary Fund and the Government of Haiti to international donors. By being on schedule in servicing its debt, Haiti will be able to continue receiving support from international financial institutions. Furthermore, this contribution will help maintain a stable macro-economic framework more conducive to private investment and to economic recovery, which are necessary in order to improve the living conditions of the Haitian population
