August 13, 2014 - Montréal, Quebec
Check Against Delivery
Good afternoon everyone.
Thank you for joining us.
I am pleased to be in Montreal today to discuss Canada’s development agenda.
Canada and Canadian civil society organizations are recognized worldwide as a leading force in development.
And Quebecers, as well as Quebec organizations, play a key role in these efforts.
That is why our government is proud to partner with more than 40 Quebec NGOs.
These organizations have a wealth of knowledge and experience.
The international community greatly values their work.
As do Canadians.
Together we are making a real difference, and saving lives.
Canada is focused on creating the long-term conditions required to fight poverty and promote prosperity.
But we also remain a leading donor in response to crises around the world.
Both natural and man-made.
The provision of humanitarian assistance is one of the clearest expressions of our Canadian values.
Canada cannot and will not stand idly by while people in the world suffer needlessly.
One of the most striking examples remains Canada’s response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti.
We all remember the destruction that came when Port-au-Prince and the surrounding areas shook so violently on that January afternoon.
That earthquake still ranks as one of the worst natural disasters ever.
It took more than 230,000 lives.
It displaced 1.3 million people.
It destroyed infrastructure and severely disrupted basic services and economic activity.
In the wake of that disaster, Canada was quick to respond.
And it was a whole-of-government response.
We committed $5 million in funds within 24 hours of the quake.
We deployed more than 2,000 people directly on the ground to assist.
We sent soldiers, civilians, scientists, experts and NGOs.
And we launched the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.
Canadians gave $220 million in eligible donations.
And our government matched them dollar for dollar.
Canada was on the ground immediately following the quake.
And we continue to provide assistance to Haiti to this day.
Canadian, and particularly Quebec, organizations remain active on the ground.
And I was happy to sit down with most of them today.
Recovery from the earthquake has progressed significantly over the past several years.
But many challenges still remain.
Today, more than 90 percent of the displaced population has left the temporary camps.
But more than 100,000 people still remain.
And identifying solutions is becoming more complex.
The number of people facing severe food insecurity has declined by nearly three-quarters.
But the food security situation in Haiti is still fragile.
Particularly for children.
And while the incidence of cholera has been cut in half since 2010, half of the world’s suspected cholera cases are in Haiti.
These are harsh realities.
And they are why Canada remains active in Haiti.
It is why I renamed Haiti a country of focus for Canada’s international development efforts just last month.
Why Haiti is also a country of focus for Canada’s world-leading efforts to improve maternal, newborn and child health.
And why we are actively reviewing our long-term engagement with Haiti.
So we can ensure it delivers concrete results for Haitians.
And for Canadian taxpayers.
We know that roughly eight percent of the Haitian population will require some kind of humanitarian assistance in the coming year.
And Canada will be there to help them.
Today, I am pleased to announce $1.75 million in funding to Oxfam-Québec to help Haitians overcome some of the challenges they face.
Oxfam-Quebéc is working with Médecins du Monde to improve access to:
- safe drinking water;
- sanitation facilities; and
- primary health care.
They are distributing hygiene kits, and holding hygiene education sessions to prevent disease.
They are helping displaced people get care and treatment for water-borne diseases, including cholera.
And they are setting up a cholera-prevention community alert system in Cité Soleil to report suspected cases to health authorities.
Although these emergency interventions remain necessary, Canada is also looking towards the future.
We are committed to helping Haitians rebuild.
To put in place the conditions necessary for sustainable economic growth and private sector development.
And to break the cycle of poverty.
That is why Canada is also contributing $8.7 million to an Electoral Transition Support project.
This project will strengthen democracy and good governance in Haiti.
The United Nations Development Programme will receive $6 million to help organize and conduct free, transparent and inclusive elections.
And the National Democratic Institute will receive $2.7 million to help Haitian capacity to conduct local electoral observation.
The Institute will also use the funding to:
- empower civil society;
- help women candidates; and
- work with political parties to be more inclusive of women.
Haiti has long been a fragile country in development.
Our ties run deep.
And they go back a long way.
We share a long history of friendship.
The contributions I have announced today reflect that relationship.
And how proud Canada is to work with our Quebec partners to deliver results in Haiti and across the globe.
I will now take your questions.
Thank you.
