Trudeau ‘wrestling’ with the question of how to help Haiti, says Bob Rae

As Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, continues to be rocked by gang violence, one of Canada’s federal government’s top advisers says the country doesn’t like the idea of ​​making boots to help deal with the unrest.

“I don’t want to speculate on that because I don’t think it’s a step that’s taken,” said Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations Bob Rae, who last visited Haiti in December.

Talk to CBC Radio HouseRae said Canada is looking at how to provide assistance that will “create order” in Haiti – where, he said, the country “holds together by a thread.”

Rae visited the country twice last year and advised the Canadian government on the way forward. He says many outside Haiti do not appreciate the fear and anxiety experienced by ordinary Haitians, who are suffering from civil unrest, threats of kidnapping and sexual violence, and food crises.

“The prime minister is struggling with a very difficult question and that is, ‘What is the most effective form of aid that we can provide?'” Rae said.

Earlier this week, Canada sent a second shipment of armored vehicles purchased by Haiti to the country to help the national police. On Friday, Canada also announced new sanctions against two members of the Haitian elite.

“We are targeting sanctions and frankly, we want other governments to have a stronger role, including the United States,” Rae said, noting Canada is also providing food aid and public health assistance as the country deals with a resurgence of cholera.

The sensitive question of whether military involvement could be on the cards came under the spotlight earlier this week in the lead-up to a summit of North American leaders, following comments from a senior US official.

“Canada itself has expressed interest in taking a leadership role” in offering some type of multinational security support to the Haitian National Police, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters on Monday.

This can lead to boots on the ground or other supports, Sullivan said. He said that US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau would discuss the matter, adding that he did not want to “stuck anyone” in anticipation of the outcome of the conversation.

But no public commitment to specific action in Haiti emerged after those private discussions on Tuesday.

Trudeau did not immediately respond to questions about a possible Canadian military presence in Haiti when asked by reporters – although he spoke of the importance of the Haitian national police being empowered to deal with the situation.

He added that Canada and other countries are preparing various scenarios to respond to if the situation in Haiti worsens.

Ariel Henry, Haiti’s de facto prime minister, has sought help from the foreign military, but many Haitians see Henry’s rule as illegitimate.

However, the United Nations urged countries to consider Henry’s request.

It is not clear how many Haitians will resist such a military presence. Haiti’s history is replete with episodes of foreign powers intervening and leaving a trail of destruction.

Marjorie Villefranche, director of Montreal’s Maison d’Haiti, said the country has dealt with years of foreign troops on the ground and many Haitians do not want to see that era return.

“The situation can get worse, but the solution is not the occupation of Haiti,” he said

Rae emphasized that no suggestions were taken into account.

Jean Saint-Vil of Solidarité Québec-Haiti agreed that the armed intervention was not desirable.

“One reason this kind of reflex arises is because we are facing a colonial paradigm where white countries, white-dominated countries, see themselves as the national police of the planet,” he said. “This is unacceptable in 2023.”

“No one is thinking of a major military intervention,” Rae said. “I think that idea, which may have been in some areas, should have never been embraced by us.”

The focus now is on upgrading the capacity of Haiti’s security services, he said, and seeing what additional help Canada can provide.

Rae also pointed out that there was no UN Security Council resolution to authorize such an intervention. Whatever is done must be based on “a much stronger consensus than what we are currently seeing from all elements of Haitian society,” he said.

“We are not interested in repeating the mistakes of the past.”