/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tgam/N6EBWHXQ4NIGNEYN7WRYOUGWNE.JPG)
Canada’s support for a multinational security force in Haiti hinges on a consensus among Haitians and other Caribbean countries on how to proceed, says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“It is extremely important that we get this right,” Mr. Trudeau told a news conference in Winnipeg on Friday. “That will best be done working with neighbours and friends, local partners. That’s why I am so pleased there is an interest by the Caribbean countries to be part of any solution.”
The Prime Minister, in Manitoba for the Triennial Congress of Ukrainian Canadians, said that before establishing any sort of mission, Canada would need to see a clear plan of action, support from stakeholders, and a consensus about a course of action that helps Haiti and its people in the short, medium and long term.
Mr. Trudeau spoke after Defence Minister Anita Anand, also at the news conference, was asked about the prospect of Canadian forces being deployed to Haiti to take back territory or combat gangs linked to turmoil in the country.
The issue has been in the spotlight this week as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Canada, with stops in Ottawa and Montreal, that have included talks with Mr. Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.
Speaking Thursday after a meeting with Mr. Blinken, Ms. Joly said a federal government delegation is in Haiti now asking local decision makers what is needed to address the humanitarian and security crises. Story here.
Conservative foreign affairs critic Michael Chong told CPAC on Thursday that the first thing Canada should be doing is to address the chaos on the ground in Haiti by providing police and military assistance to Haitian authorities, but that the government has not properly funded such resources.
Also Friday, Mr. Trudeau said that Canada will sell a government-backed, five-year bond to raise money for Ukraine and it will impose new sanctions on 35 Russian individuals, including Gazprom executives. Story here.
