OTTAWA – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Haitian counterpart, Garry Conille, have agreed on the importance of working closely with the Transitional Presidential Council (TPC) and taking the “appropriate steps” toward holding free and fair elections in the violence-wracked, beleaguered French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country.
Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau and Gary Conille (File Photo)A government statement said that Prime Minister Trudeau spoke with Conille on Thursday, congratulating him on his appointment and thanked him for his efforts to quickly install a new transitional government “that puts the well-being of the Haitian people first”.
The head of the TTPC, in Haiti, Edgard Leblanc Fils, speaking at the end of the CARICOM summit in Grenada last month, said he expects presidential and legislative elections to be held by the end of 2025.
“Since our new efforts and the placement of the new transitional organ, we are now going to put in place our transitional electoral process or system which will allow us to have our general elections at the end of next year,” Fils told reporters.
The statement said Trudeau and Conille discussed the deployment of the Kenya-led United Nations-authorised Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to restore security and stability in Haiti and to provide much-needed relief to the Haitian people.
Trudeau reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to working with Haiti, Kenya and other international partners to support a successful mission, the statement said.
“The leaders underlined the need for international partners to step up and provide much-needed support for the mission,” the statement said, adding that Trudeau also highlighted Canada’s longstanding support for Haitian-led solutions to the ongoing crisis the country is facing.
“Prime Minister Trudeau and Prime Minister Conille reaffirmed the strong bond between Canada and Haiti, and agreed to remain in regular contact,” the statement said.
In May, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly welcomed the nomination of Conille as Haiti’s Prime Minister-designate.
“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I commend the Transitional Presidential Council for the nomination of the new Prime Minister-designate of Haiti and for moving toward achieving this important transition of power,” she said then.
“We encourage Prime Minister-designate Garry Conille and the TPC to install without further delay a new government that puts the well-being of the Haitian people first.
“We look forward to Prime Minister-designate Conille and the TPC taking the appropriate steps toward reestablishing democratic institutions, holding free and fair elections, advancing good governance, and working with the international community to restore national security and provide much-needed relief to the Haitian people, who have endured so much,” added Joly, stating that the ties between Canada and Haiti are “strong.”
“As Haiti continues on its path toward the restoration of democracy, Canada will remain a committed partner in providing security, development and humanitarian assistance to the Haitian people,” she assured.
Canada said that for nearly 30 years, Canada has contributed to the stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Haiti, including through the deployment of members of the Canadian Armed Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and correctional officers.
Since 2022, Canada said it has committed over CAN$400 million (One Canadian dollar=0.72 cents) in international assistance to Haiti.
“As part of this financial support, strengthening the security sector and restoring the rule of law in Haiti are key Canadian priorities,” the statement said.
In March 2023, Canada announced CAN$100 million to directly support the Haitian National Police and since February this year, Ottawa has provided over US$86 million to support the deployment of the Mss.
