January 20, 2005 (12:30 p.m. EST)
No.11
CANADA CALLS FOR DISBURSEMENT OF
INTERNATIONAL FUNDS FOR HAITI
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew and International Cooperation Minister
Aileen Carroll today joined in the appeals to international donors to honour their
pledges of financial assistance for Haiti. Canada’s appeal follows the UN Security
Council special meeting on Haiti which was held on January 12.
“Canada supports the appeal launched last week by the Security Council and urges
donors to honour the commitments they made last July at the International Donors
Conference in Washington by coming through with the funds promised to Haiti,” said
Minister Pettigrew. “Too often, promises are not followed by cheques. Promises must
be respected; this is vital to the country’s reconstruction and the restoration of
democracy. I intend to raise this issue with donor countries in the future.”
“The Government of Canada and Canadians worked quickly and in cooperation with the
people of Haiti to develop a detailed framework and funding,” said Minister Carroll. “We
are resolved to stand by Haiti for as long as it takes to establish security and stability in
that country and foster sustainable development.”
Canada recently contributed close to $16 million through the Canadian International
Development Agency (CIDA) to Haiti’s transitional government to help that country pay
its arrears to the World Bank. This amount is part of a contribution of $180 million
spread over two years that Canada has earmarked for aid initiatives in Haiti. Canada
has also pledged $17 million to facilitate the smooth running of Haiti’s electoral process.
Funding for these initiatives was provided for in the March 2004 federal budget, and is
therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
Sébastien Théberge
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
(613) 995-1851
Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs Canada
(613) 995-1874
http://www.international.gc.ca
France Bureau
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Cooperation
(819) 953-6238
Media Relations Office
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
(819) 953-6534
info@acdi-cida.gc.ca
http://www.acdi.gc.ca