<html>
<head>
<meta name="generator" content="Corel WordPerfect 10">
<meta http-equiv="content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
<style>
p
{
margin-top: 0px;
margin-bottom: 1px
}
body
{
font-family: "Arial", sans-serif;
font-size: 12pt;
font-weight: normal;
font-style: normal
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<p><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">December 4, 2006 <i>(5:05 EST)</i><br>
No. 149</span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">CANADA CONGRATULATES HAITIANS ON THE HISTORIC
COMPLETION OF ELECTIONS</span></span></p>
<br>
<p>The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic
Canada Opportunities Agency, and the Honourable Josée Verner, Minister of
International Cooperation and Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages,
today congratulated Haitians on the successful holding of local and municipal elections
on December 3, 2006. This represents the first time that officials have been elected to
all levels of government in Haiti since its constitution entered into force in 1987.</p>
<br>
<p>“These elections are crucial for the success of democracy, the establishment of the rule
of law and the promotion of human rights in Haiti,” said Minister MacKay. “This historic
moment certifies to the international community that the conditions are now in place to
launch the country on the path of sustainable development.”</p>
<br>
<p>“We are pleased to have supported the completion of this electoral cycle in Haiti,” said
Minister Verner. “Canada will continue to accompany the Haitian people in the
development and reform of their governmental institutions, particularly in the sectors of
security and justice.”</p>
<br>
<p>At the International Conference for Haiti’s Economic and Social Development, held in
Port-au-Prince on July 25, 2006, the Government of Canada committed to a
contribution of $520 million for the period from 2006 to 2011. Today, the Government of
Canada is pleased to announce that it contributed $5 million from the July 2006 pledge
to these local and municipal elections. </p>
<br>
<p>Haiti is Canada’s most important long-term development assistance beneficiary in the
Americas, and the second largest in the world after Afghanistan.</p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center">- 30 -</p>
<br>
<p>For further information, media representatives may contact:</p>
<br>
<p>Foreign Affairs Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada<br>
613-995-1874<br>
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221023933/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000"></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Canada International Development Agency<br>
819-953-6534<br>
</span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070221023933/http://www.cida.gc.ca/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.cida.gc.ca</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000"><br>
</span></p>
</body>
</html>
