Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
Ms. Éthier, thank you very much. That was very interesting. It is like being back in school. Your presentation was fascinating.
You told us about the controlled experience, about “successes” in some countries, where democracy was imposed or had already reached an economic and social level. You also talked about underdeveloped countries that were under foreign occupation for a long time, which enabled them to develop a political elite. That did work in some places, like the Caribbean. Then you talked about traditional societies such as those we are seeing now, clan-based societies like in Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries.
You also talked about political conditionality in terms of two theories: realistic and constructive. You also discussed the role of NGOs and were a bit critical, in a way, of their role. You talked about observing elections and training judges. At the end, you said:
Democracy is a domestic affair par excellence.
What can be done in the case of a country like Haiti, which is a case we have studied? I have been to Haiti a number of times. It is clear that everything has to be started over, rebuilt from scratch.
You talked about training judges. Haiti is governed by the Napoleonic Code of 1821, which has never been amended. In rape cases and some other cases, DNA evidence is inadmissible in court because the code has not been amended. In addition, 90% of newly elected parliamentarians have no political experience.
In a country like Haiti, where Canada wants to play an active role in improving things, how can we get involved without having to go back to square one, in two, three or four years, with a new president?