Evidence of meeting #19 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was gangs.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Frédéric Boisrond  Sociologist, As an Individual
Andréanne Martel  Humanitarian Program Evaluation Consultant and Researcher, As an Individual
Michèle Asselin  Executive Director, Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale

10 a.m.

Sociologist, As an Individual

Frédéric Boisrond

Yes, I would like to leave room to the other two witnesses, if they want to take the floor on this, but still, what I'm saying is that whatever it is, the police in Haiti need reform because there is a small army in the country that is not relevant in the solution. So the solution that was picked by Canada and the international community is to work with the police. Actually, what I'm saying is that the police are too weak to be part of the solution the way it is.

In fact, what we're seeing now is the failure of the police in themselves. So whatever the solution that's going to be picked, the police have to be reformed under the three elements that I mentioned: recruitment, salary, and equipment, of course.

10 a.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Thank you. Let's bring in the others.

10 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sameer Zuberi

We have a last minute and then we'll conclude our panel.

Please go ahead for one minute, Mr. Genuis.

10:05 a.m.

Conservative

Garnett Genuis Conservative Sherwood Park—Fort Saskatchewan, AB

Yes, I'm very curious for the reflections of the other witnesses.

Go ahead, please.

10:05 a.m.

Humanitarian Program Evaluation Consultant and Researcher, As an Individual

Andréanne Martel

I'll be brief so Ms. Asselin can answer as well.

I just want to say that Canada has a long history of involvement in security sector reform in Haiti. The mandate has changed. At the time, it was perhaps more integrated. Since then, Canada's involvement has been more in the form of technical assistance or training.

We should think about the importance not only of training and arming police officers, but also of ensuring that this goes hand in hand with the fight against impunity and the strengthening of the judicial system. How can police officers be motivated to move forward in their work if impunity is then granted? All of this must go hand in hand.

10:05 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sameer Zuberi

Ms. Asselin, you have 15 seconds.

10:05 a.m.

Executive Director, Association québécoise des organismes de coopération internationale

Michèle Asselin

My comments were very much along the same lines. We must also reach out to groups that are involved in justice, the justice system and human rights to discuss this issue.

I agree with Mr. Boisrond and Ms. Martel on this point.

10:05 a.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Sameer Zuberi

Thank you very much.

I'd like to thank the witnesses for being here today, in person and online. A sincere thank you for your testimony. It will be reflected in our work. We have hand-clapping on Zoom and, again, thank you for being here.

Members, we are going to move into a closed session. I will ask those who aren't part of the committee to allow us to have a closed session meeting, and those online, please do go as swiftly as you can to that closed session link.

Merci beaucoup.

[Proceedings continue in camera]