Debates of Dec. 13th, 2010

Situation in Haiti

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Haiti is particularly at risk for cholera because many people have low immunity. For example, children live with malnutrition and people live with HIV-AIDS. The national prevalence of acute malnutrition was 4.5% in 2000 and 9.1% in 2005. Haiti is also affected by a generalized HIV epidemic with 120,000 currently living with the virus.

I wonder if the member could tell us what an emergency response would look like with a minimum package of HIV prevention treatment and care services.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

My apologies to the parliamentary secretary. I had said resuming debate, but the hon. member had left the chamber.

Perhaps the hon. member could succinctly re-put her question to the hon. parliamentary secretary.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I said that Haiti is particularly at risk for cholera because many people have low immunity. For example, children live with malnutrition and people live with HIV-AIDS. The national prevalence of acute malnutrition was 4.5% in 2000 and 9.1% in 2005. Haiti is also affected by a generalized HIV epidemic with 120,000 currently living with the virus. This is important when we are talking about cholera.

I wonder what she thinks an emergency response would look like, a minimum package, so to speak, of HIV prevention treatment and care services.

[Sylvie Boucher, Conservative, Beauport—Limoilou, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Haiti has been vulnerable to natural disasters and epidemics for a very long time. This situation came to a head with last January's earthquake. We continue to work with NGOs and health services. The Department of Foreign Affairs and CIDA continue to work with contacts on the ground and with governments. It is crucial to find a way to minimize the epidemic in Haiti. We will help Haiti through this epidemic by working together with NGOs and governments and by finding the best way to direct aid.

[Glen Pearson, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel.

I wanted to thank the minister, before we even get started here. As all of these things have been going on with Haiti, she has been keeping me updated, which I know she has with others as well. That is a very good situation and I appreciate that kind of co-operation. It also is a difficult situation, because we get to realize just how serious the implications are for Haiti and what is going on.

I have a few things that I would like to speak of specifically concerning an idea, or suggestions, that might help us with the Haiti situation.

I am very much aware that when the tsunami struck in 2005, at a similar time of year, there were a lot of lessons to be learned from that, but it was half a world away. It was very difficult and I am not sure we learned them very well. When the Haiti situation happened this last January, there was a belief that we would get this one right, in part because it was on our doorstep, in part because it was a country of focus. From our initial reaction to what happened after the earthquake and others, it seemed to be moving along that line, but it was not so much to do with any one particular country.

I remember being in New York at the United Nations with the minister. Bill Clinton was there and he was supposedly helping to direct a coordinated response worldwide for this. I remember talking to a number of Haitians at that conference, especially civil society leaders, who realized that to a certain degree they were being included, but their worry was that although everybody was talking about a 10-year process in which these people could be helped, really the focus was being put on the short-term relief.

They were having great difficulty in trying to get in to discuss how the problems Haiti is facing now are the problems that it has always faced. They were not looking to be popularized and beatified and told what wonderful people they were. They realize they have their own problems, but they also realize that long-term development is actually what is going to make it work.

As well, part of what my concern is, and many of us who follow the environmental file know this, is that this will not be the last thing that confronts Haiti. We know that these things, if the scientists are correct, likely will increasingly begin to snowball in places like Haiti and therefore just as we are recovering from one thing, we will get hit with another. That is what has been happening in the course of these last few months, making it very difficult for Canada or any other government to know how to respond.

The anniversary is coming up in January. I was in Sudan when it happened but I remember I came back and people were very much moved and wanted to do something. Since that time, there has been some confusion. With the anniversary coming up, a lot of emphasis is going to be placed upon that confusion, and I do not mean just about the matched money that was supposed to happen. I do think people are confused there and would sure appreciate clarification, but internationally, we still have not developed a system that is capable of responding to this situation, Bill Clinton aside. Let us face it, if this would have happened in Togo or someplace like that, it would not have had nearly the interest that Haiti did. We have to be prepared for other disasters in other parts of the world.

Regarding CIDA especially, part of the problem we have with CIDA is twofold: emergency relief and long-term development. These things are very difficult and all of a sudden, as we are moving along in development, a disaster happens such as Haiti and we have to take away so many of our resources in order to focus on that. I remember the first time the minister gave me a briefing, it was shortly after it happened. She was exhausted and she was just trying to keep up with both sides of CIDA to keep it going.

I would like to suggest something more along the lines of the British model. I know that in Canada we have a group called The Humanitarian Coalition, made up of four major NGOs, that has been trying for some time to develop a coordinated response among NGOs for both long-term development and especially toward international relief.

In Britain, 35 years ago, a whole bunch of these groups all came together, along with the British government, and decided that probably the best thing that it could do to help its international development program within government was to bring a bunch of the NGOs together and hold a competition of 16 of the main ones, all with different skills, some in health, some in water, some in building, those kinds of things.

These groups would come together and then they would work all year long, and they did not just work among themselves. They worked with the media, so the BBC was a huge part of it, three different channels of the BBC. Newspapers and others were part of it. They brought universities onside. They brought the private sector onside, and for 35 years that system has run, and when a disaster happens, these people have already been prepared.

When the crisis in Haiti first happened, there were 10,000 NGOs in Haiti within the first month. I realize that a lot of those were Haitian NGOs, but the point is that it was a nightmare to try to coordinate all those groups.

I wonder whether it would not be a good idea for CIDA and the Department of Foreign Affairs to consider building on the British model. The British are all ready with humanitarian relief. They know they are going to get so much money from the government, though it depends somewhat on the nature of the emergency. These people meet on an ongoing basis. Having been in London, England, I know free pamphlets can be picked up on bookshelves. The pamphlets give a 1-800 number to call if someone wants to donate. These pamphlets tell how that donation will be matched. It is all done in advance and they are very much ready when these emergencies happen. What they have really stressed is the coordination of information for the average citizen.

I think we have had some problems in that regard with respect to the situation in Haiti. It is not just a Canadian problem. It is an American problem and it is a problem for other countries as well, because it is such a nightmare to handle.

The British version of the humanitarian coalition constantly communicates with people the difference between relief and development. We are caught between these two things with respect to Haiti. We know that we have to get on with development and we have to start building infrastructure and other things, but then along comes flooding and then along comes cholera and it gets very difficult to do it. The NGOs are expressing confusion themselves about what to do.

I do not mean this to sound too negative, but often NGOs will chase after where the funding goes. I do not doubt that it is an important and necessary thing to do, but in the British system of humanitarian coalition, it works out the funding well in advance so that this kind of competition is not happening when the money is suddenly made available from the government. Not everybody is rushing in and trying to dominate the situation.

The best NGOs are meant to come forward and say why they deserve to be part of this NGO coalition for emergency relief and development. That particular group has a relationship with DFID, the British version of CIDA. The relationship is ongoing, with monthly meetings being held. They are doing something now that is going to expand that even further and I think it is something that Canada needs to look at.

We are not like Britain. We are a broad country in terms of our ability to put together information mechanisms and empowerment mechanisms for average citizens such that if they give money towards a certain group and it is supposed to be matched, they are not left waiting and wondering whether it has been done or not. These things are worked out in advance in Britain.

I would like to tell the minister and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs that there is nothing wrong in looking at the British type of system for Canada so that if something is happening in Haiti, it will not stop other things from happening.

This group is constantly working on it and coordinating it. They make sure that people have the 1-800 number so that, as soon as something happens, a person just has to phone that number and the humanitarian coalition in Britain will sort out where the funding goes on the basis of need as determined by the government and international organizations.

Personally, I think it is a better system than what we have at present. We have just cobbled together what we have had over the last number of years. The tsunami was a big lesson to the Liberals, and Haiti is a big lesson to all of us that something more co-ordinated needs to happen.

At this intersection between emergency relief and development, it is very important that we find a group of NGOs who can work in harmony with CIDA, who can sit down and work for that intersection, who would know what needs to be done in Haiti because they have already studied it. We know it is going to happen again in Haiti. The British have studied it and have the disciplines in the various sectors, and as soon as a disaster happens, the BBC and the others all get the information out there. People know what number to call, and immediately the government and the coalition get back with the information that people are looking for. It is not a perfect system, but I think it is better than what we have.

What I am trying to put forward here, and I appreciate the opportunity, is that Haiti has been bigger than all of us. It has swallowed all of us up because it is such a complex problem. We ought to get some people on it who are more full time and would be willing to lead us in that direction. I would encourage the government to consider this suggestion.

[Bev Oda, Conservative, Minister of International Cooperation]

Madam Speaker, I thank the member across the floor for the suggestion and also for working with us to ensure that those people, in many countries, are being helped the best we can as Canadians.

I also appreciate the fact that he recognizes, in situations that are overwhelming for the governments in those countries, that both have to happen. In terms of short-term humanitarian relief, we are supporting the feeding of 400,000 children every day in Haiti, as well as trying to move ahead on reconstruction, respond to the cholera outbreak, and so on.

I know the member is very aware of another major disaster that we are also dealing with, which is the flooding in Pakistan. The United Nations has said that it is, in fact, by its estimation, the biggest humanitarian challenge faced by the United Nations. So things do change.

I also will take note of the member's suggestion. As the member knows, when the government went ahead on maternal and child health, we had a coalition and we worked very closely together. On the suggestion that the member has put forward, the challenge there is to make sure that the international community comes to recognize the presence.

I was just informed that the Canadian Red Cross was invited to the international table in Haiti, as the first NGO to be at the table with the interim commission in making decisions about reconstruction.

We are always looking for ways to improve our work.

[Glen Pearson, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

I think that is right, Madam Speaker. However, with the humanitarian coalition in Britain, although they keep it at arm's length from DFID, they are still seen with DFID. So it is not just that they are acting independently. The moment that DFID gets involved in a place or something happens such as in Haiti or Pakistan, the international community already recognizes that particular group because of their workings with DFID.

What I would suggest is that I know there is a humanitarian coalition in Canada that is getting up and running; I would really like to see CIDA and the government give its support to help it to get us to the point where we can develop a better reaction immediately.

If that happens and CIDA recognizes that and works with that group, that group would get international recognition because of its work with the Canadian government.

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to the Minister of International Cooperation]

Following on the member's suggestion that he has talked about, I would like to know how he sees international relief organizations involved in that. When he talks about humanitarian relief in the U.K., he is talking about British NGOs. What about our co-operation with international relief organizations, with which Canada likes to be in a multilateral forum?

[Glen Pearson, Liberal, London North Centre, ON]

That is a valid point, Madam Speaker, and I think it is true that in the multilateral forum those things do happen. However, DFID is also working with them to help to co-ordinate those.

This is basically a way to get the citizenry engaged in the particular country in which the group is formed. It is not trying to solve the UN problems and all the coordination that goes along there, but I think we need citizens to be more engaged, because they are giving heavily towards this problem. I just feel that we need a better way of marshalling their forces together and educating them so that they can have more of an impact and feel that they are doing that in the country that they come from.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Madam Speaker, we are here tonight to talk about the situation in Haiti. Haiti's precarious situation is known the world over.

We can look at some of the headlines that we saw last week.

I grabbed what was in the bin. They are English newspapers.

They say, for example, “Haiti on edge...”; “Haiti fears violence in election wake...”; “Haitians take to the streets...”; “The country is on fire...: Haiti virtually shut down yesterday as citizens took to the streets by the thousands to protest...[and] businesses, schools and the airport were closed”.

However, it is important to North Americans for Haiti to find a solution because of our proximity to that country and because of the number of Haitians living in Canada and the United States. Canada has always been prepared to answer the call when its friends and allies are in need.

There are literally thousands of Canadians who have family ties to Haiti, and these Canadians want us to live up to our reputation and take decisive action to help steer Haiti out of this crisis that threatens to tear the country apart.

These people are my constituents, my neighbours, my friends, and we cannot abandon them.

From the introduction of peacekeeping on the world stage by Lester Pearson to the introduction of the responsibility to protect doctrine in the UN by Paul Martin, Canada has always led when crisis threatened to tear lives apart. We invented peacekeeping and we invented the responsibility to protect doctrine; and since we have such a close relationship with Haiti, strengthened by bonds of family and friendship, Canada must rally the world to come together and lift Haiti out of the mire it is currently stuck in.

Regardless of party affiliation, Canadian governments have always stood for peace, justice, strong moral principles and a vigorous engagement in world affairs. As a Liberal who greatly admires the accomplishments of leaders such as Pearson, Trudeau, Chrétien and Martin, leaders who took the principles of their predecessors and built upon them with new ideas and initiatives, I know that Canada's role in Haiti should be as an unwavering partner who will propose constructive ideas, back up our promises and convince other nations to join us in fighting the good fight.

We need our actions to make a difference. We must succeed; we cannot afford to fail. The future and the life of an entire generation of people hangs in the balance and we cannot fail them.

The word most often used to describe the Haitian population is “resilience”. History has proven that. Many say that Haiti has just had a string of bad luck. Others say that it is cultural, and others say it is a curse. One thing is for sure, Haitians are fighters and they need our help now more than ever to continue fighting.

In my constituency, I see how proud Haitian Canadians are of their culture and heritage, and they are all proud Canadians. But when it comes to the Haitian community, like most ethnic communities, agreement on the nature of the problems they face, never mind the solutions, are never unanimous.

We had two round tables in the span of a few months with the Haitian community in Saint-Michel, in the east end of Montreal, right after the earthquake. Many problems were highlighted, and of course, there were differences in analyzing just the problems. Right away, there were differences along political lines. We also had gender differences: the women blamed it on the men, and the men obviously blamed it on the women. There were generational differences, where the young blamed it on the old and the old blamed it on the young. Finally, there were also people who blamed it on the fact that they had left 30 years ago or they had just left five years ago, and there were differences from that perspective.

Solutions proposed were broken down between short term and long term. Short-term problems immediately following the earthquake were simply finding shelter and food for those most in need. Long-term solutions dealt with infrastructure for such things as roads, bridges, water and sewage; but the other infrastructure problem that needed to be dealt with was the government, because citizens everywhere in the world rely on their government to some degree.

We should look around us in Canada. Everyday services are delivered. We have health care and simple things such as garbage collection. If we look outside, it is snowing in Ottawa. We have snow removal, police services, post office, licences, and so on. Canadians may complain about the cost or the delivery of those services, but even the Conservatives, who despise government, agree that we need government to deliver some services.

In Canada, we debate the amount of services that the government should deliver. In Haiti, the debate is which government can actually provide the minimal amount of services. We are talking about a government that cannot deliver the basic services. We are talking about a government where, when individuals go to get their birth certificate, it is not available. When they try to get their passport, there is nobody at the counter. When they try to mail a letter, they cannot get a postage stamp. When they go to make a deposit, they cannot find a bank that is open. When they try to withdrawal money at a bank, there is no money in the bank.

Those are basic services. Canada is a stable, successful democracy with a good track record of providing essential services to the population, regardless of which political party is in power. Today we are debating how we, as a successful and prosperous country, can assist Haiti in taking steps toward becoming a successful and prosperous country.

Haitians' political history is full of traumatic upheavals. Regime after regime in Haiti engaged in grossly corrupt activities that put the ambitions of those in power before the needs of the people. This has led to Haiti being underdeveloped, but what is more troubling is that this has diminished the ability of any political force to bring about the change necessary to put Haiti on a path towards sustainable development.

There needs to be a shift in Haiti's political culture to ensure that the old ways of doing business that have failed are replaced by new good practices that make it possible for Haiti to govern itself successfully and democratically.

To succeed in its reconstruction effort, Haiti needs an overhaul that brings stability, rule of law and a trust in its political system. We can see clearly in the protests taking place daily that there is no trust between Haiti's democratic institutions and her people.

Trust must be established so that any political force that forms a government after an election has the moral authority to actually lead the country. People will not follow a government that they view as illegitimate. Until legitimacy is woven into the Haitian political fabric, there can be no lasting peace or progress.

There is tremendous desire in Haiti to rebuild and move forward. The spirit of the Haitian people is not in question. What is required right now is to stop the chaos that threatens to tear Haiti apart. This cannot be done without the world being involved.

What is needed now is action to shore up Haiti's democracy and aid. Proper democratic institutions are not built overnight, but they are necessary to create a climate where a state can govern itself successfully, develop its resources, deliver services and change governments in a stable and orderly fashion.

Right now, Haitians are divided and angry because they feel that their democratic institutions are illegitimate. This feeling is the wound that must be closed if Haiti is to survive. Until that wound is closed, aid must flow to Haiti. Aid is a bandage, not a solution, but the bleeding must stop before the wound can be stitched.

Food, clean water, medicine, money, clothing and shelter, everything and anything at this point can contribute to reducing the suffering that is currently ravaging Haiti. The rebuilding process begins with aid. If aid can be delivered fairly and efficiently, it can create the calm space and good will between the Haitian people, the Haitian government and the international community, which is necessary to begin tackling more systemic problems.

Success breeds success. We need to get aid right and use that momentum to tackle the deeper issues I mentioned, and keep doing this until Haiti is ready to stand on her own two feet.

Given Canada's deep ties to Haiti, I ask the government to do whatever it can to assist Haiti by collaborating with our partners to provide lifesaving aid to Haiti during this difficult time and to do the work with the Haitian people and the international community to build democratic institutions in Haiti that work.

Message from the Senate

[The Acting Speaker, NDP, Denise Savoie]

Before moving on to questions and comments, I have the honour to inform the House that a message has been received from the Senate informing this House that the Senate has passed the following public bill to which the concurrence of the House is desired: Bill S-10, An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts.

The House resumed consideration of the motion.

Situation in Haiti

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to the Minister of International Cooperation]

Madam Speaker, I have been listening to the debate of the Liberal, Bloc and NDP. In general, everybody agrees with what has been said in reference to the problems and issues facing Haitians and the fault lines that have developed since the earthquake. I do not think anybody here does not agree with respect to the main aspects of what is happening.

Questions have been asked of the Government of Canada. As a responsible government, we have stated that Haiti receives the second-largest amount of our foreign aid. We are working with the international community.

Basically, the bottom line is when Haitians needed aid, Canada sent aid. The member is right. He has had his round table conferences with the Haitian community. As another of my colleagues has said, there are a lot of things we can do.

The main aspect of this is that we need to work together. This government has committed a tremendous amount of money, over $1 billion, to help Haiti. Haiti is a priority for the government. I want to assure members that we will continue working with it and everyone else to achieve what many of us are repeating tonight.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Madam Speaker, I would like to ensure that we understand correctly. In the headlines today, for example, I read that Canada was to discuss Haitian elections. I think we have to stop discussing and start acting, have Canada take a leadership position, take action and decide with the rest of the UN to do what is right and ensure that the proper results, whether it requires a recount, come out of the election.

Canada has to take a leadership position. It has to stop saying that it committing money but actually do it. That is all I am asking.

[Deepak Obhrai, Conservative, Calgary East, AB]

Madam Speaker, the member has been saying that he is asking the Government of Canada to do this. He mentioned a headline that said we were in discussions. What it means is we are working with our international partners, we are working with the government of Haiti to address those issues of electoral irregularities. He needs to understand it is very important for Canada not to be by itself, but to be with its other international partners, including the current government of Haiti.

[Massimo Pacetti, Liberal, Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, QC]

Madam Speaker, once again, Canada should be taking a leadership role. It cannot be waiting for its international partners. It has to drag its international partners. I am asking for that.

Many promises were made after the earthquake to bring in Haitian refugees and Haitian immigrants. I have an office full of immigration files that could be processed overnight. These people have been asking to come to Canada for years and the files are still sitting in my offices. There are still constituents waiting for family members to come to our country. The government was supposed to react within 30 days, 60 days, 90 days. We are still waiting, one year later.

[Peter Goldring, Conservative, Edmonton East, AB]

Madam Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs for the Americas.

First, I would like to commend CIDA, the Foreign Affairs and National Defence departments and ministries for an extraordinary effort in a time of absolute disaster. Understandably, those on the ground immediately following the disaster had to deal with missing loved ones, friends and colleagues and their supreme efforts must not go unnoticed or be forgotten.

Canada has a long-term commitment to Haiti and there is no other country that has been a better friend to the people of Haiti than Canada. Our strong, long-term relationship with Haiti strengthens our ties to the Organization of American States, the Caribbean community, the common market and key countries in the Americas, such as Brazil and Chile. Canadians care about Haiti. This is our hemisphere and we have family and personal ties there. It is also the poorest country in the hemisphere.

I had an opportunity to visit Haiti in 2006, well before the latest disasters struck. It was at the time, even then, the poorest country in the western hemisphere. At the time, elections were being conducted and were reasonably well managed, although the turnout was relatively low. Of note, even at that time the Haitian people had many desperate needs, with massive unemployment and civil unrest. The Haitian government was unable to cope with its country's human needs, coupled with large foreign debt, without massive amounts of foreign aid.

The countryside was denuded of foliage, creating widespread flooding in seasonal rains, bringing the remaining soil and silt and filling up the only substantial power damn, preventing the generation of electricity. Then the earthquake hit and now a cholera outbreak.

Haiti is vulnerable to natural disasters, as last January's earthquake and hurricane Thomas this fall attest. In addition, the current cholera outbreak has already resulted in the death of more than 2,000 Haitians and has reached the Dominican Republic and Florida as well. It is important to remember that rebuilding Haiti is a significant undertaking that will require a sustained international effort measurable in years, not in weeks and months.

While great needs remain, Canadian initiatives are making a difference in the lives of Haitians. Despite the extraordinary challenges Haiti has faced in the past year, our commitment to Haiti is long term. I am proud to say that Canadians themselves have demonstrated unprecedented support for Haiti in response to the earthquake that took place nearly a year ago. In fact, they donated $220 million to charitable organizations and the Government of Canada is matching their donations. Almost 60% of the matched funding has been allocated to initiatives in Haiti.

The international response has ensured that immediate lifesaving needs following the earthquake are being addressed. Canada is the second most important bilateral donor in Haiti after the United States. We have a long-term credible presence in Haiti that allows us to respond quickly and effectively when disaster occurs. For example, our health partners were instrumental in the early detection of the current cholera outbreak.

Canada's leadership, expertise and development assistance are valued by Haiti and the United States, as well as other key partners in this hemisphere. In fact, our credibility with Haiti lends us influence in new mechanisms set up for the coordination of humanitarian and reconstruction efforts such as the Interim Haiti Recovery Commission and the multi-donor Haiti reconstruction fund.

With a commitment of $1 billion over six years between 2006 and 2012, Haiti is Canada's leading development recipient in the Americas. Our long-term presence in Haiti means that throughout the country we have trusted partners to work with and mobilize in the event of a disaster. The situation in Haiti is too large and multi-faceted for Canada to make a difference alone, so we are working to ensure that our efforts and those of other partners are mutually reinforcing.

Canada is working with a number of international and Canadian partners, including the United Nations, the Organization of American States, the Caribbean Community and Common Market and key donor countries in the Americas and Europe, such as the United States, the European Union and Brazil.

Canada's engagement in Haiti has demonstrated a whole of government approach. Our efforts have drawn on the skills of a number of departments, including the Canadian International Development Agency, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Finance Canada, the Canadian Border Services Agency, the RCMP and the Department of National Defence to achieve results for the people of Haiti.

On our response to the devastating effects of the earthquake nearly a year ago, Canada has now fully disbursed more than $150 million in immediate humanitarian assistance, contributing to the distribution of food aid for 4.3 million people and emergency housing and supplies to 2.2 million people.

Through our $400 million commitment, Canada is supplying daily meals to 400,000 school children, has provided $31.3 million to the multi-donor Haiti reconstruction fund and has earmarked $30 million for a call for proposals from Canadian organizations for short-term recovery and reconstruction projects in Haiti.

Some Haitian municipalities will receive technical assistance from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to improve their delivery of basic services, such as land management, roads, water provisions and garbage collection.

Here are some of the results that we and our partners have achieved since the earthquake struck on January 12: one million Haitians have been engaged in cash for work programs; over four million Haitians have received emergency food aid; we have provided medical care for 90% of displaced persons in Port-au-Prince; we have constructed temporary offices for the ministries of health and agriculture and for the secretariat of the interim Haiti recovery commission; and we have constructed a prison for 750 inmates and have deployed 25 Canadian prison experts.

We are now on track to meet the commitment we made at the International Donors' Conference in New York in March. However, there have been some challenges. As 30% of the public service died in the earthquake and 40% of the Haitian government's infrastructure was damaged, this has hampered the government's ability to respond to the basic needs of the population.

When assessing progress in Haiti, we need to remember the magnitude of the devastation and remember how long it took to rebuild in other similar situations. We all remember the tsunami in Asia. Following that disaster in 2004, right around Christmas time I might add, it took over five years to rebuild 139,000 houses in Indonesia. In fact, we need look no further than our closest neighbour when we want an example of how long reconstruction can take. As we all know, the United States of America, with all of the resources possible at its disposal, is still working to reconstruct New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina.

Governance challenges in Haiti have been compounded by the current land tenure system and the lack of safe landfill sites to remove rubble from Port-au-Prince. Part of the reason that more than one million people still live in camps is that hey have no other place to go. Canada supports efforts to address these issues and continues to encourage the government of Haiti to undertake the needed reforms to clear the way for rebuilding.

Canada has been clear on our commitment to Haiti and it is long term. While great needs remain, Canadian initiatives are making a difference in the lives of Haitians.

[Kirsty Duncan, Liberal, Etobicoke North, ON]

Madam Speaker, it is important to remember that there are thousands and thousands of children in homes and orphanages in Haiti, most of whom have at least one parent still living but have been placed in institutions because their families are finding it difficult to manage.

My question is about risk. Haiti is at particular risk because cholera transmission is closely linked to inadequate environmental management. Haiti suffered chronic water supply and sanitation problems even prior to the earthquake. Haiti was ranked last out of 147 countries for water security in 2002.

I am wondering what the hon. member thinks should be done immediately in the short term and what is needed in the long term to address water supply and sanitation issues.

[Peter Goldring, Conservative, Edmonton East, AB]

Madam Speaker, I absolutely agree with my hon. colleague. The need in Haiti was desperate long before the earthquake struck. As I related, I was there in 2006 and I could see the difficulties and problems it had on sanitation and on water provisions. This has been an ongoing circumstance in Haiti for many years and the earthquake certainly did not help it whatsoever.

My understanding is that one of the problems in bringing back infrastructure, water facilities and sanitation facilities is the land tenure in Port-au-Prince where the land is tied up and people cannot get ownership and cannot move in equipment to start the reconstruction of the infrastructure that is needed. That is something that will need to be worked out because, obviously, to rebuild Haiti and Port-au-Prince with all its great needs, we need to start in the ground with the proper sanitation facilities and the proper water for the people.

[Thierry St-Cyr, Bloc, Jeanne-Le Ber, QC]

Madam Speaker, I had the opportunity to go to Haiti with the hon. member for Edmonton East in 2006. We were part of the same mission. I had a chance to see how resilient the Haitian people are, despite all their challenges. They are a very happy people despite it all and they want to overcome the difficult situation they find themselves in. They are very welcoming and very charming. I was quite surprised by that. Despite all the problems they are currently going through, with the earthquake, cholera and problems surrounding the elections, I hope that these people will continue to have the resilience they need to get through this.

I want to know whether the hon. member shares this same hope and this same confidence that the Haitian people inspire in me. Does he believe as I do that they will overcome these challenges because they have the desire and resilience to do so?

[Peter Goldring, Conservative, Edmonton East, AB]

Madam Speaker, yes, I was in Haiti with my colleague and we were there for the elections at that time when there was optimism even on the elections. They were being reasonably well run and it was the parliamentary elections. We also had a chance to go out into the community in the Jacmel area where we could really see the enthusiasm of the local mayor and the citizenry about the improvements that had been made to Jacmel at that time.

I have to believe that the optimism of the Haitian people is deep and resilient and we all have to believe that their optimism will still be there and that they will look forward to rebuilding their country once again, the same as Jacmel. It has to be rebuilt all over again.

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas)]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to take the floor tonight to speak to the United Nations stabilization force in Haiti and to the critical support provided by the Government of Canada in this very important operation.

As this government has said before, our vision for Haiti is a country built on foundations of peace, security, rule of law and economic prosperity. This is a vision shared by the international community. The United Nations stabilization mission in Haiti, or MINUSTAH, as it is known by its acronym, is one of the most important manifestations of the international community's commitment to Haiti's stabilization and reconstruction.

Canada remains strongly committed to MINUSTAH. This has been a priority mission since it was established in 2004. Prior to the earthquake, Canada was already contributing high level Canadian Forces support and a number of civilian police officers and corrections experts to the mission. Since the earthquake, we have deployed even more support. Indeed, MINUSTAH now represents the largest number of civilians deployed to a mission outside of Afghanistan.

Canada recognizes MINUSTAH's continuing efforts in Haiti and the role of the United Nations in coordinating the international response. Since 2004, MINUSTAH has contributed to the overall improvement of the security situation in Haiti, including by playing a crucial role in managing the current security situation following Haiti's most recent elections.

MINUSTAH was established as a multi-dimensional, integrated mission, combining both military and civilian functions. The Security Council has provided MINUSTAH with a robust mandate under chapter 7 of the UN charter, which allows for the use of force in its implementation.

As a member of the Group of Friends of Haiti at the UN, Canada worked closely with Brazil and other countries committed to MINUSTAH to play an important role in the drafting of the resolution and renewing the mission mandate adopted by the Security Council in October of this year. MINUSTAH is also protecting civilians, supporting the political process in Haiti, professionalizing the Haitian national police and reforming the justice and security system reform.

MINUSTAH has also faced difficulties. The events of January 12 of this year took a heavy toll on the mission. Some 101 UN personnel perished in the Haiti earthquake, the largest losses to a UN mission in a single event. The victims included the special representative of the UN secretary-general, Hédi Annabi, and eight Canadians serving in police and civilian roles in MINUSTAH.

Despite those losses, the mission carried on, making valuable contributions to the relief effort and working with the government of Haiti and the international community to mitigate the effects of the disaster on Haiti's people. Canada has commended MINUSTAH for its efforts and has consistently encouraged it to continue to work for and with the Haitian population.

After the earthquake, the UN secretary-general requested additional resources for MINUSTAH, including police, to strengthen the mission's work in Haiti. Canada supported this request for more resources in these dire circumstances. Moreover, we provided additional personnel to the mission, something I will return to momentarily.

These additional personnel were necessary both in the post-earthquake context and in the lead-up to the Haitian elections in November, giving MINUSTAH a role in both. MINUSTAH's authorized uniform strength currently remains at 8,940 troops and 4,391 civilian police, alongside 1,900 civilians.

In his latest report on MINUSTAH in September of this year, the UN secretary-general further noted that, “Consolidating any gains in Haiti will depend in large part on sustained support from the international community, including to MINUSTAH”.

The secretary-general also recommended maintaining mission staff at its current level until the security environment has been assessed after the inauguration of a new president and the new government. Canada supported this cautious approach, as did the UN Security Council. Under the current mission mandate, the numbers of military and police personnel have been maintained.

In addition, the Security Council asked the Secretary-General to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the security situation following the election and the transfer of power to a new government in 2011.

The Secretary-General's report also underscored the importance of the authority given to MINUSTAH to provide direct logistical support and technical expertise to Haitian officials, though this authority is temporary. Because the earthquake dealt a serious blow to Haiti's bureaucracy and the state infrastructure, Canada agreed with the importance of allowing MINUSTAH to continue to play this role until other support mechanisms can take over.

Canada has been clear that this temporary direct support must be part of a process of constructive co-operation with the host government that strives, through training and mentoring, to build that government's capacity to maintain stability and to deliver services to its citizens.

Our government is committed to keeping our activities aligned with Haitian priorities with a view to transitioning back all governance functions to Haitian authorities once the interim need has passed.

In this vein, Canada supports the continuation of MINUSTAH's work to strengthen Haiti's justice and security systems in the areas of police, corrections and border services, to provide complementary support to MINUSTAH's work in this area. The assistance provided by the stabilization and reconstruction task force, known by its acronym START, through the global peace and security fund in Haiti, focuses primarily on the reform of the justice and security system.

Since 2006, Canada has provided nearly $72 million to fund the purchase of equipment to allow the Haitian national police to patrol on land and on sea for the construction of facilities for both Haitian police and corrections officers, as well as to provide funding for the improvement of community security and the re-establishment of the justice system.

Canada believes that MINUSTAH will continue to play a vital role as we collectively work to put Haiti back on the path toward long-term prosperity. For this reason, Canada is proud to contribute significantly to MINUSTAH.

After the earthquake, Canada increased the number of police officers available for deployment. Up to 150 police have been authorized for deployment under the Canadian police arrangement. As of this month, there are 132 Canadian police officers serving in Haiti under this arrangement, including the MINUSTAH deputy police commissioner for operations.

Canada also increased its capacity to deploy officers from the Correctional Service of Canada to MINUSTAH to up to 25. Seventeen officers are currently serving in Haiti thanks to DFAIT's global peace and security fund.

In addition, the Canadian Forces deployed an additional five staff officers initially for six months. The Minister of National Defence recently announced the extension of this deployment to April 2011.

The Government of Canada's support to MINUSTAH is another clear example of the priority we give to the people of Haiti. This support is mirrored by our partners in the hemisphere whose contributions demonstrate the importance of the continent's solidarity for the sustainable development of Haiti.

We believe that this unique engagement is opening a new era of hemispheric co-operation. Thus, the Government of Canada will remain strongly committed to MINUSTAH, including by continuing to deploy police, corrections and Canadian Forces personnel to the mission by continuing to play a key role in the Group of Friends of Haiti in New York, which helps to develop MINUSTAH's mandate, and by supporting key projects to assist the consolidation of Haiti's police, correctional services, border management and justice sectors, in order to complement and to support MINUSTAH in these areas.

[Jim Maloway, NDP, Elmwood—Transcona, MB]

Madam Speaker, I am interested in knowing in terms of the future reconstruction in Haiti whether any studies have been done about the use of wood.

I am mindful that in China there was an earthquake in the last year or two and the Chinese were rebuilding, I believe, the entire area that was devastated by the earthquake using Canadian lumber because lumber can survive earthquake conditions much better than bricks and concrete can.

If we have an opportunity to help the situation by providing Canadian lumber and therefore assist if another earthquake occurred as wood can withstand the effects of an earthquake, it would be a win-win situation all around.

I have not heard anything about this. A bill passed the B.C. legislature and another one passed the Quebec legislature. We have a private member's bill before this House as we speak on this whole issue of encouraging the use of wood in government buildings.

What is the government doing with regard to exporting the idea to Haiti?

[Peter Kent, Conservative, Thornhill, ON]

Madam Speaker, I thank my hon. colleague for a very worthy question. I can tell my colleague that in fact it is a matter that is being addressed at the moment.

There have been frustrating delays, as my colleague mentioned, with regard to land reform with the allocation of property, the change of land title for population resettlement and for the establishment of light commercial and industrial centres which will require new housing for the labour forces which will be employed. The Minister of International Cooperation has been talking with a number of companies across Canada who are prepared to engage in a variety of construction projects, one of which does rely significantly on timber.

There are also Canadian companies which have experience in building hurricane-proof structures for business and government as well as for residential purposes. Among their central elements are wood skeletal structures which my hon. colleague quite correctly says have the flex and resilience to withstand not only extreme weather but also the climate conditions in which reconstruction will take place in Haiti.

[Laurie Hawn, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence]

Madam Speaker, Canadians are very generous people. They give freely at times like these and Canadian governments regardless of their stripe are very generous and give freely at times like these.

I wonder if my hon. colleague could comment on the importance of making sure that the money Canadians and the Government of Canada give at times like these is actually spent in areas that will do the most good. I am speaking obviously of corruption. In places like Haiti and Afghanistan it is just a reality. There is a lot of corruption and money that we generously give sometimes goes in the wrong direction.

I wonder if the Secretary of State could comment on what Canada is doing and the importance of making sure that the money we do give is going to the right recipient.