Foreign Affairs committee  There are around 2 million Haitians outside of Haiti, and there is a Haitian Minister of Foreign Affairs. For example, a number of our voluntary advisors are Haitian. I believe they're well received in most cases. However, they are permanent residents. They don't have Canadian citizenship.

Foreign Affairs committee  Can I briefly add something, please? We're talking about the private sector, and I can tell you that businesses almost completely disappeared in Haiti during the years of insecurity and violence. They were ravaged. Most of the infrastructure is now obsolete. Reinvestment is necessary in that area.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes. It's a good thing. But now, for the moment, it's only....

Foreign Affairs committee  First, I want to talk about women. I'm new to the country, but I'm not new to international cooperation or to this issue. I haven't done any studies on the subject, but I realize that Haitian society has remained standing for so long because of women and their work. They are the backbone of the country, but they don't take part in decision-making, except that of the female Minister of Health in the foreign government.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you for clarifying those four points.

Foreign Affairs committee  First, with regard to the skills at Haitian universities, we found ourselves with some great thinkers. There are a lot of skills at Haitian universities from a human resources standpoint. It should also be said that a number of professors, from Laval University, UQAM and the University of Montreal, for example, are travelling back and forth.

Foreign Affairs committee  My name is Elena Alvarado, and I'm the senior program officer of the voluntary cooperation program in Haiti. The post-secondary sector is one component of the voluntary cooperation program. Our four partners are: CECI, which works with civil society organizations; SACO, which works in development in the economic sector; the Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation; and the Paul Gérin-Lajoie Foundation, which works in basic education.