By refusing to appoint a high-profile champion for Haiti, the Harper government is squandering an opportunity to mobilize the private sector and non-governmental organizations to make a real, lasting effect on redevelopment in Haiti, Liberal MPs said today.
“Of the three leading countries leading the rebuilding efforts in Haiti, Canada is the only one to refuse to appoint a special envoy to spearhead Canadian support for Haiti for the long-term,” said Liberal Foreign Affairs Critic Bob Rae. “Stephen Harper doesn’t want to lose control of the Haiti file, preferring to keep everything under the tight watch of the PMO, but unfortunately this isn’t in the best interests of the people of Haiti.”
A spokesperson for Foreign Affairs said that because Canada’s Haiti effort “is a government of Canada initiative of the prime minister of Canada,” the Harper government will not appoint a full-time champion to spearhead Canadian support for Haiti. The United States has drafted Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to mobilize relief and rebuilding efforts.
“Canada needs a special envoy for Haiti who can be constructive in a non-partisan spirit,” said Liberal MP Denis Coderre. “Canada’s ongoing participation in the reconstruction of Haiti requires someone capable of fostering a successful partnership with the Haitian community in the best interests of Haiti’s future.”
While no request has been made to former Prime Ministers Jean Chretien, Paul Martin or Brian Mulroney to help, Brazil, the other leading force in the redevelopment efforts, has also appointed an envoy to increase government efforts in Haiti with a private sector campaign.
“We saw the exact same thing happen with Afghanistan,” said Mr. Rae. “Other NATO countries appointed a special envoy to lead their country’s efforts in Afghanistan, while Canada refused. This time, the Prime Minister would rather score political points by taking credit for helping Haiti.”
“Canada needs a person of prominence – such as a former prime minister – to use his or her influence to reach the corporate sector and build community partnerships to maximize the ways we can help Haiti, now and into the future,” concluded Mr. Coderre.
