Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly says Canada is determining how best to assist with an international military intervention in Haiti, without making clear whether this will involve a military role on Canada’s part.
“Canada has always been involved in issues related to Haiti. We will continue to be,” Joly told reporters Tuesday morning in Parliament in French.
“We want to do more. So we will continue these diplomatic conversations and I would say that we will also continue to support solutions that are by and for Haitians.”
The United Nations Security Council on Monday approved a multinational force to help combat violent gangs in Haiti. Kenya has offered to lead the force.
Joly said he spoke with his Kenyan counterpart and Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations, Bob Rae, about how Canada can be of help.
Haiti’s unelected prime minister called for international intervention last year, and the idea has caused division among Haitians, although it has support from the UN and Washington.
Joly did not specify the type of help his government has offered.
Haiti has faced a deep security crisis exacerbated by brazen criminal gangs since mid-2021, leading to rampant violence, cholera outbreaks and restricted access to water, food and healthcare.
Washington had asked Canada to lead a military intervention. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it is unclear whether such a move would lead to long-term stability, citing multiple previous interventions that he said made Haiti even less stable.
Canada’s top military general told media in March that there were not enough armed forces available to lead such a mission.
Instead, Joly has issued sanctions to multiple members of the political and economic elite in Haiti, arguing that this will lead to a consensus among political actors on how other countries can best help Haitians find stability and eventually hold elections.
