Canada: MEPs in favour of non-military intervention in Haiti

2023-05-05T19:35:16.519Z

Highlights: A Canadian parliamentary committee recommends that the government not intervene militarily in Haiti. MEPs, meeting in a group that deals with foreign affairs issues, suggest non-military intervention. The MPs suggest instead that the leaders increase economic sanctions against the leaders of armed gangs. Children, left to fend for themselves since many schools closed, should be better cared for, according to the committee. If so, this vulnerable population could find itself in the hands of armed gang looking for child soldiers, they say.

A Canadian parliamentary committee recommends that the government not intervene militarily in Haiti. MEPs, meeting in a group that deals with foreign affairs issues, suggest...

Canada: MEPs in favour of non-military intervention in Haiti

A parent, carrying their child after picking him up from school, walks past police conducting an anti-gang operation in the Bel-Air neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, March 3, 2023. (Illustrative image) AP - Odelyn Joseph

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

A Canadian parliamentary committee recommends that the government not intervene militarily in Haiti. The MPs, meeting in a group that deals with foreign affairs issues, suggest instead that the leaders increase economic sanctions against the leaders of armed gangs.

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With our correspondent in Quebec City, Pascale Guéricolas

If Justin Trudeau seeks support for his strategy of non-intervention in Haiti, the members of the parliamentary committee on Foreign Affairs deliver it to him on a silver platter. These elected officials, from different political backgrounds, recommend that the government focus on strengthening the Haitian national police rather than deploying Canadian soldiers on the ground. Canada has already sent armoured vehicles to Haiti to support police work.

Another suggestion from parliamentarians is to better fund humanitarian aid and, above all, to adopt a long-term strategy. Children, left to fend for themselves since many schools closed, should be better cared for, according to the committee. If so, this vulnerable population could find itself in the hands of armed gangs looking for child soldiers.

Finally, members would like Canada to be able to convince other countries to impose economic sanctions on band leaders. A process that still lacks transparency in their eyes.

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Canada: MEPs in favour of non-military intervention in Haiti

Canada: MEPs in favour of non-military intervention in Haiti

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