Jan 10, 2013
Readers of McLeod Group blogs will know that the relationship between Canada and Haiti is an important issue for us. As we approach the third anniversary of the January 2010 earthquake that killed 225,000 Haitians and made over one million homeless, it is critical to take a look at the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country and largest recipient of Canadian bilateral aid.
Let’s take stock. While most of North America – certainly the media – was fixated on the effects of Sandy (the storm) at the end of October 2012, Haitians were trying to cope with the aftermath of Sandy (the hurricane). Very little attention was given in Canada to the death of more than 50 people and the tens of thousands made homeless by the torrential rains, wind and floods, which also affected the hundreds of thousands living in tent camps since the earthquake. Nor did we hear about the massive damage to water supply and sanitation infrastructure in Haiti, a country prone to the ravages of water-borne disease.
What is Canada doing? Well, since you asked, we’re pleased to inform you that the government recently sent International Cooperation Minister Julian Fantino for a visit “to gain a better understanding of how Canada’s contributions to Haiti are making a difference”, according to the CIDA press release.
Among the issues of concern to the minister during his November 25-28 visit: “The Government of Canada and Canadians expect transparency and accountability from the Government of Haiti given Canadians’ significant level of generosity.” Barely a mention of Hurricane Sandy, and no expression of sympathy for the Haitians affected.
What about transparency and accountability by CIDA and the Canadian government?
CIDA’s website provides little information on recent evaluations of its projects in Haiti.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs asked for $40 million immediately to assist 27,000 families whose homes were damaged, to rebuild over 20 destroyed cholera treatment centres and to maintain some momentum in the 2010 earthquake recovery and reconstruction efforts. Over one million people in Haiti already faced food shortages before the hurricane, and post-earthquake humanitarian needs remain high despite international efforts to assist Haitians to rebuild their lives and regain their livelihoods. There has been no announcement of additional support from Canada to help the country cope with the latest emergency.
Canada’s flagship recovery aid project in Haiti is the reconstruction of government offices in downtown Port-au-Prince. What about assisting Haiti to reduce its vulnerability to natural disasters, especially violent storms? If support for mother and child health is a global priority for Canada (remember the Muskoka summit initiative?) then how are we helping the Haitian people to meet the needs and support the rights of women and girls when it comes to health and security? CIDA publishes lists of commitments to build clinics and hospitals, to train nurses and midwives, and to increase the availability of free health care, but makes no mention of the relationship with Haitian partners.
Is Canada supporting action to bring about systemic change and improvement, providing help for Haitian institutions, both government and civil society? What are Haiti’s plans and how is Canada supporting them? What is Canada’s strategy to help reduce poverty in Haiti?
Helping make a sustainable difference is much more than bricks and mortar with a Canadian flag on top. What is needed is more partnership, some of the transparency that Fantino is so keen on, along with less patronising talk and paternalism.
Just when you thought it couldn’t get much worse, on January 4 Julian Fantino announced unexpectedly that new aid to Haiti would be frozen, because “…we are not getting the results Canadians have a right to expect.” In an expression of what may be the Conservative government’s true sentiments, he added “Are we going to take care of their problems forever? They also have to take charge of themselves.” Haiti’s startled ambassador to Canada had heard nothing of this. He called Canada’s ambassador in Haiti and discovered that he too had not been informed.
How’s that for transparency, partnership, friendship and solidarity?