Canada has committed $60 million to assist Haiti in combating its rampant gang activity, with a significant portion of the funding dependent on United Nations endorsement for an American initiative to enhance a police operation into a specialized “gang-suppression force.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, has revealed a $20 million allocation for maritime security in the Caribbean to intercept the influx of weapons and narcotics into and through Haiti. An additional $40 million is earmarked to back the Trump administration’s proposition for a gang-suppression force, contingent upon UN support for the proposal.
Anand, alongside her Haitian counterpart, co-hosted a gathering at the United Nations on Tuesday to seek a resolution to the ongoing violent turmoil that has gripped Haiti since 2021.
During a session at the House foreign affairs committee, officials faced queries from MPs regarding the possibility of Canadian troop deployment to Haiti as part of the UN operation. Officials emphasized that Canada’s primary focus is advocating for the U.S. plan.
The Bloc Québécois has called for increased pressure on the U.S. to prevent American firearms from entering Haiti, while the Conservatives have expressed worries about the potential diversion of foreign aid to Haitian criminal groups.