Not even the US can get Canada into Haiti, now what?

By Deandrea Hamilton and Rashaed Esson 

Editorial Staff 

#Canada, March 27, 2023 – No deal.  Canada is sticking to its plan and will not send military force into Haiti.  This despite a plea from Joe Biden, the President of the United States of America who would have made the suggestion in person during a two day, one night visit to Canada last week.

While it is unclear what exactly this means for an end to the abuses and anarchy which are stymying the restoration of Haiti’s democracy, it is clearly a dismal outcome from that bi-lateral conversation.

Justin Trudeau, Canadian Prime Minister announced on Friday at a Joint Conference with Joe Biden in Ottawa, during his visit last week – March 23-24 – that Canada is prepared to provide $100 million Canadian dollars to fortify the Haitian National Police Force amid the humanitarian crisis in the Republic.

It’s the same stance taken with CARICOM leaders by Trudeau in February; they had also hoped for Canadian forces to physically help in shutting down the gangs which have built themselves up as the unofficial government of Haiti. The brutality of these gangs is rampant, unprecedented and unable to be corralled by the current manpower of the Haitian National Police.

At this point, this is indisputably the path Canada has decided to take despite the US President’s hope Canada would commission troops to the republic.  The US had believed, according to media reports, its history of stepping in would have given them exemption from calming this current chaos.

Trudeau dashed that hope, siding with his Cabinet to resist the temptation of marshaling military muscle to Haiti.  Not only has Canada emphatically expressed that it lacks the capacity to quell the violence, but it also doubts any effort of intervention would work.

“Outside intervention, as we’ve done in the past, hasn’t worked to create long-term stability for Haiti, so we are now working closely with partners on the ground to enable the Haitian National Police and other institutions to stabilize the country in this very difficult time,” he said to Newfoundland reporters recently, prior to Biden’s visit.

The American president, who is the first to visit in seven years and the first to overnight in Canada in many more, showed a brave face when questioned about Canada’s decision not to put boots on the ground.

“No, I am not disappointed.”

Meanwhile the United Nations has reported that this year alone, Gangs have killed 531 people, kidnapped 177 and have injured some 300 others even as Cholera ravages thousands of the millions who are malnourished and starving in Haiti; which sits a stone’s throw away from the United States.