QUESTION PERIOD — Foreign Affairs
Haiti--International Commission of Inquiry
December 7, 2021
My question is for the Government Representative in the Senate. According to a December 3 article by Mr. Deglise in Le Devoir, on August 3, 2021, less than a month after Jovenel Moïse was murdered, the Haitian government officially asked the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, to create an “international commission of inquiry” and a special court.
Senator Gold, the investigation is stalled against a backdrop of violence, corruption and political obstruction to court hearings. Can you tell us if Canada will come out for or against Haiti’s official calls for the UN to create an international commission of inquiry? Or will it abstain altogether?
Canada continues to encourage Haitian authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the assassination of President Moïse and bring the perpetrators to justice. Canada has not yet received a formal request from Haitian authorities for support in this matter.
As for the creation of a UN international commission of inquiry into the assassination of President Moïse, with all due respect for Haiti’s national sovereignty, Canada would support such an initiative as a staunch defender of the fight against impunity. Currently, Canada’s total aid budget for Haiti is about C$89 million per year. We are attentive to the needs and aspirations of Haitians, so we remain flexible and ready to work with Haiti and the international community toward a more stable, democratic and prosperous future.
I would like to add that the request has in fact been made, so your response leaves me perplexed, Senator Gold, given that the article in Le Devoir clearly indicates that.
I will look into it further, even though, to my knowledge, the request has not been formally received. However, I apologize in advance if I am wrong. I will do more research with the information I was provided.
