Global Affairs Canada has announced that Canada is likely to send RCMP officers to Haiti as part of a multinational military intervention. This deployment will focus on training and preventing sexual violence. Lisa Vandehei, the head of an interdepartmental task force on Haiti at Global Affairs Canada, stated that the planning for Canada’s training mission is still ongoing. The United Nations Security Council has approved a multinational force to combat violent gangs in Haiti, with Kenya offering to lead the mission. Vandehei mentioned that Canada is still assessing its contribution and that Kenya is prepared to deploy within 90 days of ratifying the mission.
The training provided by the RCMP will specifically target the Haitian National Police in technical areas. Canadian-trained officers will then go on to train their Haitian peers in a model that emphasizes collaboration and knowledge sharing. Canada aims to ensure that the police in Haiti are equipped with the necessary skills and resources to maintain order even after foreign forces withdraw. The goal is to establish sustainable institutions and support a viable democracy in Haitian society.
Global Affairs Canada is also focused on preventing sexual and gender-based violence in Haiti. Gangs have been using sexual violence as a means of controlling the population. Canada acknowledges the widespread sexual exploitation reported during past military interventions in Haiti and is committed to addressing this issue. The Canadian government will work with Kenya and the United States to bring lessons learned from previous missions in Haiti to the table.
Haiti has been facing a profound security crisis characterized by violent gangs, cholera outbreaks, and restricted access to essential resources. The request for international intervention has divided Haitians, but it is supported by the UN and the US. The Liberal government in Canada has imposed sanctions on Haitian political and economic elites in an effort to foster consensus among political actors and to provide support for stability and eventual elections. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expressed concerns about the long-term stability that would result from a military intervention, citing previous interventions that have increased instability in Haiti.
Chalmers LaRose, a political-science lecturer, criticized the proposed intervention as a mistake that would lead to more violence and undemocratic governance in Haiti. He argued that external actors should not intervene without an inter-Haitian consensus. In recent months, Canada has been working on strengthening the Haitian National Police. The International Security Assistance Coordination Group, led by Canada, manages the support provided by various countries to the HNP. Canada is coordinating contributions from over 26 countries, assessing how foreign equipment can best be used in Haiti, and ensuring that it aligns with local needs and existing resources. A training calendar is being developed to address the identified gaps in training for Haitian and foreign police officers. The goal is to provide training in a way that does not strain the already stretched police force, considering that there are only around 9,000 police officers for a population of over 11 million people.
Ontario Senator Gwen Boniface, who has experience in transnational policing, including in Haiti, expressed support for Canada’s contribution but acknowledged the need to balance international commitments with domestic staffing constraints. Vandehei emphasized that the complexity of the situation in Haiti requires a nuanced approach, as gangs have effectively become the government and justice system in some areas, despite inflicting violence on the local population.
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