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January 12th, 2015

Official Opposition statement on the fifth anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti

Official Opposition Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar (Ottawa Centre) and International Development critic Hélène Laverdière (Laurier–Sainte-Marie) made the following statement on the fifth anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti:

“Five years after the earthquake that devastated Haiti in early 2010, it is tragic to see that locals are still living in extreme economic, political and social instability.

“The NDP believes Canada should be leading the way in Haiti, by implementing a long-term sustainable development strategy, especially as it pertains to developing democratic institutions.

“On this tragic anniversary, we reiterate our request to the Canadian government to move ahead with reconstruction projects in Haiti.

“In particular, the New Democratic Party has urged the Canadian government to respect its engagements toward the Haitian people, including its still unrealized 2010 commitment to develop a National Police Academy. This academy would go a long way to ensuring public safety in Haiti and provide the infrastructure and equipment needed to train investigators and commissioners in the Police Nationale d'Haïti (PNH).

“Of course, today, we also join the Haitian people in commemorating the hundreds of thousands of people who lost their lives in the 2010 earthquake.”