OLLO – 2021-01207377 – CORR-2021-11-15 – February 6, 2023

Re: Addressing The Urgent Situations In Haiti

Monday, November 15, 2021

The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, PC, MP
Prime Minister of Canada
Langevin Block
Ottawa, Ontario KlA 0A2

Dear Prime Minister,

The Canadian media are reporting today that Canada is withdrawing its non-essential personnel from its embassy in Haiti. If this situation has become urgent for all family members of Canadian employees at the embassy, we can only imagine the agony Haitian families are feeling.

Haiti has been hit hard this year, experiencing the assassination of its president, an earthquake, hurricanes, climate change destroying subsistence agriculture crops, and migrants being chased by police on horseback at the US–Mexico border.

As you know, I myself am an immigrant of Haitian origin. I would like to reiterate what many members of the Haitian diaspora have said regarding the immediate and concrete actions that Canada can take right away to answer their urgent call.

You are no doubt busy drafting the Speech from the Throne and mandate letters for the members of your Cabinet. Canada has historically been a safe and welcoming destination for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. In the context of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, Canada continues to support Afghan nationals and their families. It is in this spirit that I implore you to consider implementing special measures for receiving Haitians seeking to settle in Canada and the rapid processing of their applications for permanent residence and family reunification.

I am convinced that these people will strengthen the Canadian social fabric and will strive, like their fellow Canadians, to build an even more cohesive, just and equitable society. They will also help meet Canada’s urgent need for labour, and foster the vitality of French-speaking minority communities while enabling the government to achieve its Francophone immigration targets.

Yours sincerely.

Senator

Marie-Françoise Mégie
MFM/nrt