Skip to main content
new

The Harper government has offered to join an international committee overseeing the recount of the ballots in the disputed Haitian elections.

Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon spoke with Haitian President René Préval and Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive, expressing "Canada's concerns in terms of the irregularities" that took place in the Nov. 28 election.

He told CTV's Question Period that he encouraged both leaders to put in the "necessary tools to be able to correct this," and he says he received assurances they would.

He added that, "There is an opportunity of a mixed international committee that would be put in place to be able to go and supervise the recount of the ballots."

Two of the presidential candidates are refusing to participate in a recount until clear procedures are put forward by the Provisional Electoral Council. There are fears that this process could be rigged.

Mr. Cannon says that he is waiting for more details as to the role Canada could play in the ballot recount that is expected to begin Monday.

The Harper government has been watching the situation in Haiti very closely. Earlier this week, Mr. Cannon told reporters that the Canadian ambassador to Haiti had spoken to Mr. Préval, raising concerns about the electoral process and the ballot irregularities.

This comes as Sarah Palin, the former U.S. Republican vice-presidential candidate and potential 2012 presidential candidate, made a visit to Haiti. She was with an American evangelical group, Samaritan's Purse.

Ms. Palin toured a cholera clinic, comforting the young victims, and she also visited a camp that shelters victims of the earthquake.

"I've really enjoyed meeting this community, Ms. Palin said. "They are so full of joy. We are so fortunate in America and we are responsible for helping those less fortunate."

The Foreign Affairs Minister, meanwhile, is meeting Monday with United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa in Wakefield, Que.

He said the three will discuss the situation in Haiti, especially how slowly aid seems to be moving to help rebuild the country after the January earthquake.

"It's slow, it is extremely slow. There are problems, for instance, in terms of land tenure. So these are preoccupations and concerns," Mr. Cannon said.

But he said that Canada is supporting the action plan that was developed at the UN conference earlier this year, in which an interim committee decides on the types of contracts that go to Haiti for rebuilding efforts.

The situation in Haiti has been grave since the results of the November vote were announced.

Two candidates -_ one who is Mr. Préval's hand-picked successor, Jude Célestin, and a former first lady, Mirlande Manigat - are to be in a January run-off. But a popular musician, Michel Martelly, was narrowly edged out by the Préval candidate. This has resulted in the violent protests.

Mr. Martelly and Ms. Manigat are both questioning the recount process. Added to this has been a devastating cholera outbreak.

Mr. Cannon, however, said Sunday he believes that the chaos has settled in the streets of Haiti.

He said the Haitian President and Prime Minister had made assurances during his conversations Friday that "calm would be restored."

Indeed, markets and banks were open for business for the first time since Tuesday, when the protests erupted after the election results were announced.

Interact with The Globe