Canada has announced a commitment of $60 million to assist Haiti in combating gang violence. However, most of this funding is contingent upon the United Nations approving a U.S. proposal to transform the current police mission into a more robust gang-suppression force. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand made the announcement during a United Nations event aimed at addressing the ongoing instability in Haiti, which has been exacerbated since the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.

Of the total funding, $20 million is designated for enhancing maritime security in the Caribbean to curb the flow of arms and drugs into Haiti. The remaining $40 million is intended to support the U.S. initiative, which seeks to replace the existing UN police mission with a new force, but only if the UN endorses the plan.

Anand emphasized that Canada is focused on advocating for the U.S. proposal rather than deploying troops to Haiti. "That is not being contemplated at the current time," she stated. The Canadian government has faced questions from lawmakers about the possibility of sending troops as part of the UN mission, but officials reiterated that their priority is to support the U.S. initiative.

Haiti has been plagued by lawlessness, with gangs exerting control over much of the territory. The UN has reported that gangs have "near-total control" in the country, leading to the displacement of 1.3 million people and thousands of deaths. The Kenyan police have been leading a mission in Haiti for the past year, but they have struggled to restore order. This mission, while supported by the UN, is not an official peacekeeping operation and lacks the resources that would accompany such a designation.

Anand noted that while Kenya has made commendable efforts, there is a need for broader international participation. The U.S. and Panama are working on a UN resolution to restructure the current mission, which would establish a new UN office in Port-au-Prince and aim to deploy over 5,000 troops.

The UN Security Council is scheduled to discuss the situation in Haiti in the coming week. In light of security concerns, Canada has withdrawn its diplomats from its embassy in Haiti. Historically, Canada has been a significant financial supporter of Haiti, committing $100 million to bolster the Haitian police and $86 million to support the Kenyan mission.