OTTAWA — Canada is hosting a virtual summit of regional leaders to discuss the ongoing unrest in Haiti following last summer's killing of its president.
President Jovenel Moise was killed July 7 in a shooting at his house that also injured his wife.
Migrants from Haiti and a number of Central American countries have also been moving northward, putting pressure on the southern border of the United States and creating widespread instability in the Western Hemisphere.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly will convene the summit virtually on Friday while she is on the final leg of a three-country European trip to discuss the Russian military buildup on the Ukraine border that threatens all of Europe.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry will address the meeting.
They will be joined by representatives of the United Nations, the Caribbean Community, or CARICOM, the International Organisation of la Francophonie and the Organization of American States for what Global Affairs Canada describes as an attempt to co-ordinate security efforts and foster political stability and sustainable development.
"Canada and Haiti have long been united by a deep friendship and close collaboration. As a longtime friend and partner, Canada stands ready to support Haiti-led solutions to the country’s most pressing issues, and remains committed to supporting Haiti for a more democratic, safer and more prosperous future," Joly said in a statement.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 18, 2022.
The Canadian Press
