Cablegate: Quebec Looking for Role On Haiti

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

292002Z Mar 05

UNCLAS QUEBEC 000040

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ECON CA
SUBJECT: QUEBEC LOOKING FOR ROLE ON HAITI

REF: MONTREAL 1574

1. GOQ Ministry of International Relations (MRI) officials
offered to brief CG March 28 regarding Quebec's interest in
contributing in some way to Haiti reconstruction. (Note:
Montreal hosts the largest concentration of Haitians in Canada,
estimated at 125,000, according to GOC officials. see reftel.)
MRI Assistant Deputy Minister for Bilateral and Francophone
Affairs Gaston Harvey said the GOQ would be sending a team to
Haiti April 1 to explore the possibility of Quebec's providing
ongoing advice to Haitian government officials on strategic
planning and budget management. The idea, according to the MRI,
is for Quebec bureaucrats to work on a TDY basis with Haitian
officials.

2. Harvey said Quebec decided to contribute in this area after
consultation with the Canadian federal government. (He noted in
passing that Canada's Ambassador to Haiti was presently in
Quebec City for consultations.) The GOQ considered taking a
lead on rule of law and elections, but the Canadian federal
government nixed these as it is already working in these areas.
Harvey stressed that the GOQ has no desire to compete with the
GOC on Haiti but is looking for a role that is complementary.

3. Harvey reviewed for CG current Quebec province participation
in Haiti reconstruction. Seventy-five percent of Canada's
civpol contribution in Haiti is from Quebec, mainly from the
Surete de Quebec [the provincial police] and Montreal police, he
said. As for infrastructure support, GOQ-owned Hydro Quebec
previously took charge of and successfully restarted electricity
in the town of Jacmel. Hydro Quebec will work next on
electricity for Les Cayes and may also address electricity needs
in Gonaives.

4. MRI U.S. desk director Ginette Chenard confirmed that Premier
Charest intends to visit Haiti in June. She ruled out the
possibility (floated late last year by the MRI) of Charest's
visiting Haiti along with Florida Governor Bush. The Premier
has been in consultation with the governors of Florida,
Massachussetts and New York to find ways to get the Haitian
diaspora to contribute to Haitian reconstruction but no specific
action has as yet been agreed upon.

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