ELECTIONS CANADA CHIEF ON UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN

UNCLAS OTTAWA 003334

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

DEPARTMENT PASS TO S/CRS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CA HA PGOV KDEM PREL SCRS
SUBJECT: ELECTIONS CANADA CHIEF ON UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN
HAITI



1. (SBU) Head of Elections Canada Jean-Pierre Kingsley called
the Embassy November 7 to debrief us on his recent trip to
Haiti. He had met with Ambassador Wilkins just before his
trip.


2. (SBU) Overall Kingsley said he came away optimistic and
confident. He had a good deal of time with the head of
Haiti's electoral council, Jean Bernard, with whom he
discussed very practical, concrete issues. Kingsley thinks
it is still possible to maintain the December date for the
elections, while acknowledging that the council needs to do a
few things before then. Specifically, he thinks there is
adequate time to complete the required training before the
December date.


3. (SBU) Kingsley noted several concrete actions that still
need to be completed. First, the conditions for nationality
for candidates need to be set before any list of candidates
is developed. Second, Bernard needs to be empowered as CEO
of the electoral council in order to make decisions which
need to be made quickly. Third, electoral organizations
should be started from the basis of reaching the most rural
inaccessible areas first. Fourth, the media should be told
in advance how the results will be flowing in so as to avoid
accusations of holding back results. Finally, as the
credibility of the election will depend on the production of
voting cards, which he appreciates has slowed the process
down, Kingsley urges the search for workable alternatives,
such as use of receipts from registration which would allow
people to vote.


4. (SBU) Kingsley said the registration seems to have gone
well and while some may have complaints about not being able
to register, signing up 3.4 million voters is a major
achievement.
He was pleased with the collaboration of the OAS, Minusta and
the electoral council, as evidenced by a group going to
Mexico to look into alternatives for the voter card.
Kingsley closed by saying he has left open his availability
for a return trip, and would certainly be willing to provide
more support. Much depended on whether he himself would be
organizing an election in Canada.

Visit Canada's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/ottawa

WILKINS