QUEBEC LOOKING FOR ROLE ON HAITI

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.