Statement by Minister Mackay

January 18, 2010

Sunday January 18th 2010

Thank you.

Je voudrais tout d’abord exprimer mes plus sincères condoléances aux familles et amis qui ont perdu un être cher, et a toutes les personnes qui sont toujours en attente de nouvelles de leur famille et de leurs amis suite aux événements tragiques survenus mardi dernier en Haïti.

Et permettez-moi en premier lieu de souligner les efforts remarquables des membres des Forces canadiennes sur le terrain en Haïti, qui ont permis de secourir avec succès de nombreux Canadiens, parmi lesquels 17 élèves de niveau secondaire.  Ces élèves de la vallée de Slocan en Colombie-Britannique n’étaient arrivés que depuis 45 minutes seulement lorsque le tremblement de terre s’est produit. Après avoir survécu à cette terrible épreuve, une majorité de ces élèves ont été transportés par autobus à l’ambassade canadienne.  Plus tôt dans la journée, deux autres personnes faisant partie de ce même groupe ont été évacués pour urgence médicale par un hélicoptère des Forces canadiennes.  Ce groupe d’élèves est maintenant entre bonnes mains sur le site de l’ambassade canadienne et ils sont maintenant de retour au Canada.

To provide a brief update on what CF assets have committed to support this massive humanitarian assistance effort:

The Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), including engineering, medical, logistical, and defence and security personnel;
A Naval Task Force, made up of a destroyer and a frigate, and a CH-124 Sea King helicopter;
Six CH-146 Griffon helicopters; 
One light infantry battalion, standing by to deploy;
CC-177 Globemaster and CC-130 Hercules airlift support; and
Medical facilities.

In fact, I was at CFB Trenton yesterday and witnessed the extraordinary efforts made by the dedicated men and women of the Air Movements Section, loading Canada’s new CC-177 aircraft with fuel, tents, and other supplies, supporting the CF’s ability to answer the call in response to this crisis.

In the past 24 hrs we have delivered 91,340 pounds of aid, bringing the total to more than 313 tonnes transported by the CF. This includes medical supplies, logistical supplies, vehicles, communications equipment, basic food rations and a sand water purification system. Two additional sand water purification systems are scheduled to arrive today.

CF members are providing security to both the recently established Belgian Role 2 hospital at L’Hopital de la Paix and the Canadian embassy. CF medical personnel are working tirelessly treating injured Canadians arriving at the Embassy and at the Role 2 hospital.  CF engineers are conducting structural assessments and lending expertise, while Search and Rescue technicians and CF firefighters are providing expertise and assisting at the Hospital in Search and Rescue efforts. 

OP Hestia is a complex operation that requires an immense amount of coordination and support, both domestically and internationally. We continue to work together as part of a whole of government approach. The ongoing efforts of our Government and international partners to support the international rescue, recovery and reconstruction efforts to the devastated areas of Haiti demonstrates our Government’s dedication, not only to Canadian citizens affected in Haiti, but the country of Haiti as well.
Les Canadiens et les Haïtiens ont de nombreux points en commun, et en particulier le fait qu’on parle dans nos deux pays le français.  Cette particularité favorisera notre mission et notre capacité de travailler de concert avec les Haïtiens tout au long de cette opération.  En outre, nous comptons, au sein des Forces canadiennes, plusieurs membres qui parlent le créole, et ces derniers seront appelés à jouer un rôle important dans le cadre de cette opération.
Our Canadian Forces personnel are currently demonstrating their skill and ability in managing three major operations, including OP PODIUM where more than 4,000 CF members are in the process of being deployed to the Vancouver region in support of the 2010 Winter Olympics; 3000 men and women are deployed in Afghanistan; and most recently we have committed up to 2000 personnel to assist in OP HESTIA. This number includes the addition of 1000 CF personnel, announced yesterday, who will be deployed to Haiti, most of whom will come from CFB Valcartier.

As is becoming increasingly evident, the scale and scope of the devastation wrought by the earthquake is enormous and presents a substantial challenge to Canada and our international partners.  But, the momentum shown thus far illustrates that we are making a positive difference.

I am proud of how quickly the Canadian Forces have responded to these challenges. On the ground in Haiti, Brigadier-General Guy Laroche, the Commander of the Canadian Forces Operational Task Force is conducting extensive consultations and reconnaissance to determine where Canadian efforts will have the greatest effect. We continue to refine our mission and area of operations in consultation with the Haitian government and our international partners.