Volume 18, Number 20, May 12, 2004

Canadian Forces Mission in Haiti Extension

The Canadian Forces has deployed about 500 personnel and six CH-146 Griffon helicopters to Haiti to assist the United Nations-sanctioned multinational force in bringing stability to the country. This CF commitment is named Operation HALO.

Task Force Haiti (TFH) deployed in early March 2004 as part of the United Nations Multinational Interim Force (MIF). Formed in late February, the MIF has a 90-day mandate to contribute to a secure and stable environment in Haiti, to facilitate the delivery of relief aid to those in need, and to help the Haitian Police and Coast Guard maintain law and order and protect human rights.

At the request of the United Nations, the Canadian Forces (CF) mission in Haiti will extend beyond its current mandate in order to permit Task Force Haiti (TFH) to assist in the expansion from the Multinational Interim Force (MIF) to the larger follow-on United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti. All CF elements are expected to return to Canada by mid-September 2004.

The role of the UN Stabilization Mission in Haiti will be to support the continuation of a peaceful and constitutional political process, and the maintenance of a secure and stable environment.

Operation HALO comprises approximately 500 personnel:

• A company group primarily from the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, located in Gagetown, New Brunswick;

• 430 Tactical Helicopter Squadron, with six CH-146 Griffon helicopters, from Valcartier, Quebec;

• A National Command Element that links the Chief of the Defence Staff in Ottawa with Task Force Haiti; and

• A National Support Element that delivers centralized administrative and logistics support services to Task Force Haiti.

Airlift support for this deployment is provided by squadrons operating CC-130 Hercules and CC-150 Polaris transport aircraft from 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario.

Upon completion of the initial mandate, most of the company group, as well as some command and support personnel, will be replaced by another company group and support personnel drawn primarily from 2 RCR. The rest of the task force personnel will remain to the end of the mandate extension.

The MIF was formed in late February to contribute to a secure and stable environment in Haiti, to facilitate the delivery of relief aid to those in need, and to help the Haitian Police and Coast Guard maintain law and order and protect human rights.

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