Canada's municipalities reaffirm commitment to rebuild Haiti on eve of second anniversary of 2010 earthquake (11/01/2012)
On the eve of the second year anniversary of the earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), the Union des municipalités du Québec (UMQ) and the City of Montreal reaffirmed their commitment to support Haitian communities rebuild, through the Municipal Cooperation Program (MCP).
"Canada's municipalities are committed to continue working to rebuild Haiti, and help restore hope and the quality of life of the Haitian people," said Berry Vrbanovic, president of the FCM. "The work that has been accomplished over the past year under the Municipal Cooperation Program (PCM) demonstrates the power of partnership with the municipal sector and the vital role that municipalities play in meeting challenges and responding to disasters. It's a model we also need to use for the challenges we face here in Canada."
The MCP is jointly implemented by FCM, the Union des Municipalités du Quebec and the City of Montreal, with financial support from the Government of Canada through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Its purpose is to strengthen local Haitian communities hit hard by the January 2010 earthquake, so that they can provide essential services to their inhabitants and play a leading role in their country's reconstruction. The program is designed to rebuild the basic institutional and administrative capacities of the City of Port-au-Prince and the communes of Gressier, Léogane, Petit-Goâve and Grand-Goâve, which make up Les Palmes region, as well as provide support to the Fédération Nationale des Mairies d'Haïti (FENAMH), the Fédération nationale des CASEC (FENACAH) and the Ministère des Collectivités territoriales et de la Défense nationale (MICTDN).
"As part of the Municipal Cooperation Program Canada-Haiti (MCP), the City of Montreal is committed to support Port-au-Prince's rebuilding efforts," said Gérald Tremblay, Mayor of Montreal. "We can already see results and we will continue our support in the coming year. Our objective is for the municipal government to be able to provide certain services to its citizens."
Since its start in early 2011, the MCP has helped Haitian communities launch a series of projects aimed at restoring facilities that were severely damaged by the earthquake, and helped Canada's municipalities share their expertise in land management and planning, governance and information management with the City of Port-au-Prince and the four communes of Les Palmes region.
"The UMQ members were deeply touched by the tragedy that changed the lives of so many Haitians on January 12, 2010. As a result, in addition to working through the MCP, they also worked to put in place an emergency fund to help restore and build municipal infrastructure in the four communities of Les Palmes region. On the eve of the second anniversary of the earthquake, we want to assure the Haitian people of our continued support, solidarity and respect, and wish them God speed," said Eric Forest, UMQ president and mayor of Rimouski.
