Contribution will expand reconstruction program backed by IDB

Washington, United States of America – Canada will make a CAD$75 million grant to Haiti for a road reconstruction program financed and implemented by the Inter-American Development Bank, Canadian authorities announced.

Canada’s Minister for International Cooperation, Beverly J. Oda, and the Minister for Public Works and Government Services, Michael M. Fortier, made the announcement on Friday, February 15 in Montreal.

"All Canadians can be proud of our accomplishments in Haiti,” said Minister Oda, who announced additional grants totaling nearly CAD$50 million for other projects involving education, healthcare for mothers and disaster prevention. "Canada is helping to provide Haitians the services they need immediately and creating the conditions for long-term success and prosperity."

The CAD$75 million grant will expand a program to improve and maintain 146 kilometers of primary roads and 250 kilometers of rural roads in Haiti’s southern peninsula. Canada’s contribution will finance the reconstruction of a 92-kilometer road between the cities of Les Cayes and Jérémie.

The IDB expects to contribute US$100 million over a four-year period to the program, which will boost regional economic and social development by linking areas of Haiti that are virtually isolated from the rest of the country.