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Canada deploys two Kingston-class ships to Haiti in response to the worsening security crisis

HMCS MONCTON sails the Atlantic Ocean during Operation PROJECTION on January 27, 2022. (Photo: Corporal Jaclyn Buell, Canadian Armed Forces photo) / Le NCSM MONCTON navigue dans l’océan Atlantique au cours de l’opération PROJECTION, le 27 janvier 2022. (Photo : Caporale Jaclyn Buell, Forces armées canadiennes)

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NATIONAL DEFENCE / CANADIAN ARMED FORCES 

“Canada is committed to supporting the Haitian people, who are striving for a peaceful and more prosperous future. By transporting Haitian-purchased armoured vehicles, conducting patrol aircraft overflights, and now, deploying Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels, we will continue to step up with important contributions to Haiti’s security. We will continue to support Haitian-led efforts to build stability, and we thank our Royal Canadian Navy sailors for their contributions to this mission.”

– The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of National Defence

On 16 February, 2023, the Government of Canada announced the deployment of two Royal Canadian Navy Kingston-class Vessels to Haiti in light of the worsening security crisis in the country. Canada is providing this assistance in response to Haiti’s request for assistance as violence continues to escalate in the country.

His Majesty’s Canadian Ships (HMCS) Glace Bay and Moncton, with a combined company of over 90 Royal Canadian Navy sailors, will conduct presence patrols in and around Haitian waters in the coming weeks, focusing on the waters in the vicinity of Port-au-Prince.

The deployment to the region will contribute to Canada’s maritime situational awareness and will seek to bolster efforts to establish and maintain peace and security for the people of Haiti.

The Kingston-class Maritime Coastal Defence Vessels (MCDVs) are multi-role vessels with a primary mission of coastal surveillance and patrol.

HMCS Glace Bay and Moncton have been deployed since mid-January on Operation PROJECTION in West Africa, building security relationships and capacity with nations in the Gulf of Guinea. They are expected to arrive in Haitian waters in the coming weeks and remain in the region for a number of weeks.

Security assistance is one of four pillars of Canada’s whole of government response to the crisis in Haiti, which also includes diplomacy, sanctions, and humanitarian and development assistance.

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