First attempt to airlift Canadians out of Haiti grounded by weather

Holly Cabrera · CBC News · Posted: Mar 25, 2024 2:50 PM EDT | Last Updated: 22 minutes ago

André François Giroux told Power & Politics that Canada's new assisted departure operation for Haiti, announced Monday, will resume when heavy rain and wind conditions abate.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said Monday Canada will transport eligible Canadians by helicopter from Haiti to the neighbouring Dominican Republic, where they can catch flights home.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says the government's current plan is to evacuate vulnerable Canadian citizens from Haiti to the Dominican Republic, but added it's exploring 'other options' amid worsening violence.

"The situation may be very dangerous," she said, adding that the gathering point is in a "green zone," a safe place, which will make transporting Canadians to the Dominican Republic easier.

The department said on March 23 it had responded to 245 inquiries since violence erupted earlier this month among rival gangs, leaving foreigners stranded amid a wave of kidnappings, robberies and violent crime.