Canada’s National Report: Implementation of the Fourth Summit of the Americas

Canada has been actively engaged in 2007 in meeting its commitments in support of the Summit of the Americas process, with a focus on strengthening democracy, prosperity, and security in the hemisphere. This report highlights a sampling of activities undertaken from January to December 2007. Previous reports are available at the website of the Summit Secretariat of the Organization of American States.

1. 
   CREATING DECENT WORK
   

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  In 2007, Canada’s Minister of Labour announced an $8.5 million fund for labour-related technical assistance projects in the Americas, focusing on the Andean, Central American, and Caribbean regions.
  

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  In 2007-2008, the Canada Summer Jobs program created summer jobs opportunities for young people 15 to 30 years old who were full-time students and intended to return to their studies in the next academic year. Funding was allocated across provinces and territories for not-for-profit organizations, while the budget for public sector employers and smaller private sector employers was managed on a national basis. 
  
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  Through Canada’s First Nations and Inuit Youth Employment Strategy 2006 - 2007, approximately 122,000 young Aboriginals received mentored work experience to develop and enhance employability skills, provide exposure to a variety of career options and promote the vital role of education in increased labour market participation.
  
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  Canada contributed about $478,000 to the Organization of American States to support the Partnership in Opportunities for Employment Through Technology in the Americas initiative. This project seeks to provide technology-job training and placement services to “at risk” youth in the countries of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, namely Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St-Lucia, St-Kitts and Nevis and St-Vincent and the Grenadines.
  

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  Canada contributed some $250,000 to the Organization of American States for the development of the Network-Based Capacity Building on Social Protection Strategies for the Caribbean.
  

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  Canada launched a refocused Urban Aboriginal Strategy concentrated on job training and entrepreneurship for Aboriginal people living in towns and cities. It includes an investment of $68.5 million over five years to improve life and employment skills, and support to Aboriginal women, children and families.
  

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  From 2004 to 2009, Canada is contributing $2,100,000 to the Enhanced Occupational Health and Safety in Brazilian Industries project, which seeks to contribute to greater equity for industrial workers, employed in selected sectors in six Brazilian States.
  
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  Canada contributed $118,500 to increase the knowledge of workers and employers about occupational health and safety (OSH) and implement OSH programs at the plant level in targeted Organization of Eastern Caribbean States firms.
  

1Combating Smuggling and Trafficking in Persons

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  In 2007, Canada allocated an additional $6 million per year to strengthen existing federal efforts to combat the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children which will be directed at enforcement. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has raised awareness through enhanced training for immigration officers, border agents, and law enforcement officials across Canada, including through development of a training video on how to identify victims of trafficking.
  
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  In June 2007, Canada updated its guidelines to protect victims of human trafficking. The new measures extend the issuance of temporary resident permits to trafficked victims from 120 to 180 days, allowing the victim to apply for a work permit. Victims who receive the permits are eligible for health care benefits under the Interim Federal Health program. The measures are designed to help victims of trafficking escape the influence of their traffickers and recover from their ordeal.
  
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  Canada’s international prevention efforts include providing capacity-building to countries in the Americas, Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia to promote awareness of risks associated with human trafficking, to protect victims, as well as to strengthen national capacities to prosecute traffickers.
  

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  Through the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas, Canada provided $179,500 for a 12 month project aimed at analyzing the socio-labour situation of people with disabilities in nine Latin American countries, assessing the role of information and communication technology tools in the provision of capacity building and the potential of telework as an alternative for effectively inserting them into the labour force.
  
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  Canada’s 2007 budget allocated $50.5 million over two years to support improvements to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, in order to facilitate the process of hiring foreign workers, better respond to regional labour and skills shortages, and improving protection of foreign workers.
  
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  In December 2007, the province of Alberta announced the establishment of two temporary foreign worker advisory offices that will provide one-stop access to information and services for temporary workers. This includes help resolving employment standards or occupational health and safety issues, and other support. In addition, eight experienced employment standards officers have been appointed to investigate complaints from temporary foreign workers, as well as carry out inspections of companies that employ them.
  

2. 
   GROWTH WITH EMPLOYMENT
   

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  Canada contributed $20.5 million directly to Aboriginal entrepreneurs through Aboriginal Business Canada, helping 254 clients to establish or acquire a business and 264 clients to expand one. These contributions resulted in a total investment, from all sources, of $72.5 million in Aboriginal business growth and in the Canadian economy overall.
  
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  Through the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas, Canada provided $475,200 in funding aimed at building local capacities through training and applied research on wireless technologies that support the development of community based wireless networks. This 15 month initiative titled TRICALCAR - Weaving Community Based Wireless Networks in Latin America and the Caribbean - will strengthen the local expertise on the provision of connectivity to marginalized rural and urban communities that currently do not have access to Information and Communication Technologies.
  

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  Canada’s $8.8-billion Building Canada Fund will invest in clean water and sewage treatment infrastructure, the core National Highway System, public transit, and green energy, among other categories.
  
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  Building Canada allocated resources for three national infrastructure funds: the $2.1-billion Gateways and Border Crossings Fund; the $1-billion Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative; and the $1.25-billion Public-Private Partnerships Fund.
  

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  Over the course of 2007, Canada revitalized its commitment to partnerships to better guide its investments in support of research and development initiatives that facilitate the movement of passengers and goods to increase the system’s safety, security, efficiency and environmental responsibility.
  
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  The research and development programs include projects under the theme of “Transportation Environmental Footprint and Energy Efficiency”.
  
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  Under the North American Energy Working Group, Canada, Mexico and the United States endorsed the first-ever trilateral agreement on energy science and technology - a framework designed to stimulate innovation and to share and help build capacity in all three countries.
  
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  Trilateral cooperation on energy efficiency in 2007 resulted in harmonization of energy performance standards for a number of consumer products including refrigerators, air conditioners and large electric motors.
  
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  Canada and Chile signed a Partnership Framework in July 2007, which contains a commitment to enhance and sustain partnership in key sectors, including energy, innovation, and science and technology.
  
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  In March 2007, Canada held a Science, Technology and Innovation Forum in São Paulo where Brazil and Canada signed a Declaration of Intent to enter into a process of negotiations to sign a Science and Technology Agreement.
  
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  Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) signed two Memoranda of Understanding with Nucleoelétrica Argentina Sociedad Anonima S.A. (NASA): the first, to enter into commercial negotiations to define the contracts and project delivery model for a new 740-megawatt CANDU 6 power plant, and the second, on specialized training for NASA engineers to perform maintenance in Argentina’s CANDU 6 power station.
  

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  From 2007 to 2010 Canada will contribute $2,200,000 to the Guyana Environmental Capacity Development Phase II project. The project aims to improve the health, skills and economic opportunities of private sector miners and men, women and families in selected communities living near mining operations in Guyana’s hinterland.
  

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  Canada submitted a full report on implementation of the Ministerial Agreement of Guayaquil and the AGRO 2003-2015 Plan of Action in advance of the Fourth Ministerial Meeting for Agriculture and Rural Life in the Americas, held in Guatemala in July 2007. As a result of the meeting, Canada and other Member Countries agreed to a new Hemispheric Agenda for 2008-2009, building on earlier agreements.
  
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  A new common vision for Canada’s agriculture-related industries was announced in June 2007, by Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers of Agriculture. The “Growing Forward” common vision will initiate a new action plan and programs for the industry that focus on innovation, business risk management, and priorities such as food safety, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. Agreement on the new vision was reached following a series of consultations with industry stakeholders, who will continue to be engaged in the policy development process.
  
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  Research initiatives by Canada include work in the areas of value-added products such as functional foods and feed supplements; bio-energy; the development of bio-refineries from crops; and genomic research to support the understanding, development and use of energy crops and traits necessary for their efficient production.
  
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  For 2007-2008, the Canadian Government is investing in 233 research projects across Canada that focus on a number of agricultural topics – for example: adapting crop production to climate change, biodiesel use, natural products, food allergens, biopesticides, among others.
  
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  The Agri-Opportunities Program, announced in January 2007, provides funds to accelerate the commercialization of new agricultural products, processes or services.
  
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  In March 2007, Canada announced additional funding for biofuel development through the Biofuels Opportunities for Producers Initiative.
  
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  The ecoAgriculture Biofuels Capital Initiative is a four year federal program, launched in April 2007. The initiative provides an opportunity for agricultural producers to diversify their economic base and participate in the biofuels industry through equity investment/ownership in biofuels production facilities.
  
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  In January 2007, Canada announced funding in support for the Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute - an independent, national, not-for-profit organization that provides a neutral venue for input into agricultural policy making.
  
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  Canada, through the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas, supported a project aimed at strengthening the processes of generation, systematization and dissemination of agrarian information, and the appropriation of ICTs by small farmers of the Users Committee of the Huaral Valley, in Peru. The contribution of $346, 000 over two years will help the deployment, testing and study of the viability and replicability of innovative information and communication technologies solutions to improve water distribution and market information necessary to improve small farmers´ productivity and livelihoods.
  

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  From 2007 to 2011, Canada will contribute $782,678 or 45% of the total project value of the Social Entrepreneurship Program for Guyana. This project aims to provide productive, marketing services, materials and equipment to assist 1,200 small farmer households increase their incomes.
  

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  Canada’s new Emergency Management Act, which came into force in August 2007, establishes the Minister of Public Safety’s leadership for emergency management, continuity of government and critical infrastructure protection at the federal level for the four pillars of emergency management (prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery).
  
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  In response to the impacts of the 2007 hurricane season, Canada has to date provided $4,775,000 in relief and reconstruction assistance. In addition, Canada provided $50,000 for floods in Bolivia in early 2007, $2,150,000 in response to the August 15 earthquake in Peru; and $500,000 for severe flooding in Mexico in November.
  
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  Canada provides $325,000 per year, as well as technical experts, to the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination system (which was mobilized several times to respond to humanitarian crises in the Americas in 2007) and has funded training of experts from developing countries for this system.
  

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  Canada, through the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas, is providing funding support to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency for a regional initiative aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of Disaster Management practices in the Caribbean through the identification and testing of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) applications. This $420,000 project started in July 2007, and will identify and assess the effectiveness of innovative ICT tools in national notification protocols for fast onset hazards in the Caribbean. The project will also explore the role of ICTs to strengthen community knowledge, supporting in the collection of post event information in the Eastern Caribbean and develop a set of policy recommendations on the issue.
  
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  Canada contributed $100,000 to the Organization of American States for the implementation of the Inter-American Network for Disaster Mitigation. The objective of this initiative is to facilitate the exchange of information, knowledge and experiences among participating member states.
  
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  From 2007 to 2012, Canada will contribute $20,000,000 to the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility to reduce the financial vulnerability of participating countries to catastrophic natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes by providing access to insurance.
  
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  From 2007 to 2015, Canada will contribute $20,000,000 to the Caribbean Disaster Risk Management Program to strengthen regional, national and community level capacity for the mitigation, management, and coordinated response to natural and technological hazards, and the effects of climate change.
  

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  Canada contributed $750,000 to the Multi-Donor Trust Fund of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, a coalition of governments, industries, investors, and international and non-governmental agencies. It supports improved governance in resource-rich countries through the full publication and verification of company payments and government revenues for oil, gas and mining industries.
  
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  Canada contributed about $325,000 to the Organization of American States to promote corporate social responsibility of small and medium sized enterprises in the Caribbean. This initiative seeks to increase the competitiveness of participating enterprises by creating teaching/learning tools and strengthening firm, national and regional capacities.
  

3. 
   SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
   

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  In December, 2007, Canada, together with the Government of Québec and Makivik Corporation signed an agreement-in-principle on the creation of the Nunavik Regional Government. The Nunavik Inuit will now own about 80 per cent of the islands in this region, with a surface area of more than 5,000 square kilometres. The agreement includes of capital transfers, the sharing of resource royalties, and the creation of a new form of public regional government adapted to the needs of Nunavik.
  
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  Two federal departments, in partnership with the mining industry and the Canadian Aboriginal Minerals Association, have produced the Mining Information Kit for Aboriginal Communities. This new educational tool was designed to be used by Aboriginal communities and leaders, educators, governments, and industry to strengthen the capacity of Aboriginal peoples to understand all aspects of mining development and identify the many opportunities that mining can bring to communities. Released in 2006, the Kit is being used worldwide.
  
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  Canada held a series of pilot Information Sessions on Exploration and Mining in Aboriginal communities in partnership with provincial/territorial governments and mining associations. The sessions provided Aboriginal leaders and community members with the information needed to make informed decisions on their involvement in mineral activities near their communities. This initiative also helped create a positive climate that encourages dialogue and partnership in place of litigation.
  
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  Canada, through the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas, contributed $453,700 to the second phase of the Competitive Grants for Digital Innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean.
  

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  Canada, along with the United States and Mexico, released the North American Plan on Avian and Pandemic Influenza in August 2007. This document promotes a regional approach for pandemic planning and collaboration that could serve as a model for other countries in the Americas. Canada has contributed approximately $4 million over four years to support PAHO in its collaboration with member states in the elaboration and implementation of the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plans and epidemic alert and response systems.
  

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  From 2007 to 2011, Canada will contribute $18,000,000 for programs in the areas of human resources for health, HIV/AIDS/Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), pandemic influenza and institutional strengthening of the Pan American Health Organization.
  
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  Canada contributed approximately $7.5 million to support Aboriginal specific community program funding focussing on prevention, education, awareness, surveillance and collaboration to address HIV/AIDS.
  
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  Canada’s tuberculosis (TB) program aims to reduce the incidence of TB in First Nations and Inuit communities, in keeping with the National goal of 3.6 cases per 100,000 by 2015. The program is delivered through primary health care services at the community level.
  
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  In June 2007, the Governments of Canada and British Columbia and the British Columbia First Nations Leadership Council signed a Tripartite Health Plan designed to enhance First Nations control of health services and help to close the gaps in health status between First Nations people and other Canadians. This 10-year health action plan aims to create fundamental change that will improve health service delivery, promote better integration and coordination of services offered by the three Parties, and strengthen the role of First Nations in decision-making regarding the health of their. All Parties have agreed to contribute financially and in kind to implement the Plan; specifically, the Government of Canada has committed $5M in 2007-08, $6M for 2008-09, $8M for 2009-10, and $10M for 2010-11 in new funding.
  
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  In November, 2007, Canada renewed the Memorandum of Understanding on Indigenous Health with the United States of America. The MOU was first implemented in 2002, out of a mutual recognition by the two Governments that the health status of First Nations and Inuit in Canada and American Indians and Alaska Natives in the United States share many of the same characteristics and challenges.
  
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  Canada, through the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas, contributed $268,400 to the design of a regional, open source platform for e-health titled ``PESCA``, a project carried out by the Universidad Austral of Argentina, aimed at strengthening primary healthcare delivery for vulnerable populations through the use of information and communication technology.
  
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  Canada supported the efforts of the Pan-American Health Organization and the CARICOM Summit of Heads of Government of the Caribbean on Chronic, Non Communicable Diseases, held on September 15, 2007, in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago.
  
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  Canada works with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) to identify small-scale projects that support health policy and social development. Examples from 2007 include:
  
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    Development of case studies on policy development pertaining to improving nutrition in Costa Rica, Canada, and Brazil (2005-07).
    
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    Protecting Healthcare workers and patients from infectious disease transmission by strengthening occupational health and safety in 6 hospitals in Ecuador (2007).
    
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    Enhancing Health Human Resources in Guyana within the Framework of the Guyana National Mental Health Policy (2007)
    

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  In 2007, Canada invested $1.2 billion to support First Nations in providing high-quality, culturally relevant education programs to the approximately 115,000 First Nations learners attending elementary and secondary schools, including those with special needs. In addition, $300 million was invested to assist 24,000 First Nations and Inuit students pursue post-secondary education.
  
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  The First Nations Jurisdiction over Education in British Columbia Act was passed by Parliament in December 2006, which will allow interested First Nations in British Columbia to take full control over on-reserve education (kindergarten to Grade 12).
  
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  In 2007, a contribution of $3,228,600 was made to Canada’s largest governance intervention in Nicaragua: Support to Basic Education Initiative. This project provides financial and technical support to the Ministry of Education, to improve its capacity in areas of accountability for internal planning and management, transforming pre-school, primary and early secondary educational quality, relevance and accessibility.
  
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  From 2004 to 2008, Canada is providing $4,980,000 for the Human Rights Education Program to strengthen capacities for human rights education. Each year, human rights educators from more than 60 countries, including Haiti, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay and Peru, receive training associated with the promotion and protection of human rights.
  
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  1In collaboration with The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Canada through the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas, provided support to an initiative that will explore the role and impact of different models of public and collective access. Part of the Canadian contribution of $3,710,622 aimed at conduct primary longitudinal and comparative field research in a number of countries looking at both positive and negative impacts in areas such as employment and income, education level, civic engagement, government transparency, democracy, culture and language preservation, and public health.
  

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  Canada will contribute up to $18,400,000 between 2006-2011 to increase the quality and access to public health services in Bolivia, mainly targeted at women and children.
  
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  From 2007 to 2010, Canada will contribute $2,190,400 to the Competency based Human Resources Training project in health schools in Brazil. The project activities focus on the planning and forecasting of resources to be trained, and the elaboration and implementation of competency based study programs.
  
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  From 2007 to 2012 Canada will contribute $5, 000,000 to the Linkages for Community Health Project in Nicaragua to improve the health of vulnerable rural communities by expanding the availability of health education and services.
  

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  Canada is providing support of $5 million during 2005-2010 to the Native Women’s Association of Canada “Sisters in Spirit” research, education and policy initiative to address the underlying factors contributing to violence against Aboriginal women and their socio-economic, political and legal status, thus promoting the full participation of Aboriginal women in the economic, social and democratic life of the country.
  

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  Canada continued to participate in the OAS process to negotiate the Draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
  

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  Canada has continued to play a leadership role in CICAD. As the Commission’s second-largest donor, Canada has spoken out on the need for more Hemispheric cooperation to combat drug trafficking.
  
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  Canada participates in Expert Groups on Demand Reduction, Chemical Products and Pharmaceutical Products, and Maritime Narcotrafficking. This year, Canada provided a voluntary contribution of $1.0 million to CICAD, primarily supports counter-narcotics efforts focused in the Caribbean, Central and South America. Canada’s support is typically balanced between addressing both the supply of, and demand for, drugs.
  
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  Highlights from the Supply Program include regional training seminars that provide law enforcement officials in Latin America and the Caribbean with the latest investigative techniques, including intelligence development, search and seizures, Internet investigations and undercover operations.
  
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  Canada’s demand reduction efforts in the Hemisphere include a capacity building program for Latin American health professionals to participate in a training program at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health at the University of Toronto. In addition, an evaluation of youth substance abuse programs is taking place in response to recommendations from the CICAD Demand Reduction Expert Group.
  

4. 
   STRENGTHEN DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE
   

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  Canada spent nearly $5 million on programs in Latin America and the Caribbean that address gangs, drug trafficking, terrorism and trafficking flows in the Hemisphere. Canada has funded, in partnership with various multilateral organizations, a broad range of workshops and training seminars to address regional security issues.  These events have brought together a wide range of experts including law enforcement officials, prosecutors, judges and non-governmental representatives.  Topics range from an experts meeting which focused on addressing organized crime in the Caribbean, a train-the-trainer workshop for justice officials from Central America (in coordination with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime), and an awareness raising seminar on trafficking in persons  focused on the Caribbean.
  
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  Canada is a strong supporter of the OAS Action Plan on Transnational Organized Crime and expects to continue supporting its implementation, with a particular focus on Central America.  Canada also has funded an ongoing initiative that aims to build capacity for the prevention of gangs and violence in Central America. Our drug control activities in the Hemisphere have focused on prevention, enforcement and control, treatment and rehabilitation. Much of the drug training has been pursued under the auspices of a contribution agreement with the OAS Inter-American Drug Abuse Commission (CICAD), in cooperation with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
  
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  In May 2006, Canada’s Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building Program approved funding for Phase Two of the ICAO/Canada Security Awareness Training Program, which aims to enhance aviation security by conducting regional training activities in Latin America and the Caribbean from Spring 2006 to March 2009.
  
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  Canada also provides assistance to developing states to combat terrorist threats in seven areas, including border and transportation security, legislative and regulatory development, law enforcement, combating the financing of terrorism, cyber security, critical infrastructure protection and chemical/biological/radiological/nuclear and explosives prevention, response and recovery.
  
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  In the past year, Canada has provided significant support to the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism, the World Customs Organization, the Group of Experts on Aviation Safety, Security and Assistance, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, INTERPOL, and the Commonwealth Secretariat.  In addition, Canada has funded the training of law enforcement and intelligence officers working on the 2007 Cricket World Cup.
  
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  In 2007, through its pillars of language training, staff training/professional development, and peace support training, Canada’s Military Training Assistance Programme (MTAP) continued to assist in developing the operational capabilities of 17 Latin American and Caribbean armed and security forces.
  
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  In 2007, Canada started planning for the next Conference of Defence Ministers of the Americas, which will be held in Banff in September 2008. The proposed thematic agenda includes consideration of military assistance to civilian authorities during times of national disasters. As part of its continued planning, Canada organized a consultation meeting in Costa Rica with representatives of civil society from throughout the hemisphere to discuss and help refine the proposed agenda. 
  

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  From 2007 to 2008, Canada is contributing $194,920 to the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the OAS to increase its activities to promote and protect the right to freedom of expression in the Americas. Canada’s support will allow the Special Rapporteur to advise the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in its litigation of key cases before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, conduct thematic research on key issues related to freedoms of thought and expression, carry out country visits, and produce country reports.
  

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  Canada continues to play a leadership role in policy and programming related to the fight against corruption in the Hemisphere through its participation in Mechanism to Monitor Implementation of the Inter-American Convention against Corruption (MESISIC). Canada provides concrete funding to the anti-corruption agenda by supporting the expert committee which evaluates corruption in the Hemisphere, and by supporting anti-corruption action plans in four Latin American countries.
  
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  From 2007 to 2012, Canada will provide $7,600,000 to the International Legislative Audit Assistance Program for building the capacity of audit institutions in overseeing public expenditures. Representatives from St-Lucia and Guyana are part of the training program along with a number of participants from other regions of the globe.
  

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  Canada hosted a Special Meeting of the OAS/REMJA Working Group on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and Extradition in Montreal to consider how to strengthen cooperation on mutual legal assistance and extradition in the Americas.
  
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  Canada played a leadership role at the Third Meeting of Central Authorities and Other Experts on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters and Extradition in Colombia, attended by some thirty OAS Member States.
  

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  From 2006 to 2011, Canada will commit $555,000,000 for the reconstruction and the development of Haiti. During his June 2007 visit to Haiti, the Prime Minister of Canada identified the rule of law, open and responsible government and good governance, as well as the fight against corruption as priorities for Canada’s commitments to the country.
  
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  From 2007 to 2012, Canada will provide $4,900,000 to assist the Haitian government to develop a professional civil service that can better meet the needs of Haitians.
  
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  From 2006 to 2011, Canada is contributing $5,000,000 to strengthen the Haitian parliament in its legislative role capacity to develop judicial reforms and opportunities for civil society.
  
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  Canada has provided $24,750,000 to support the organization of transparent and credible elections in Haiti in cooperation with technical and financial partners from the United Nations, the United States and the European Union.
  
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  Through the Global Peace and Security Fund (GPSF), Canada provides support to strengthen Haitian police, corrections, and border management capacity with a view to consolidate security and promote the rule of law. In each area of engagement, GPSF support is used to deploy personnel to the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and to strengthen infrastructure of key Haitian law enforcement agencies enabling them to carry out their functions.
  
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  From 2006 to 2010, Canada will provide up to $10,000,000 to support reform of the correctional system in Haiti. These funds will help improve detention conditions in Haitian prisons and increase respect for prisoners’ rights. In 2007, Canada also deployed eight correctional experts to the MINUSTAH to assist with capacity building of Haitian correctional services through training and technical advice.
  
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  In 2007, Canada has provided $5,300,000 in support of police reform in Haiti. These funds have contributed to professionalization of the Haitian National Police by strengthening its operational and training capacity. Specifically, this support contributed to refurbishment and equipment of 21 police stations in Haiti’s south, and to expansion and improvement of police training facilities in Port-au-Prince. In addition, Canada is deploying up to 100 civilian police officers, including at senior levels, to MINUSTAH to assist with the implementation of the Haitian National Police Reform.
  
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  From 2006 to 2008, Canada will provide $12,300,000 to strengthen Haitian capacity in border and migration management. This support will contribute to increasing Haitian state presence and delivery of key services along the land and maritime borders. This support will strengthen Haitian capacity to address transnational crime such as illicit trafficking of drugs, arms, and people, and thereby contribute to ensuring security and protection of human rights.
  

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  From 2007 to 2012, Canada will provide $4,700,000 to the Justice Studies Centre of the Americas for a program to contribute to the reform of criminal justice practices in Latin America to achieve greater transparency and greater respect of human rights in the region. Direct beneficiaries are members of organizations and institutions involved in criminal justice reform in the region.
  
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  Canada continues to be a strong supporter of OAS Electoral Observation Missions (EOMs), through financial contributions and with human resources. Based on the success of a previous EOM project, Canada provided $1,200,000 to the Organization of American States for a second phase for the period 2007-2008, to support EOMs and provide technical electoral assistance to member states. Five EOMs have been supported to date under this phase.
  
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  In March 2007, Canada supported the first Trade Knowledge Workshop for Parliamentarians of the Americas, hosted by the President of the Canadian section of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA). The workshop focused on trade rules and politics, the role of legislatures in international trade, and the relationship between trade, poverty and gender. It strengthened the capacity of parliamentarians from the hemisphere to understand the nature of a rules-based international trading system. It also helped to improve their capacity to work with constituents, business and civil society in the formulation of international trade policy and in the implementation of complementary domestic reforms that contribute to poverty reduction. The workshop nurtured the dialogue and cooperation among parliamentarians in the Americas on trade policy issues by encouraging the sharing of experiences and best practices.
  

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  From 2007 to 2009, Canada will contribute $750,000 for strengthening the capacity of a hemispheric network of civil society organizations from 24 countries, to assess and support the implementation of Summit of the Americas mandates in four areas linked to democracy strengthening: access to public information; strengthening civil society participation; local governments and decentralization; and, freedom of expression.
  
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  From 2007 to 2008, Canada is providing $94,580 to support the consolidation and expansion of a broad-based civil society democracy network in Latin America and the Caribbean, under the umbrella of the World Movement for Democracy, led by Consorcio Desarrollo y Justicia.
  

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  Canada, through the Institute for Connectivity in the Americas, provided $322, 000 for the implementation of a regional pilot to transfer and adapt the Jamaica Customs Management solution (CASE) to the Eastern Caribbean state of Antigua & Barbuda.
  

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  Canada provided $1,700,000 over two years for the institutional strengthening of the OAS General Secretariat’s capacity to design, implement, monitor and evaluate its programs and projects as well as to modernize its budget and financial systems.