Foreign Affairs Minister: Bev Oda

Reconstruction Effort Dept: Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon on Monday urged Canadians to be patient, saying the reconstruction project is a "monumental task requiring a sustained effort and long-term commitment.", according to CBC. International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda said Canada has committed more than $1 billion to date for Haiti, and has already disbursed $150 million for humanitarian and early recovery work and modest progress has been made in rebuilding the presidential palace in Port-au-Prince, as shown in the two photographs above. Drag the slider up to see the palace as it appeared the day after the earthquake struck in January. Pull the slider down to see the palace as photographed on July 4, 2010. Associated Press The Canadian government insists the international reconstruction effort in Haiti is making progress six months after a devastating earthquake, amid criticism that work on the ground is painfully slow. Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon and International Co-operation Minister Bev Oda leave a news conference in Ottawa on Monday after discussing reconstruction efforts in Haiti. Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press Cannon told reporters during a news conference in Ottawa on the six-month mark of the 7.0-magnitude earthquake that it is not enough to restore Haiti's infrastructure. He said institutions and systems must be entirely rebuilt so they can be taken over by Haitians themselves with the support of the international community. As reported in the news.
@t magnitude earthquake, devastating earthquake