Haitian leaders must respect democracy: Cannon

Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon says the international community "cannot do everything in Haiti" and urged the country's leadership rivals to respect the democratic process"with respect and calm."

Cannon, speaking to reporters on Monday in Wakefield, Que., would not directly answer whether international aid toHaiti should be suspended in the wake of an outbreak of violence over the impoverished Caribbean country's disputed presidential election.

But Cannon and his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,offered blunt warnings that the country risked further economic damage if its leaders did notworktowardpolitical stability.

"We are willing to consider what's going on," Cannon said during a joint news conference with Clinton and Mexican Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosaat theend ofthe one-day North American foreign ministers meeting.

"But at the same time, it's important for the people of Haiti to assume their responsibility because, I repeat this, there will not be any economic progress if there is no government stability, and what is essential is to get the stability of the government."

Clinton, in turn, said the Haitian government should heed the "strong signal" from her former colleague in the Senate, Patrick Leahy, who suggested cutting off foreign aid to the central government until theimpasse over last month's presidential elections is resolved.

"It's essential that Haitian political actors fulfil their responsibilities and demonstrate a firm commitment to democratic principles, including the respect for the integrity for the electoral process," she said.

Leahy,whom Clinton called a strong supporter of American foreign aid and humanitarian relief,was "expressing a growing frustration" in the U.S.over the lack of coherent response from the Haitian government as the one-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake approaches.

'Major crisis' in Haiti: Coderre

In Ottawa,House of Commons Speaker Peter Milliken grantedLiberal MP Denis Coderre'srequest foran emergency debate,held early Monday evening, on the "extremely tense" situation in Haiti.

The MP, whosaid Haiti has "practically ceased to function,"reiteratedtheneed for the federal government to create a special envoy to Haiti to work with all ministries and help get rid ofred tape.

"A wave of violence is now raging all over the country and we must, as responsible parliamentarians, look at Canada's role in the outcome of this major crisis," Coderre said.

Coderre also suggested Canada sendtroops, such asthe Disaster Assistance Response Team or DART, to provide additional security in Haiti.

During the debate, Cannon acknowledged that "things aren't moving at the pace we're used to," but he said Canada is working with the international community through the Organization of American States andCARICOM, and that they're "calling on the Haitian government to do whatever they need to do to see this electoral process through, and proposingoptions at this stage won't help us find the solution."

The Nov. 28 presidential vote produced no clear winner and was marred by allegations of ballot box stuffing, voter intimidation and gun violence between supporters of rival parties in the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Rival protesters again rioted in the streets after thecountry's electoral council announcedthe presidential ballots would be recountedin the presence of Haitian and international observers.

Canadawillbe part ofajoint electoral observation teamput together bythe OAS and CARICOM for the scheduled recount, Cannon said.