Haiti One Year Later: What must be done?

Presented by Hart House Debates Committee

A free panel discussion on the role of the Canadian government in aid and development efforts in Haiti since the devastating earthquake of January 2010.

Details: It has been over a year since the catastrophic magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haitijust outside the capital city of Port-au-Prince, causing enormous destruction. Although billions of dollars have been pledged by the international community to aid reconstruction and provide humanitarian relief in Haiti, only a fraction of the funding has been released and development efforts have faced significant challenges.

Join the Hart House Debates Committee and partners for an evening of insightful, interactive discussion on Canadian aid and development efforts in Haiti: What has the Canadian government done, how effective has it been, and what still needs to be done? Melanie Newton will moderate a panel of four distinguished speakers including Valerie Rzepka, Joel Etienne, Maryse Bermingham and Antoine Derose

Presented by: The Hart House Debates Committee, in partnership with the Canadian International Council – Toronto Branch (CIC), Students in Solidarity with Haiti(SSH), the University of Toronto Student Union (UTSU), The Caribbean Studies Students Union (CARSSU) and The Caribbean Studies Department

Where: East Common Room. Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle

When: Wednesday February 9^th, 2011 from 7:00- 9:00 p.m.

Cost:  Free. In lieu of snacks and refreshments, a donation will be made to l’École La Reine Soleil Jardinière.This is a primary school and professional development school three hours outside of Port au Prince. 

About the Partners:

The Hart House Debates Committee provides opportunities for debate and dialogue on the important issues of the day, through major events like formal debates, public lectures, community service projects, hosting tournaments, and sending a team to the World University Debating Championship tournament.

The Canadian International Council – Toronto Branch (CIC) is a non-partisan, nationwide foreign policy council established to strengthen Canada's foreign policy. It promotes research and dialogue on international affairs issues through a national network that crosses academic disciplines, policy areas and economic sectors.

Students in Solidarity with Haitiat the University of Toronto (SSHUT) is an action-based
group campaigning at the Universityof Torontoto raise awareness on Haitian culture,
history and politics. SSHUT builds on these educational awareness campaign to develop resource and learning partnerships between Haitian students and universities and the Universityof Torontoand its community of students, staff, faculty and administration. SSHUT also monitors and reports on Canadian foreign policy in Haiti, with an aim at holding the Canadian government accountable to human rights, social justice and environmental preservation within the Haitian nation.