DAVOS, Switzerland - Bill Clinton is singling out Canadians for their generosity to Haiti.
Clinton is U.S. President Barack Obama's top adviser on the post-earthquake aid effort, and he was at the Davos World Economic Forum urging the rich and powerful not to forget quake-stricken Haiti.
After meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper for about half an hour on Thursday, Clinton made a point of saying Canadians should be proud of their huge outpouring of support and money for victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake that flattened much of Haiti.
"It has been unbelievable. First, the Canadian people are so generous," said the former U.S. president. "I'll bet you on a per-capita basis, they're No. 1 in the world now in helping Haiti."
Canadians have donated more than $82.5 million to agencies involved in quake relief. Clinton credited the federal government's offer to match each private donation one-for-one.
"There is a big Haitian diaspora in Canada but this goes way beyond that. I'm very grateful," said Clinton, who is also the United Nations' special envoy for Haiti.
The Canadian government has committed more than $100 million to Haitian relief along with a 2,000-strong military contingent, and it promises to match dollar-for-dollar all individual donations made before Feb. 12, one month after the magnitude-7.0 quake.
Both Harper and Clinton said it's important world does not abandon Haiti after the initial panic of the earthquake subsides.
"We won't forget," Clinton said.
Indeed, Harper promised to increase Canada's support.
"It's day-to-day, week-to-week now," Harper told reporters. "But we're starting to look at the long-term and that's the focus we're going to have going forward.
"Haiti has been our No. 2 foreign-aid priority in the world, No. 1 in the Americas. And that's only going to get bigger in the future for us. I hope it's true for everyone else."
Clinton said he believes the Haitian tragedy has captured the attention of the world, and if the aid effort is carried out efficiently, support will remain.
"Those of us in the middle of this have to stand and deliver," he said. "We have to do this right and I think if we do it right and progress is made, then that commitment will stay there."
The Davos conference usually focuses on economics and banking, bringing together business executives, government leaders and thinkers in an annual meeting in the Swiss Alps.
But this year, organizer Klaus Schwab asked participants to pay special attention to Haiti as well.
Canada has led international efforts to set up a long-term plan for Haiti, inviting major players and the Haitian government to Montreal earlier this week to hash out a strategy.
In his speech on Thursday, Clinton pleaded for more aid for Haiti, starting first with cash that can go toward food, medicine and shelter.
"Right now, we have to worry about how to get through the week," he said.
He also asked specifically for pickup trucks that could be used to distribute aid. "I need 100, yesterday," he said.
