Canada has rallied the troops and deployed a force almost the size of its Afghanistan contingent to help rebuild Haiti.

For Canada, however, this is more than just a rescue mission after a devastating earthquake -- it is a plea for salvation from a close friend that has needed rescuing before.

The two nations, linked by more than the Americas, La Francophonie and the heritage of Governor-General Michaelle Jean, once again find themselves working together to rebuild.

As was the case in 1963 to protect Canadians on the island from impending war, in 1993 to bring order in the wake of a military coup, in 2003 facing a humanitarian crisis and in 2008 after hurricanes devastated the nation -- Canada finds itself rushing to help save Haiti.

This time Canada finds itself closer to its international comfort zone; rebuilding a broken nation, instead of trying to police a foreign land.

Almost 2,000 military personnel are on their way, expected to be on the ground in Haiti by the end of the week.

Included in the Op HESTIA deployment:

  • 1,000 fresh troops from the 3rd Battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment based in ValCartier, Que.
  • 500 troops arriving via the HMCS Halifax and HMCS Athabaskan
  • Approximately 200 personnel from Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART)
  • Light utility vehicles
  • Military engineers
  • Medical personnel
  • Medical supplies
  • Three water purification units
  • Two Canadian Forces Hercules and two C-17 heavy-lift aircraft
  • Four Griffon helicopters

The deployments of the past week complement the 200-plus troops that were already on the ground in Haiti before the earthquake. 

Many of the troops being deployed to Haiti have just returned from the mission in Afghanistan.

Lt. Gen. Andrew Leslie said that dozens, if not hundreds, of troops have been "pestering" their commanders for the opportunity to help rebuild the nation.

Troops headed straight to Haiti had to sign waivers to get clearance to participate in the mission due to military limits on rotations and time between deployments.

The battalion will be dispatched this week, despite being slated for a return to Kandahar next December.

The forces will work under Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche to provide ground assistance along with DART, which is arriving via C-17 and C-130 aircraft.

Canadian history will boost efforts: Natynczyk

Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Walter Natynczyk believes Canada's history in Haiti will give the country an advantage providing relief in the aftermath of last Tuesday's devastating earthquake.

Natynczyk drew on the experience of the forces being deployed and their familiarity with both its people and its language as one of the factors that will help Canada lead the charge in rebuilding efforts.

"We have people in the Canadian forces who are Creole speakers," Natynczyk told CTV's Question Period. "Last year we had a ship off the coast of Haiti providing supplies. So we're capable to handle a whole range of humanitarian, security operations at the drop of a dime."

"A lot of our officers and NCOs have experience in Haiti from previous tours," Natynczyk said. "I think Canadians should be proud of the fact that they have soldiers, sailors, airmen and women who are trained in a whole spectrum, of operations and requirements."

He credited the support and resources granted to his personnel for better preparing them for the mission.

"We give them the resources to make it happen," Natynczyk said. "Then the men and women who have a huge amount of training, skill and discipline now [have] the equipment to react quickly."

CTV News Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife said that the efforts already underway will go a long way in helping the new troops start their relief efforts immediately.

"They can arrive on the ground with their gear and set up a tent right away," he told CTV News Channel. "There's no infrastructure needed for these people. Once they land, they're set to go."

Fife told CTV News Channel that a field hospital was to be opened Sunday. Military engineers are also expected to help reopen roads and reconstruct buildings and infrastructure, in addition to the medical staff that is expected to take care of the wounded.

Fife called the operation "massive" and said that the military may be stretching itself thin with its commitments.

There are an estimated 2,830 military personnel are currently stationed in Afghanistan, on top of 3,000 currently training for the Afghan mission and an estimated 5,000 earmarked for security duty at the Olympics next month -- meaning that if additional troops are needed, they may have to come from the reserves.

A long history

Canada has been active in Haiti since 1963 when they came in to evacuate Canadian citizens on the island in the face of mounting tensions with the Dominican Republic. The two neighbours faced a stand-off after members of an attempted coup d'etat fled to the Dominican Embassy in Haiti.

HMCS Saskatchewan served as a means of passing information between British and American allies and was later dispatched to Jamaica after an evacuation was deemed unnecessary.

In 1993, Canada was part of a multinational force that was called to Haiti after then-President Jean-Bertrand Aristide was overthrown. Canada along with the U.S, Argentina, France and the Netherlands sent warships to enforce an embargo on Haiti's oil, arms and foreign funds. Under the name Operation Forward Action, Canadian forces helped re-impose Aristide as president while blockading attempted deliveries from the island's southwest peninsula.

Canada also participated in the multinational operations HALO and HAMLET in 2004 under United Nations supervision that saw Canadian senior officers deployed to headquarters in Port-au-Prince to protect human rights. More than 500 Canadians were deployed to Haiti after a revolt against Aristide. UN forces in Haiti totaled 6,940 military personnel and 2,211 police as of last count in October 2009.

Most recently was Operation Horatio in early September, 2008 which saw Canadian Forces delivering badly-needed food and supplies after the island was devastated by hurricanes. Four separate storms -- Fay, Gustav, Hanna and Ike -- hit the island in the span of a month. Canadian forces sent a strategic support team along with a Sea King to help recovery efforts.