Canada preps 800 troops for possible deployment to Haiti
Posted Jan 15, 2010 3:15 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
OTTAWA – The Canadian Press has learned that the army has put 800 troops on standby for possible peacekeeping deployment to Haiti.
The Conservative government has yet to give the green light to the mission, but defence sources say the order to move could come as early as Saturday.
The soldiers would be drawn from Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, Que.
They would bring along engineering units, as well as headquarters and support elements – something that signals a sustained operation.
Warning orders have been flashed to the units earmarked for the assignment.
The troops would be taking 60 vehicles, which are already being pre-positioned.
The U.S. has committed 10,000 troops to security operations in Haiti where as many as 50,000 people are feared dead in the aftermath of Tuesday’s powerful earthquake.
