Ottawa pledges an additional $100 million in funding to help the Haitian National Police increase its capacity to fight criminal gangs in the country.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced this at a joint press conference with US President Joe Biden on Friday afternoon.

In addition to increasing aid, Canada intends to impose further sanctions on two more members of the Haitian elite, bringing the number of people sanctioned directly by the federal government to 19.

The new sanctions target former Senator Nenel Cassy and businessman and former presidential candidate Steeve Khawly. Their assets will be frozen and they will be banned from entering Canadian soil, a press release said.

MM. Trudeau and Biden expressed concern about the current situation in Haiti, where gangs have taken over much of the country following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

Prime Minister Trudeau reiterated that the way out of the crisis must come primarily through Haiti-led solutions and not through foreign military intervention.

“We must act, but we must act in ways that keep the Haitian people at the heart of security and the institutions that we must seek and rebuild. Therefore, our approach, which we are working out hand in hand with the Americans, is primarily to strengthen the capacity of the Haitian National Police,” he told a press conference.

Mr. Biden had previously hinted that Canada would be well placed to lead military intervention in Haiti but put that prospect on hold on Friday.

“Any decision regarding military force, which is often raised, we believe should be made in consultation with the United Nations and the Haitian government,” the American leader said. So it’s not off the table, but it’s not in play right now.”

Mr Biden argued that the “biggest” thing that would help would be to give Haitian police services the ability to respond to gang problems, but he said “it will take time”.