OTTAWA, Wednesday, June 15, 2005 — The Chief Electoral Officer of Canada, Jean-Pierre Kingsley, announced today that a forum would be held under the auspices of Elections Canada to discuss the international monitoring of the upcoming municipal, parliamentary and presidential elections in Haiti.

The heads of eight independent electoral management bodies will meet in Montréal on June 16 and 17 to set up an international mission for monitoring Haitian elections. The forum will focus on election preparations in Haiti and identify how the mission could monitor the upcoming elections.

Other participants at the forum will include representatives from Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council, the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), the Organization of American States, the European Union and various governments.

"This forum brings together leaders and others who have a keen interest in these elections at a crucial time in Haiti's transition toward increased stability and democracy," said Mr. Kingsley. "We are committed on behalf of the international community to monitoring elections in Haiti and supporting the Haitian people."

Additional information on the International Forum for Monitoring Haitian Elections is available by calling (613) 993-2225.

Elections Canada is an independent body set up by Parliament.

Information:
Elections Canada Media Relations
1 877 877-9515
or at www.elections.ca