CF beginning wind-down of Haiti mission

Operation HESTIA's job coming to an end:

Canadian military forces are starting to withdraw from crisis work in Haiti and the government is nearing a "tipping point" where many of 50 Canadians still missing six weeks after a massive earthquake will be deemed dead. That will boost the current confirmed death toll of 34 Canadians.

Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said at a news conference Monday that Canada is "beginning to progressively see the withdrawal of Canadian Forces assets" as commercial air service is now available on the Caribbean island and the government of Haiti, the United Nations and aid agencies have a handle on emergency relief efforts.

HMCS Halifax, the navy vessel that was stationed off Jacmel, Haiti, for the last few weeks, and her 220-member crew, departed late last week and are due home March 1, navy Capt. Chris Dickinson, director of current operations, strategic joint staff, said in an interview. He said 1,681 soldiers, sailors and air force are still in Haiti and officials will be careful to ensure their services are replaced by other agencies as they return to Canada...

Cannon said Canadian Forces personnel are coming home as the emergency phase of international earthquake relief efforts move to longer term assistance programs.

Dickinson said the military personnel were never intended to stay longer than 30, 40 or 60 days, depending on their assignments. HMCS Halifax was due home for a refit to extend its lifespan and other personnel and equipment are needed as Canadian Forces prepare for a new rotation into Afghanistan, among other assignments...

But will there be greater CF involvment with the UN peackeeping force in the country (our current official strength is five staff officers)?

...Cannon said Canadians will have an ongoing participation in the UN stabilization mission in Haiti called Minustah...

In any event the deployment to Haiti does not seem to have had any great impact on other Army commitments, an earlier concern:

The Army, Haiti and Afstan