Canada to build Haiti police HQ

The Canadian government will build a new national headquarters and launch a first-aid training program for police in Haiti, Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon announced Thursday.

Speaking in Montreal, the minister said the projects are Canada's latest investments in rebuilding the main institutions of the impoverished Caribbean nation following January's devastating earthquake, which killed as many as 300,000 people and destroyed most of the country's infrastructure.

Once operational, the first-aid program will train about 7,000 police officers over the next two years.

Canada's total commitment to Haiti amounts to more than $1 billion since 2006, including $150 million for humanitarian assistance and $400 million over two years for earthquake recovery and reconstruction, according to the federal government.

Haiti is currently bracing for the arrival of tropical storm Tomas, as thousands still deal with basic survival needs in temporary camps. Forecasters fear that the storm could hit Haiti as early as Thursday as a Category 1 hurricane.