Sanctioned Haitian praised by Canadian diplomat and RCMP, emails suggest

A Canadian diplomat and an RCMP officer heaped praise and gratitude on a sanctioned Haitian businessman that Global Affairs accuses of gangland connections, after he allowed a helicopter airlift of Canadian citizens and police at his luxury golf course last month, emails provided by his lawyers suggest.

Emails attributed to consul Catherine Brazeau show her telling businessman Reynold Deeb in French that his assistance was «exceptional,» and giving him «a big thank you on behalf of the entire embassy team.»

The emails also suggest Deeb, whose activities Global Affairs says protect and enable «armed criminal gangs,» was provided with trip plans and passenger lists for helicopter flights carrying Haitian National Police officers to and from his Petionville Club, a golf course in Port-au-Prince.

«I don't know how to thank you, director» a person described as an RCMP liaison officer writes to Deeb in French after the flights. «Everything went well despite the challenges we faced.»

Canadian lawyers for Deeb, an executive at a dominant Haitian import firm, say the emails will be used as evidence in a Federal Court challenge of Deeb's inclusion on Canada's sanctions list. Deeb is one of 28 people sanctioned under Canada's Special Economic Measures (Haiti) Regulations.

«Why the Government of Canada was simultaneously asking Mr. Deeb for use of his property and maintaining sanctions against him is not clear,» his judicial review application says.

One of Deeb's lawyers, Geoff Hall, said the «quite remarkable» emails show Canadian officials were thankful and «complimentary» toward their client for allowing the use of his property, «which is actually contrary to sanctions law for Canadians to be using property of those who are