9 9 4 ▁and ▁ 2 0 0 4 , ▁and ▁continues ▁to ▁provide ▁substantial ▁aid ▁to ▁H ait i . ▁ ▁Historical ▁background ▁ ▁H ait i ▁is ▁in ▁the ▁west ▁of ▁the ▁island ▁of ▁His p ani ola . ▁In ▁ 1 7 9 7 ▁T ouss aint ▁Lou vert ure ▁led ▁a ▁successful ▁revol t ▁against ▁the ▁French ▁and ▁made ▁H ait i ▁the ▁first ▁independent ▁Car ib bean ▁nation , ▁although ▁government ▁was ▁un sett led ▁until ▁ 1 9 1 5 , ▁when ▁the ▁United ▁States ▁occupied ▁the ▁island . ▁The ▁United ▁States ▁left ▁the ▁island ▁in ▁ 1 9 3 4 , ▁returning ▁it ▁to ▁a ▁form ▁of ▁dem ocracy . ▁ ▁Canada ▁is ▁a ▁member ▁of ▁the ▁Franc oph onie , ▁or ▁community ▁of ▁French - spe aking ▁countries , ▁as ▁is ▁H ait i . ▁Canada ▁plays ▁an ▁active ▁role ▁in ▁peace keep ing ▁( or ▁pe ac em aking ) ▁around ▁the ▁world . ▁Quebec ▁is ▁an ▁independent ▁member ▁of ▁La ▁Franc oph onie , ▁with ▁H ait i ▁being ▁the ▁largest ▁recip ient ▁of ▁aid ▁assistance ▁from ▁the ▁province . ▁Further , ▁a ▁large ▁majority ▁of ▁the ▁N GO s ▁working ▁in ▁H ait i ▁are ▁Quebec ▁organizations . ▁ ▁Canada ▁and ▁H ait i ▁only ▁officially ▁established ▁diplom atic ▁relations ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 4 ▁when ▁Edward ▁R itch ie ▁Belle m are ▁was ▁appointed ▁Ch arg é ▁d ' Aff aires ▁of ▁the ▁Canadian ▁Emb ass y ▁in ▁H ait