The Haitian-Canadian Michaelle Jean who is the UNESCO Special Envoy to Haiti will not be affected, at least for now. The Government of Canada has decided not to follow the same path with the US to freeze the funds of UNESCO.

Canada will continue to contribute to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at the same level it has before.

Officials from the American government stated yesterday that the American government will suspend their financial contribution to UNESCO. The American contribution to UNESCO is estimated at 60 million per year and represents over one-fifth of the organization annual budget.

Michaëlle Jean served as Governor General of Canada, the 27th since Canadian Confederation, from 2005 to 2010. Coming to Canada in 1968 as a refugee from Haiti, Michaëlle Jean worked as a journalist and broadcaster for Radio-Canada and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). She was appointed governor general by Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, on the recommendation of Prime Minister Paul Martin.

Following her tenure as Governor General of Canada, Michaëlle Jean was appointed special envoy to Haiti for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, with an aim to fight poverty and illiteracy and raise international funds