OTTAWA, Canada, CMC – A former Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, Paul Heinbecker, has welcomed the decision to send Canadian troops to Haiti as part of the peacekeeping mission on the French-speaking Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country. "I think this is a gesture that is positive and helpful and will be seen positively, although 34 soldiers isn't going to change a 6,000-person mission very much," Heinbecker told CTV's Canada AM television programme. Defence Minister Peter MacKay announced the deployment on the troops earlier this week. He said the soldiers will serve as peacekeepers with a Brazilian battalion and will be deployed on Friday, remaining in Haiti until December.