PM touts 'hard power' military purchases

The purchase and use of C-17 transport planesis an example of the "hard power" requirements ofthe type of relief work soldiers are now doing in Haiti, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said during a tour of the country.

Speaking to soldiers in thetown ofLogne, a hub of Canadian relief activity, where 80to 90 per cent of the buildings were destroyed, Harpersingled out the purchase of theC-17 transport planes, saying those new vehicles helped fly troops and supplies to Haiti almost immediately.

"The entire planet has been able to witness that Canada is now a major actor when it's time to intervene in natural disasters," Harper said.

He said thanks to the multi-purpose airplane,Canada no longer has to "hitchhike its way to foreign deployments."

Harper said there was a "time when that kind of heavy-lift aircraft didnt fit Canadas soft power policies. But our government bought them for the hard power requirements of todays world.Now were using them for relief work.

"What is the moral of the story? To do soft power, you need hard power.You need a full range of capabilities."

PM tours Jacmel

On Tuesday, Harpermet withmembers of Canada'sDisaster Assistance Response Team to get a first-hand look at Canada's reconstruction efforts in Haitisince the earthquake.

Earlier, Harper travelled toJacmel,the hometown of the family of Gov. Gen. Michalle Jean, where hemet with a small group of medical platoon personnel and inspected a medical clinic, walking from tent to tent.

He alsotoured a water purification facility, where he tasted a sample of the water, saying that it is "still the best beverage."

"It's very good. I approve," he said.

Harper arrived in Haiti on Monday, becoming the first G20 leader to visit the Caribbean country since the Jan. 12 earthquake.

He announced thatCanada will donate $12 million tobuild a temporary headquarters to house government departments whose buildings were destroyed in the earthquake.

The Canadian-funded base will include tents and hard-shelled temporary buildings. It is expected to be used for as long as a year, and will be installed after the Haitian government chooses a location.