Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Canada is in Haiti for the long haul and an expensive international effort will be needed to rebuild the country that was devastated by this week's earthquake.

"I think important long-term progress had been made, I think it's safe to say that has been virtually wiped out and we are starting from scratch," Harper said.

"I think everybody recognizes to go in and stabilize things for a couple of years and then leave would be a disastrous approach."

Brig.-Gen. Guy Laroche, a recent top commander in Afghanistan, has been tapped co-ordinate Canada's effort in Haiti. He is a seasoned military leader who commanded the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan over a ten-month period in 2007 and 2008.

Officials say that 200 Canadian soldiers are now on the ground in Haiti, with a further 30 on the way Saturday.

By next week, another several hundred soldiers will be in the nation, when HMCS Halifax and HMCS Athabaskan arrive in the shattered capital of Port-au-Prince.

About 1,000 troops will eventually be in Haiti; many of them coming from Canadian Forces Base Valcartier.

Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon says the Canadian relief effort in Haiti is shifting from an urgent search and rescue mission to one of humanitarian aid and stabilization.

"We are putting everything in action to help the victims," said Cannon, speaking at a joint press conference with other cabinet ministers in Ottawa Saturday morning.

Since the 7.0 earthquake shook the Caribbean nation on Tuesday, Canada has shipped 100 tons of supplies to Haiti, including about 22,000 kilograms of medical supplies, Cannon said.

To further alleviate the suffering, restrictions on Haitian immigrants will also be amended.

Foreign Affairs is keeping track of Canadians in Haiti and these are the latest numbers:

  • More than 1,300 Canadians in Haiti are unaccounted for
  • Eight Canadians are dead
  • 781 Canadians have been found
  • 460 Canadians have been evacuated to Canada
  • 50 Canadians are in the Canadian embassy compound in Port au Prince
  • 21,500 Canadians have called  Foreign Affairs (1-800-387-3124) seeking and providing information about relatives and friends in Haiti
  • If you have missing family members in Haiti, please email CTV News with photos and any information about them.

Defence Minister Peter MacKay said that a C-130 Hercules was on its way Saturday loaded with more soldiers and aid equipment. He added that Canada's Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART ) is already at work in Haiti.

MacKay added that six Griffin helicopters and a Sea King chopper will arrive in Haiti in three or four days

"Make no mistake about it, this is an immense challenge," said MacKay.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said his department will work to speed immigration applications from Haitians who have family in Canada.

He added that Haitians temporarily in Canada can now extend their stays.