When the helicopter finally left the ground from a grassy field in Haiti, David Rotshilo said he finally felt a sense of relief.

After leaving the besieged island nation plagued by chaos and gang violence, a Quebec resident told CBC News that it took a convoy of armored vehicles "like a caravan" to get him to the helicopter heading to the Dominican Republic—all following a motorcycle that went ahead to check for gangs in the area.

But Rotshilo said the Canadian authorities had nothing to do with rescuing him on Wednesday. Instead, he said the company he worked for paid tens of thousands of dollars to the private rescue company, International SOS, to get him out.

He filmed his rescue operation and gave CBC News exclusive access to the footage.

Rothshilo said, "Someone at the Canadian embassy could have done all this... and that’s what makes me angry." "If someone had gathered their senses and taken the initiative, it could have been done easily."

According to Global Affairs Canada, there are nearly 3,000 Canadians in Haiti, and the government agency said on Friday it had responded to 245 inquiries since the outbreak of violence earlier this month between rival gangs, which led to the closure of the international airport in the capital Port-au-Prince, leaving foreigners stranded amid increasing kidnappings, thefts, and violent crimes.

GAC said some of the requests it received related to general travel information and the security situation in Haiti, while other requests concerned evacuation methods.

But Tania English said that when her Canadian relative trapped in Haiti tried to ask for help, GAC provided no assistance.

CBC News did not identify English’s relative in Haiti to protect their safety, but she was in direct contact with her relative, who is trying to conserve their phone battery amid power shortages and gave English permission to share their story.

English said the Canadian, who spent decades doing humanitarian work in Haiti, was diagnosed with cancer two years ago and was supposed to return to Canada in early March to schedule treatment, but that trip never happened.

Canadian frustrated with Ottawa’s response

Email correspondence between English's relative and GAC was obtained by CBC News.

After receiving information on how to stay safe, the Canadian wrote on March 17: "Thanks for the information, but I was hoping you could help me evacuate. How can you help me evacuate?"

Global Affairs replied saying, "Since you are registered with ROCA, you will be able to receive important safety updates from the Government of Canada," referring to the Registration of Canadians Abroad, a free service that allows the government to notify travelers in emergencies.

On Wednesday, GAC asked the Canadian if they were ready to leave Haiti if departure options became available on a possible "cost recovery" basis. But the next day they sent another email saying the Canadian government "is not facilitating departures or return flights for Canadians in Haiti at this time."

English said, "They get a glimmer of hope, and say: Ah, finally, then they completely crash again." "They feel totally depressed because no one cares at all."

GAC did not respond to specific questions from CBC News in time for publication, but the agency noted it cannot comment on specific consular cases.

Although the Canadian is still trapped in Haiti, they said they have found a possible escape plan through a nonprofit led by a veteran and based in Florida called Project DYNAMO. The organization confirmed to CBC News that the Canadian requested their assistance.

But unlike Rotshilo, who waited on standby for two days at a hotel with armed guards assigned to keep his group safe, days went by and Project DYNAMO could not obtain an air permit to get the Canadian out of Haiti.

Bryan Stern, founder and CEO of Project DYNAMO, said, "I have four helicopters sitting 20 minutes away from me right now—they’re idling." "They’re fueled, funded, and have pilots. Why aren’t they flying? Well, the Dominicans will say they can’t give us a flight permit... and Haiti says they don’t," noting Haiti shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with the Dominican Republic.

Stern, speaking from Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, expressed frustration that his group—which conducts free rescue operations funded by donations—has yet to receive permission to use the airspace from the Dominican Republic's foreign ministry, while for-profit companies have been able to get similar permissions.

Bullets could "start flying" anytime

Paul Dussier, Regional Security Director for International SOS, said in an interview that the company attributes its compliance with regional laws and its contact with relevant authorities to having obtained a flight permit.

"I can give you 100 percent assurance that [the amount charged per rescue] is not the reason for our success.

"That has never played a role in how we were able to carry out that mission."

Dussier said he could not comment directly on how much International SOS charges for its rescue missions.

Roberto Alvarez, Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic, said in an interview that there is no connection between whether organizations charge money for rescue missions and how quickly they get approval from the ministry.

He said the delay in granting permissions is largely due to security checks that have to be done.

Alvarez said that since the outbreak of violence, about 500 people have received permission to fly from Haiti to the Dominican Republic.

About her relative, who is still waiting for rescue from Project DYNAMO, Tania English said: "Every day they wake up with their bags packed, waiting and waiting." "When you feel that frustration daily, hoping it will happen and then it doesn’t."

Her relative says their rooftop is full of bullet holes from nearby shootings, which could become a real problem once it rains. English said food has also become scarce, with her family mainly eating canned goods.

She added that every time they leave the house to get food, "they rush to get it." "You never know when the bullets will start flying."

They are still waiting for a response from Global Affairs Canada regarding possible ways to leave the country. She said, "In the worst times, everyone turns their backs."

During an interview from his home in San Hyacinthe, Quebec, on Friday, a day after returning from Haiti, Rotshilo said he and his wife were finally able to get a good night’s sleep for the first time since the outbreak of violence.

While Rotshilo said he never felt in imminent danger in Haiti, the concerns were always on his mind. Before approving the escape plan with the private company, the 63-year-old man said he considered making a trip through the mountains to escape while sitting in the hotel he was staying at and listening to gunfire outside.

He said, "I can tell there’s someone shooting someone... but you’re trapped." "It was like prison, but the prisoner at least knows there’s a date for release."