Ottawa - Last week, members of the National Assembly of Venezuela spoke to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade about the continuing political situation and growing crisis in Venezuela.

President of the Venezuelan Committee on Foreign Affairs, Luis Florido, committee members Williams Dávila and Luis Emilio Rondón Hernández, and President of the Committee on Oversight of Government Operations and Public Accounts, Freddy Guevara, outlined the increasingly serious and fragile state of affairs in their country.

Lower oil prices have contributed to a significant decline of Venezuela’s economy, which has led to a shortage of food and basic medical supplies.

Political strife between President Nicolás Maduro and the opposition-controlled parliament has made finding solutions difficult. Citing the President’s involvement in the Supreme Court decision to overturn an amnesty law for jailed opposition leaders, witnesses before the committee expressed deep concern over the lack of an independent judiciary in Venezuela.

The committee again noted that many political prisoners remain in jail, including Leopoldo López, leader of the Popular Will party.

Representatives from Global Affairs Canada also outlined Canada’s perspective on the situation.

“The Venezuelan government must adhere to and respect democratic principles and the rule of law,” said Senator Raynell Andreychuk, Chair of the Senate foreign affairs committee. “Parliament must work together to reach a solution that benefits all citizens.”

Senator Percy E. Downe, Deputy Chair of the committee, added: “A meaningful dialogue is an essential first step toward finding solutions to these serious problems. The economic situation and the emerging critical plight of citizens without basic medicines and food must be the top priority to resolve.”

Quick Facts

• Canada and Venezuela have had bilateral relations since 1948. Bilateral trade with Venezuela in 2015 was valued at $740 million; exports were accounted for $633 million and imports for $107 million.
• Venezuela’s economy is faring poorly in part because of the decline in the production and price of oil. It is experiencing triple-digit inflation and its gross domestic product is contracting.
• María Corina Machado, a politician barred from holding office after speaking out against the government handling of protests that turned violent, appeared before the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade in May 2014.
• In September 2015, Leopoldo López, leader of the Popular Will party, was sentenced to serve nearly 14 years in prison for allegedly inciting violence during the 2014 Venezuela protests. He is one of many political prisoners currently imprisoned in Venezuela.

Associated Links

For more information and to watch a recording of the meeting, click here.

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For more information, please contact:

Marcy Galipeau
Committees Liaison Officer, Communications
Senate of Canada
613-944-4082
marcy.galipeau@sen.parl.gc.ca