SENATORS’ STATEMENTS — Situation in Cuba

Dear colleagues, for decades, Cuba has faced complex economic restrictions. Measures linked to the United States embargo restricting oil shipments and the disruption of oil supplies from Venezuela have further weakened energy supply chains. These measures violate international law. The consequences are immediate and deeply human.

Cuba relies on imported oil for electricity and transportation. Venezuela previously supplied a substantial portion; those shipments have collapsed. The outcome is not abstract. It is daily life disruption and long-lasting blackouts as hospitals struggle to sustain vital services.

And yet Cuba has consistently extended solidarity to the world. Cuban doctors have treated patients from West Africa to Latin America. Engineers and disaster response teams have assisted after hurricanes and earthquakes abroad. Cuban firefighters and emergency brigades have travelled internationally to help combat forest fires, offering skills and manpower to protect communities.

International organizations have warned that if these shortages continue, humanitarian consequences could escalate dramatically. When we speak about geopolitics and sanctions, we must remember this: It is always ordinary people who feel the consequences first and most severely.

These moments call for responsibility. Political disagreements between governments should never translate into humanitarian hardship for an entire population.

The Cuban people should not be collateral damage in broader geopolitical tensions. As the international community, we must encourage dialogue, humanitarian considerations and pragmatic solutions that ensure energy access and basic services for the population.

In this context, Canada has long championed multilateralism and the rule of law. We should live up to that tradition by standing in solidarity with the Cuban people and calling for respect of international law.

Thank you so much. Meegwetch.