Thank you. I think we are.
The engagement over the last 62 years has been, as you said, constant during the years of Cuba's suspension from the OAS. Despite Helms–Burton and the fact that the government of Cuba tends to use that as a reason not to change, there are contradictions in terms of the humanitarian loophole the United States enjoys in terms of increasing its annual bilateral trade with Cuba.
President Obama made a gesture a year ago, which has to date been rebuffed. I think change is on the horizon. I visited there in November, and religious institutions are again practising. I think the heavy-handed days of the atheist state are long past. Travel is somewhat easier. The desire for developing trade and exchange of technology is there.
As the minister of trade told me, he was encouraging Canadians to not only invest in the travel industry in terms of air links but to invest in the industry on the ground. He did concede that the concept of property rights is still a challenge for the government. I am disappointed that the vice-minister was unable to visit.
We were negotiating on a number of levels with regard to human rights. We believe that the death of Orlando Zapata was an avoidable and tragic incident. Minister Cannon has issued statements calling on Cuba to release all political prisoners and to be more tolerant of the rights of Cubans to free speech and free assembly.
I think there is progress. There is certainly dialogue. But I think that for a number of reasons Helms-Burton is not only a wall created by the United States, it's a defensive device that the current government of Cuba is hiding behind.