Evidence of meeting #22 for Subcommittee on International Human Rights in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was children.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
It's cutting out. I'm going to continue with the witness who had the best line.
Ms. Hislop, I'd like to spend the remainder of my little more than two minutes with you.
You spoke a bit about the humanitarian situation in Cuba. What's been happening in terms of alleviating the situation as of late? Have there been any developments in this calendar year to address that situation? You spoke about poverty, hunger, etc.
Co-Chair, Canadian Network on Cuba
On the part of the Cuban government, there has been a massive deployment, with the help of other countries, especially China, to set up solar power to power public facilities like polyclinics, hospitals, maternity clinics and children's homes. Mexico has been providing a lot of direct aid—at least five ships. Other countries are also working through Mexico to send aid. The Canadian Network on Cuba, as I said, has sent eight million dollars' worth of aid so far.
We do send it through the Cuban government. This lie is repeated over and over again by people from NGOs that receive funding from the U.S. State Department. We don't. I can say that there's a total lack of verifiable evidence that aid gets diverted to dollar stores. There's never been a proven chain of custody where that has happened.
I really think we need to stop putting on political conditions when we're providing aid to Cuba, because that becomes complying with the U.S. sanctions and undermining the Cuban government. The goal ultimately is to try to destabilize the Cuban government.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
This is a really brief study. Normally we have more time to dive into things from different angles. Without getting into the reasons the countries that are starting things.... I think my time is running out, unfortunately.
Liberal
Sameer Zuberi Liberal Pierrefonds—Dollard, QC
I want to continue with you.
I appreciate what you said in your comments. I'm not taking away from what you just said, but can you spell out the effects and impacts on the ground with respect to hunger, famine and the cost of living? Can you talk about the human impacts on the ground? Would you be able to continue with that point, please, Ms. Hislop?
Co-Chair, Canadian Network on Cuba
Yes, absolutely.
In the past two years especially, there's been a severe and noticeable lack of medications. My own family is affected by that. Families have to buy their medicine in another country because there's nothing in the pharmacy. It's simply not there. Cuba's own biopharmaceutical industry can now produce only about 30% of the medicines they used to be able to that are guaranteed to the population, because they can't access the raw materials.
Medicine is very important, as is food aid. With the loss of tourism to Cuba this year, a lot of people are out of work, and there's a lack of foreign currency coming in. Private businesses are severely affected, so people don't have money to purchase food. It's very difficult.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Fayçal El-Khoury
Thank you, Ms. Hislop.
Mr. Brunelle‑Duceppe, you have the floor for five minutes.
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
[Member spoke in Spanish, interpreted as follows:]
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Welcome everyone, and thank you for joining us on this very important study.
[Translation]
Ms. Hislop, I have a hard time understanding the arguments of some people who, on the one hand, say there's never been such a difficult humanitarian crisis for the people of Cuba, and, on the other hand, that it's the regime's fault, when this crisis…
Don't get me wrong, I'm a defender of human rights. I'm banned in China and Russia. That said, from a completely objective point of view, the crisis we're dealing with, the one hurting people right now, is directly linked to the American blockade, which is mainly related to energy.
Am I wrong? Am I off track?
Co-Chair, Canadian Network on Cuba
It's absolutely completely and directly caused by the U.S. blockade against Cuba. The UN has reported this.
They just came out last week with a report. They've warned that the expansion of the sanctions imposed on Cuba is causing widespread harm to the population and endangering lives, and they must be lifted immediately.
Businesses are over-complying due to the risks and threats from the United States. Every sector—energy, finance and shipping—is being affected by this now.
When you also factor in Cuba's total isolation from international payment systems, Cuba is at risk of widespread suffering and disease in the very near future. This is because of the U.S. blockade.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
Canada committed to working with Mexico to help the Cuban people.
If my information is up to date, Mexico has sent six shipments of humanitarian aid to Cuba, while Canada is at a standstill, I think.
Money was sent to organizations like UNICEF and the World Food Programme. That's great; we welcomed those funds. However, in terms of direct humanitarian aid, it's nowhere near what Mexico's doing.
We were told Mexico, like Canada, is stuck in tariff negotiation with the Americans. Canada's reason for not sending humanitarian aid cannot be that it's in negotiation with the Americans, since Mexico is sending aid.
Am I wrong in saying Canada is completely lagging when it comes to humanitarian aid compared to what Mexico's doing?
Co-Chair, Canadian Network on Cuba
That's absolutely the same assessment we would have. We're very disappointed in the Canadian government, which is standing by idly and basically being silent about what's happening.
As you said, Mexico is in the same vulnerable position that Canada is in, maybe more so. They're actually a global leader right now in humanitarian aid, and they have offered to be a humanitarian corridor for this aid to go through. They've also offered to allow our airlines to refuel in Mexico, if necessary, to continue flying to the United States. Only Canada abruptly stopped flying to Cuba. The United States still has multiple airlines, and other countries do as well.
We should be doing a lot more. Other countries are working through Mexico, and I think we should too. Canada needs to step up and lead; otherwise, we are complicit in what is happening.
Bloc
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Lac-Saint-Jean, QC
After all, Canada is one of the biggest oil producers in the world. That may not be a good thing for an environmentalist like me, but it's still true.
That said, I think it would violate international law if the U.S. were to impose sanctions on a country that has bilateral relations with Cuba, as Canada does, if it sent oil to Cuba, for example. That would violate international law. However, I think the worst consequence of all this is it would sort of push the Cuban government into the arms of other countries, such as Russia.
If a country doesn't want to give or sell oil to Cuba, then Cuba has to turn to other countries that aren't necessarily the most respectable. However, if you have no other choice, at some point, that's what happens.
Do you agree with me that it's a very bad idea to prevent Canada from providing oil to Cuba?
Co-Chair, Canadian Network on Cuba
Of course, it's complicity. It's giving up our own sovereignty as an independent country with the right to have bilateral relations with Cuba, as we have had uninterrupted for more than 80 years now. Cuba has always been a very good partner to Canada. They do everything on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit.
There is a lot of opportunity right now for Canada to invest in infrastructure and development projects and get tourism going again. In terms of the biopharma industry and scientific research, Cuba is a world leader. There are medical breakthroughs—a new Alzheimer's treatment and cancer vaccines. These are all things that Cuba has developed despite its lack of resources and that Canada could be working with Cuba on right now. It's a missed opportunity.
Putting aside the fact that we don't want to be complicit in what the United States is doing to Cuba and the Cuban people right now, this is a time for Canada to take a different path and do the right thing: take a mutually beneficial step and maintain the ties between our two countries, which we have had for more than eight decades.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Fayçal El-Khoury
Thank you, Ms. Hislop.
Our time is up. I would like to thank all our witnesses.
Thank you all for your remarks as part of this study on human rights in the Caribbean region.
In the name of the subcommittee, myself, my colleagues and all the staff here, we would like to thank you. If you feel that there is more information you would like to supply to the subcommittee, you can send it either to the chair or to the clerk. I wish you all the best.
For all my colleagues here, I believe this is going to be our last meeting for this session. I wish you well. I thank you all. I hope you enjoy a good time with your family and loved ones this summer.
To all the staff, interpreters and everyone here, thank you.