Mr. Speaker, just recently I raised a concern I have regarding the United States embargo on the island and the people of Cuba.
Tonight I would like to deal quickly with the Torricelli, the Helms and the Burton bills and amendments which are affecting drastically the trade relationships between Cuba and other parts of the world. The United States of America through these bills is having a direct impact on a great number of institutions and trading practices involving a great number of countries.
We know that the United States is one of the great countries of the world, a country that I and many people envy for its spirit and for its energy. We know that it has corralled and harnessed this energy and spirit and the resources to become one of the greatest nations in the history of mankind.
These bills are also among the greatest that have been created by the human mind, practically 99 per cent pure; so pure they could be used for classical examples in sociology classes, social political classes, political science classes, psychology classes, communication classes and so on. All over the world, 99 per cent pure propaganda.
It is mind boggling when we read what these bills contain. These bills pose restrictions and controls not just on individuals but on corporations, financial institutions, even the United Nations. Through these bills the American government is so intent on controlling its people to prevent them from trading
with Cuba and also those in other countries who might be trading partners with the United States.
That means we will suffer terribly because of our relationship in our trading practices with Cuba. As a result that will affect our manufactured products of sugar and so on that we trade with the United States.
The United States is interfering through these bills with the suspension of Cuba's membership in international organizations plus using many more tactics. Since 1962 there has been an embargo imposed on this island. However, even though these people have been rationed on every single purchase since those years, the spirit of revolution has prevailed and the people are survivors.
If they were dissatisfied to the point where a revolution would take place to overthrow Castro, it would have taken place many years ago. The bill tells us the acts of the Castro government are a threat to international peace. I do not know what that would be called. However, it is a threat to international relationships. It jeopardizes all relationships and all the bills we have formulated and passed over the many decades. It is country that classifies itself as our best friend.
I went to Cuba. It is amazing what those people have done under unbearable conditions and how resourceful they are. It is probably the best educated population in the world, no doubt about it. They have sent 20,000 doctors all over the world, chiefly to third world countries. No other country can match that. That is a threat to peace?
Cuba has the finest genetic research centre. It has probably the finest cardiac centre in the world. Is that a threat to peace? When the Chernobyl incident took place the Cuban government took in over 35,000 victims at no cost to them. It built a huge resort to keep children and families in dozens of beautiful homes at no cost to the victims. That is a threat to peace?
What did Canada do for these victims? What did the United States do? What did other countries of the world do for these people? Nothing.
As I said, the spirit of revolution prevails-