By Dave McKee
Peoples Voice has received reports that during the recent failed trade negotiations between the United States and Canada, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered the Canadian government a trade deal in exchange for Ottawa’s support for the blockade against Cuba.
Specifically, Rubio sought Ottawa’s promise to vote against the annual United Nations General Assembly resolution condemning the US blockade of Cuba. Every year since 1992, the UNGA has voted overwhelmingly to demand an end to the nearly seven-decades-long economic blockade of the island and its people.
On every single occasion, Canada has supported the motion, joining the vast majority of the world’s governments in calling on Washington to end its economic, commercial and financial embargo.
But in an alarming move, Ottawa abstained from a UNGA vote in July, for the UN to open a special debate on intensified US economic sanctions and the blockade against Cuba. On that occasion, there were several reports that Washington was pressuring countries around the world, including with tariffs and other trade penalties, to vote against or abstain the motion.
The current reports are the first concrete indication that the US has directly used economic and financial threats against Canada to coerce support for the blockade. It marks an alarming escalation of Washington’s willingness to hold sovereign countries and their peoples under threat of economic pain in order to advance its seven-decades-long campaign to overthrow the Cuban Revolution and deny the Cuban people’s sovereignty.
Coming on the heels of Canada’s abstention in July, these developments increase concern that Ottawa may shift its longstanding position in support of the Cuban people and Cuba’s sovereignty. Under the conditions of US economic threats, such a shift would also mark a surrender of Canada’s state sovereignty.
In a hopeful sign, PV also received unconfirmed reports Global Affairs Canada (GAC) denied Rubio’s “request” and insisted that Canada will not change its position opposing the blockade of Cuba at the October UNGA vote. Peoples Voice is reaching out to GAC for confirmation.
Whether or not Ottawa did deny Rubio, the fact remains that the line of the Mark Carney government to this point has been largely to spout pro-sovereignty bluster while enacting policies which directly undermine Canada’s independence from the US.
Cuba solidarity organizations in Canada are certainly aware of this, and they are mobilizing in response. The Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC) has launched an important new campaign aimed precisely at pressuring Ottawa to maintain its vote in favour of the UNGA resolution condemning the blockade. The campaign includes lawn signs and, most notably, a parliamentary petition sponsored by Winnipeg MP Leah Gazan.
Speaking to Peoples Voice, one CNC campaigner said that they welcome the news of Ottawa apparent intention to continue to supporting Cuba, but they are determined to build the strongest campaign and apply maximum pressure on the government between now and the vote in October.
“We welcome these unconfirmed statements from Global Affairs, but we will only know that Canada is continuing to support Cuba and oppose the blockade when we see the results of the October vote. Besides that, there is much more that Ottawa needs to be doing to support the Cuban people during this incredible escalation of the US blockade and the real threat of war.
“In addition to opposing the blockade, Canada needs to deepen and defend economic and cultural exchanges between Canada and Cuba, enforce the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act which protects Canadian corporations who do business in Cuba against United States sanctions, lift Canada’s advisory against non-essential travel to Cuba and expand opportunities for tourism and trade.”
People’s Voice will continue reporting on this situation.
To sign the petition, request a lawn sign and help with the CNC campaign, visit canadiannetworkoncuba.ca.
[Photo: Marco Rubio and Anita Anand share awkward moment at last year’s G7 meeting]
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