Canada-Cuba Relations
Encyclopedia
Canada
has maintained consistently cordial relations with Cuba, in spite of considerable pressure from the United States, and the island is also one of the most popular travel destinations for Canadian citizens.
were the only two countries in the hemisphere to maintain uninterrupted diplomatic relations with Cuba following the Cuban Revolution in 1959.
Relations were especially warm in the 1970s and 1980s during the time when Pierre Elliot Trudeau was the Prime Minister
of Canada. Trudeau spent three days in Cuba and sparked a life long friendship with Fidel Castro
. The visit was also the first from Western country in Cuba since 1960.
Fidel Castro was among Pierre Trudeau's pallbearers at his funeral in 2000.
, which operates a mining and processing plant on the island in Moa
. A second enterprise, Cobalt Refinery Co. Inc., was created in Alberta for nickel refining. Canada has been critical of the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, and strongly objected to the Helms-Burton Act
. In 1996 Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy
stated: "Canada shares the U.S. objectives of improving human rights standards and moving to more representative government in Cuba. But we are concerned that the Helms-Burton Act takes the wrong approach. That is why we have been working with other countries to uphold the principles of international law". In 1996 a Private Member's Bill
was introduced, but not made law, in the Canadian parliament; this law called the Godfrey-Milliken Bill
was in response to the extraterritoriality of the aforementioned Act. Canada also protests U.S. preclearance customs agents in Canadian airports who try to catch American citizens travelling to Cuba in defiance of U.S. law.
There are in total 85 Canadian companies operating in Cuba, including brewer Labatts and Pizza Nova
since 1945 and is located in the upscale district of Miramar in municipal area of Playa in Havana.
Cuba has an embassy in Ottawa
and Consulates in Toronto
and Montreal
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
has maintained consistently cordial relations with Cuba, in spite of considerable pressure from the United States, and the island is also one of the most popular travel destinations for Canadian citizens.
History
Canada–Cuba relations can be traced back to the 18th century, when vessels from the Atlantic provinces of Canada traded codfish and beer for rum and sugar. Cuba was the first country in the Caribbean selected by Canada for a diplomatic mission. Official diplomatic relations were established in 1945, when Emile Vaillancourt, a noted writer and historian, was designated Canada's representative in Cuba. Canada and MexicoMexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
were the only two countries in the hemisphere to maintain uninterrupted diplomatic relations with Cuba following the Cuban Revolution in 1959.
Relations were especially warm in the 1970s and 1980s during the time when Pierre Elliot Trudeau was the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
of Canada. Trudeau spent three days in Cuba and sparked a life long friendship with Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
. The visit was also the first from Western country in Cuba since 1960.
Fidel Castro was among Pierre Trudeau's pallbearers at his funeral in 2000.
Canadian-Cuban Business Ventures
In 1994, a joint venture was formed between the Cuban Nickel Union and the Canadian firm Sherritt InternationalSherritt International
Sherritt International is a Canadian energy company, based in Toronto, Ontario. It is involved in nickel and cobalt mining, thermal coal production, oil and gas exploration and production, and electricity generation...
, which operates a mining and processing plant on the island in Moa
Moa, Cuba
Moa is a municipality and city in the Holguín Province of Cuba.Large nickel deposits located in the Moa area are exploited in part by joint ventures with the Canadian company Sherritt International.-Demographics:...
. A second enterprise, Cobalt Refinery Co. Inc., was created in Alberta for nickel refining. Canada has been critical of the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba, and strongly objected to the Helms-Burton Act
Helms-Burton Act
The Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act of 1996 is a United States federal law which strengthens and continues the United States embargo against Cuba...
. In 1996 Foreign Affairs Minister Lloyd Axworthy
Lloyd Axworthy
Lloyd Norman Axworthy, PC, OC, OM is a prominent Canadian politician, statesman and University President from Manitoba. He is best known for having served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien...
stated: "Canada shares the U.S. objectives of improving human rights standards and moving to more representative government in Cuba. But we are concerned that the Helms-Burton Act takes the wrong approach. That is why we have been working with other countries to uphold the principles of international law". In 1996 a Private Member's Bill
Private Member's Bill
A member of parliament’s legislative motion, called a private member's bill or a member's bill in some parliaments, is a proposed law introduced by a member of a legislature. In most countries with a parliamentary system, most bills are proposed by the government, not by individual members of the...
was introduced, but not made law, in the Canadian parliament; this law called the Godfrey-Milliken Bill
Godfrey-Milliken Bill
The Godfrey-Milliken Bill, officially Bill C-339: The American Liberty and Democratic Solidarity Act was a Private Member's Bill introduced in the Canadian parliament by Liberal MPs Peter Milliken and John Godfrey...
was in response to the extraterritoriality of the aforementioned Act. Canada also protests U.S. preclearance customs agents in Canadian airports who try to catch American citizens travelling to Cuba in defiance of U.S. law.
There are in total 85 Canadian companies operating in Cuba, including brewer Labatts and Pizza Nova
Pizza Nova
Pizza Nova is a Canadian franchise chain of pizza restaurants founded in 1963. The first restaurant was located in the eastern Toronto suburb of Scarborough, Ontario on Kennedy Road near Lawrence Avenue. There are more than 120 locations in Canada, the United States and Cuba. The majority of...
Diplomatic Representation
Canada has an embassy in HavanaHavana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
since 1945 and is located in the upscale district of Miramar in municipal area of Playa in Havana.
Cuba has an embassy in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and Consulates in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.