Cuban Canadians Coalition is a non-profit corporation representing Cuban diaspora in Canada. Our mission is to advocate for human rights and democracy in Cuba
The Cuban Canadians Coalition expresses its sincere gratitude to Salman Sima for extending the invitation to the event titled “Stand on Guard for Canada and Protect Canada from Foreign Hostile Influence” with Members of Parliament.
We engaged in deliberations regarding the threats to Canada’s national security posed by authoritarian regimes, including Cuba, Russia, China, Iran, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, as well as terrorist organizations such as HAMAS and the IRGC.
European Parliament Calls for EU Sanctions and Democratic Transition in Cuba – Cuban Canadians Coalition Urges Canada to Follow Suit
The Cuban Canadians Coalition welcomes the resolution adopted by the European Parliament on June 18, 2026, which strongly condemns the Cuban regime’s systematic repression and calls for profound political and economic changes leading to a democratic transition.
The resolution, approved by 283 votes in favor, 199 against, and 85 abstentions, states that Cuba is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and that nearly 89% of Cuban families are living in extreme poverty. Members of the European Parliament emphasized that this crisis is not the result of any external embargo, but rather the direct consequence of the failures of the regime and its economic model.
The European Parliament denounced the continued and brutal repression carried out by the Cuban authorities and noted that, as of May 2026, there were 1,281 political prisoners in Cuba, including minors. It called for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and all those arbitrarily detained for exercising their fundamental rights, an end to torture and ill-treatment, and justice and reparations for the victims.
The resolution also urges the European Union to impose targeted sanctions under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against those responsible for repression, including Miguel Díaz-Canel and the leadership of GAESA, the military conglomerate that controls a substantial part of the Cuban economy. Furthermore, Members of the European Parliament called for the suspension of the Political Dialogue and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Cuba until clear steps toward democratic transition are taken.
The European Parliament reaffirmed that the only way to overcome the poverty, deprivation, and isolation endured by the Cuban people is through meaningful economic and political reforms leading to a full multiparty democracy in which dissidents are not persecuted, imprisoned, tortured, or killed. It stressed that any transition must be led by Cubans and must include all Cubans, both on the island and throughout the diaspora.
The resolution also calls on the European Commission and EU Member States to establish humanitarian channels to deliver food, medicine, and energy directly to the Cuban people, while criticizing the Cuban regime’s support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its growing military cooperation with Russia and Belarus.
The Cuban Canadians Coalition calls on the Government of Canada to take note of this historic resolution and to align its policy toward Cuba with the principles of democracy, human rights, and accountability upheld by the European Union.
Canada should stand with the Cuban people, not with those who oppress them. We urge the Canadian government to:
* Publicly demand the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Cuba.
* Consider targeted sanctions against individuals responsible for gross human rights violations.
* Review Canada’s diplomatic and economic engagement with the Cuban regime.
* Strengthen humanitarian assistance mechanisms that directly benefit the Cuban people and independent civil society.
* Support a peaceful, democratic, and Cuban-led transition that includes Cubans on the island and in the diaspora.
The Cuban people deserve freedom, dignity, and the opportunity to determine their own future. Canada, as a longstanding defender of democracy and human rights, should stand on the right side of history.
@CanadaFP
#canpoli
Cuban Canadians Coalition Condemns Attempts to Politicize the Suffering of the Cuban People
The Cuban Canadians Coalition calls on the Government of Canada, and particularly on those Canadian politicians who continue to sympathize with the Cuban regime and welcome its representatives into their offices, to recognize the reality that the Cuban people have endured for the last 67 years.
For nearly seven decades, the Cuban regime has repressed, imprisoned, and executed its opponents while forcing millions of Cubans into exile. The humanitarian crisis devastating the Cuban people today did not begin with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. It is the result of decades of dictatorship, economic mismanagement, systematic human rights abuses, and the denial of fundamental freedoms.
Using the suffering of millions of Cubans for cheap political purposes is morally indefensible. Those who seek to exploit this tragedy while ignoring the responsibility of the regime in Havana place themselves on the side of those who have oppressed the Cuban people for generations.
History will not judge only those who carried out the repression. It will also judge those who chose to ignore the truth, believed the regime’s propaganda, or granted legitimacy to the representatives of a dictatorship responsible for countless human rights violations.
Cuba will eventually free itself from the system that has consumed the nation for generations. Free Cubans—those who advocate for the restoration of democracy and the right of the Cuban people to choose their leaders through free, fair, and pluralistic elections—will not forget those who stood on the wrong side of history.
Canada has long claimed to stand for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. These principles must also apply to Cuba. The Cuban people deserve freedom, justice, and the opportunity to determine their own future.
The Cuban Canadians Coalition reiterates its unwavering solidarity with the Cuban people and calls upon Canadian leaders to stand with the victims of oppression rather than with those who perpetuate it.
#canpoli
“En Cuba hay una mafia uniformada; esas personas no son líderes, esas personas son asesinos.
Entonces, sí, el futuro está en manos de la administración Trump, y el futuro está en manos de nosotros, los cubanos: los que seamos capaces de consolidarnos como sociedad civil, activistas y opositores.”
@KireniaCD@cccoalition_ca
🇨🇺 "Trump puede cambiar el futuro de Cuba": la impactante declaración de... https://t.co/AJrMFM7XLd via @YouTube
The Cuban-Canadian Coalition reaffirms its commitment to a free, democratic, and prosperous Cuba where human rights, political pluralism, and the rule of law are fully respected.
Silence in the face of repression serves only the interests of those who deny fundamental freedoms. Canada’s engagement with Cuba should be guided by democratic principles, accountability, and solidarity with the Cuban people—not by the narratives promoted by an authoritarian regime.
Cuban-Canadian Coalition
STATEMENT BY THE CUBAN-CANADIAN COALITION
A Call to Members of the Parliament of Canada and the Senate of Canada
Ottawa, Canada
June 9, 2026
The Cuban-Canadian Coalition respectfully calls upon Members of Parliament and Senators of Canada to ensure that any engagement with representatives of the Cuban regime, including Rodrigo Malmierca, the Havana regime’s ambassador to Canada, includes serious and meaningful discussion about the political, economic, and human rights crisis affecting the Cuban people.
For decades, officials of the Cuban regime have used diplomatic and public forums abroad to present a narrative that often fails to reflect the daily realities faced by millions of Cubans. At a time when Cuba is experiencing its deepest social, economic, and demographic crisis in generations, it is essential that Canada’s elected representatives seek clear answers to fundamental questions regarding democracy, human rights, and governance.
We respectfully encourage Canadian parliamentarians to raise the following questions whenever opportunities arise to engage with representatives of the Cuban regime:
• Why does the Cuban regime continue to imprison citizens for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association, and assembly?
• How many political prisoners (including minors) remain in Cuban prisons today, and why are they denied internationally recognized due process guarantees?
• Why does the Cuban regime refuse to allow free, multiparty elections under international observation?
• Why are Cuban citizens denied the right to freely choose their leaders through a competitive democratic process?
• How does the regime explain the unprecedented exodus of millions of Cubans in recent years?
• What responsibility does the regime accept for the collapse of essential services, including electricity, healthcare, food supply, and transportation?
• Why does the regime continue to restrict press freedom and persecute independent journalists?
• How does the regime respond to repeated reports by international human rights organizations documenting systematic violations of fundamental rights in Cuba?
• Is the Cuban regime willing to grant unrestricted access to United Nations Special Rapporteurs and independent human rights monitoring organizations?
• Why are Cuban citizens detained, interrogated, or threatened for expressing political views that differ from those of the Communist Party?
• What concrete steps is the regime prepared to take to ensure judicial independence and the rule of law?
• Does the regime acknowledge that the absence of political and economic freedoms has contributed significantly to Cuba’s national crisis?
• Is the Cuban regime prepared to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners?
• Why has the regime failed to fulfill the democratic commitments and promises of free elections contained in the Sierra Maestra Manifesto?
• What concrete plan does the regime have to halt the continuing deterioration of living conditions for the Cuban people?
Canada has long championed the principles of democracy, human rights, and human dignity. As elected representatives of a free and democratic society, Canadian parliamentarians have an important responsibility to ensure that these values remain central to Canada’s international engagements.
The Cuban people—both on the island and throughout the diaspora—deserve transparency, accountability, and honest dialogue regarding the conditions under which they live. We encourage Canadian policymakers to listen not only to representatives of the Cuban regime, but also to political prisoners, victims of repression, independent journalists, human rights defenders, religious leaders, and members of Cuba’s independent civil society.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 10, 2026
The Cuban-Canadians Coalition Calls for Accountability Following Sherritt International’s Withdrawal from Cuba
The Cuban-Canadians Coalition acknowledges Sherritt International’s decision to end its operations in Cuba after decades of partnership with the Cuban regime (Presidencia Cuba).
This decision comes amid increasing international concern regarding environmental destruction, labor exploitation, and human rights violations connected to mining operations in Moa, Cuba, particularly the Pedro Sotto Alba nickel processing plant operated through Moa Nickel S.A.
For nearly a year, the Cuban-Canadians Coalition has denounced the severe environmental and public health crisis affecting the people of Moa. Reports from residents, independent observers, and public health sources have documented toxic emissions, including sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide, linked to serious respiratory, dermatological, and oncological illnesses (https://t.co/XYQCx1xV0d).
At the same time, recent investigations by CBC News journalist Evan Dyer (CBC), supported by the work of María Werlau (Cuba Archive / Archivo Cuba), have exposed abusive labor practices affecting Cuban workers connected to overseas joint ventures associated with the Cuban regime (https://t.co/uhpkLsaQSP).
According to testimonies from former workers in Canada and the Bahamas, Cuban employees were subjected to:
-Confiscation of wages by the Cuban government.
-Political surveillance and ideological control.
-Restrictions on personal freedoms.
-Threats and intimidation for complaints or dissent.
Conditions described by experts as possible forms of modern forced labor.
These revelations raise serious ethical concerns about international business partnerships with authoritarian regimes that violate fundamental labor and human rights standards.
The Cuban-Canadians Coalition DEMANDS:
1- An independent international investigation into environmental contamination and public health damage in Moa, Cuba.
2- A full review of labor practices linked to Cuban state-sponsored overseas employment programs.
3- Greater oversight by Canadian authorities regarding joint ventures with authoritarian governments.
4- Accountability for environmental destruction and labor exploitation connected to extractive operations in Cuba.
5- Continued media and parliamentary scrutiny regarding the treatment of Cuban workers abroad.
The Cuban people deserve freedom, dignity, environmental justice, and the right to work without coercion or exploitation.
Cuban-Canadians Coalition
Ottawa, May 10, 2026
Statement from the Cuban Canadians Coalition to the Canadian Press and the Canadian Public
The Cuban Canadian Coalition wishes to bring urgent attention to the grave humanitarian crisis currently unfolding in Cuba — a crisis that continues to worsen while the Cuban regime attempts to silence the voices of millions suffering under repression, poverty, and hopelessness.
For more than six decades, the Cuban people have lived without the fundamental freedoms that Canadians hold dear: the right to freely choose their leaders, the right to freedom of expression, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, and the right to participate in free and fair multiparty elections.
Today, Cuba faces one of the darkest moments in its modern history. Families endure daily blackouts lasting many hours. Hospitals lack basic medicines and medical supplies. Children go hungry. Elderly citizens survive without adequate food or healthcare. Entire communities suffer from collapsing infrastructure, scarcity of clean water, and a mass exodus of young people who no longer see a future in their own country.
The Cuban regime consistently attempts to blame external factors for this catastrophe. However, the primary cause of Cuba’s suffering is the systematic failure of an authoritarian political system that has denied Cubans the ability to democratically determine their future for over 67 years.
No nation can prosper when its citizens are forbidden from freely choosing their government, criticizing those in power, creating independent political parties, or demanding accountability without fear of imprisonment.
The Cuban people have repeatedly demonstrated their desire for peaceful democratic change. From the historic protests of July 11, 2021, to the growing civic resistance seen across the island today, Cubans have demanded liberty, dignity, and democratic rights — not violence.
We want to make something absolutely clear to the Canadian public and to the international community:
Any future bloodshed in Cuba will be the sole responsibility of the Cuban regime.
If violence erupts, it will not be because Cubans desire conflict. It will be because the regime continues to close every peaceful and democratic path for change, refusing to allow the Cuban people to freely decide their future through the ballot box.
A government that criminalizes peaceful dissent, imprisons political opponents, and suppresses democratic participation leaves its people with desperation instead of hope.
Canada has long stood as a defender of democracy and human rights around the world. We call upon Canadian leaders, journalists, civil society organizations, and citizens of conscience to speak clearly and honestly about the reality in Cuba.
Silence only benefits oppression.
The Cuban people deserve solidarity, freedom, and the opportunity to build a democratic future where no Cuban is persecuted for their ideas and where political power belongs to the people — not to an unelected authoritarian elite.
We ask Canadians to stand with the Cuban people, not with those who deny them their most basic human rights.
Cuban Canadians Coalition, Ottawa, Canada, May 8, 2026
Statement by the Cuban Canadians Coalition
Ottawa, April 17, 2026
The Cuban Canadians Coalition takes note of the announcement by Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs (Anita Anand, Canada’s Foreign Policy—Global Affairs Canada) regarding the allocation of $5.5 million in humanitarian assistance to Cuba in response to the deepening crisis affecting the Cuban people.
We recognize the importance of providing urgent support to those facing severe shortages of food, medicine, and basic services. However, it is essential to underscore that the root of this crisis is not solely humanitarian, but fundamentally political.
For decades, the Cuban regime has maintained absolute control over the economy, the distribution of resources, and the daily lives of its citizens, creating the structural conditions that have led to the collapse of the electrical grid, chronic fuel shortages, and the deterioration of the healthcare system.
Any international assistance directed to Cuba must include strict guarantees of transparency, independent oversight, and direct access to the population, ensuring that these resources are not diverted or used for political control.
The Cuban people do not only need aid; they need freedom, democratic institutions, and full respect for their fundamental rights.
We urge the Government of Canada to complement this assistance with a firm policy in defense of human rights in Cuba, including the recognition of political prisoners and support for independent civil society.
The Cuban Canadian Coalition reaffirms its commitment to continue raising its voice for those on the island who cannot do so freely.
Humanitarian aid cannot replace justice, nor freedom.
#canpoli
The Cuban-Canadians Coalition takes note of the recent announcement by the Cuban regime regarding the release of 2,100 prisoners.
However, we express our deep concern and strong condemnation over the fact that, to date, there is no credible evidence that any of the more than 1,000 political prisoners in Cuba have been included in this process.
The continued imprisonment of political prisoners—individuals detained solely for exercising their fundamental rights and freedoms—demonstrates that the Cuban regime remains unwilling to undertake genuine reforms. After 67 years in power, marked by systematic repression and practices amounting to crimes against humanity, the regime continues to prioritize its own survival over the rights and well-being of its citizens.
This selective approach raises serious questions about the transparency and intent behind the announced releases. Excluding political prisoners from such measures underscores the absence of real change and highlights the ongoing human rights violations on the island.
At a time when Cuba faces a profound humanitarian crisis and a widespread economic collapse—driven by decades of failed policies and disastrous economic decisions—the need for meaningful change has never been more urgent.
We call on the international community, democratic governments, and human rights organizations to demand transparency, accountability, and the immediate, unconditional release of all political prisoners in Cuba.
The Cuban people deserve freedom, justice, and the right to determine their own future.
Cuban-Canadians Coalition
Ottawa, April 6, 2026
Dear Minister of Foreign Affairs,
On behalf of the Cuban Canadians Coalition, I am writing to respectfully urge the Government of Canada to reassess its current diplomatic engagement with the Republic of Cuba, particularly regarding the operation of the Cuban Embassy in Canada and Canada’s diplomatic presence on the Island.
Given the current political, economic, and human rights conditions in Cuba, we believe it is both reasonable and necessary for Canada to adopt a more measured and principled approach. Specifically, we call on the Government of Canada to consider closing the Cuban Embassy in Canada, allowing only a minimal consular presence strictly dedicated to essential immigration and administrative services.
At the same time, we encourage the Government to significantly reduce Canada’s diplomatic personnel in Cuba to the bare minimum required for basic consular functions.
This recommendation is grounded in several key considerations:
First, Canada’s foreign policy should consistently reflect its core democratic values, including respect for human rights, political freedoms, and the rule of law. The Cuban government’s longstanding record in these areas raises serious concerns. A recalibration of diplomatic engagement would send a clear and principled message, while preserving essential consular channels.
Second, there is currently a limited presence of Canadian citizens residing or operating in Cuba on a long-term basis. While tourism has historically played a role, the current realities on the island—marked by economic hardship, systemic shortages, and lack of fundamental freedoms—have diminished both the attractiveness and sustainability of a significant Canadian presence.
Third, maintaining a full diplomatic footprint in Cuba represents a considerable expense to Canadian taxpayers. At a time when public resources must be managed with efficiency and accountability, it is difficult to justify allocating funds to support an extensive diplomatic infrastructure in a country where Canada’s direct citizen-based interests remain limited.
Additionally, as reported by deserters from Cuban intelligence and former high-ranking officers of the Cuban regime, and confirmed by foreign intelligence services, Cuba’s diplomatic missions are systematically used as platforms for intelligence-gathering, surveillance activities directed at members of the Cuban exile community, and for recruiting agents in host governments and society at large to exert influence on behalf of the regime. These concerns further underscore the need for a cautious and security-conscious approach to diplomatic engagement with the Cuban dictatorship.
This proposal does not seek to eliminate communication or necessary services, but rather to align Canada’s diplomatic posture with fiscal responsibility and its commitment to democratic principles.
We appreciate your attention to this matter and trust that the Government of Canada will carefully evaluate this request in the broader context of its foreign policy priorities.
Sincerely,
Cuban Canadians Coalition
Eugenio Landeiro, a member of the Cuban Canadians Coalition (@cccoalition_ca), speaks on radio (@CFRAOttawa@ctvottawa) about the reality of the Cuban people and the ongoing humanitarian crisis that millions have endured for decades under a failed communist regime.
We extend our sincere thanks to @radioKristy for giving a voice to millions of Cubans and helping bring much-needed attention to this reality.
https://t.co/LAu8sg3loR
📢Cubanos comparecen ante el Parlamento de Canadá para abordar la crisis humanitaria en la Isla
Representantes de la sociedad civil cubana y del exilio comparecieron este 26 de febrero ante el Comité Permanente de Asuntos Exteriores y Desarrollo Internacional (FAAE) del Parlamento de Canadá, en una sesión dedicada a examinar la crisis humanitaria en Cuba.
Intervinieron:
Carolina Barrero Ferrer: Directora ejecutiva de Ciudadanía y Libertad
Kirenia Carbonell: directora de Relaciones Públicas de la Coalición Cubano-canadiense
John Suarez: Director ejecutivo del Center for a Free Cuba
Yaxys Cires, director de Estrategia del Observatorio Cubano de Derechos Humanos.
Durante la audiencia, los comparecientes expusieron el deterioro acelerado de las condiciones de vida en la Isla, el impacto de la crisis energética, el aumento de la migración forzada y la persistencia de la represión política, incluida la situación de los presos políticos y la criminalización del disenso.
La sesión forma parte del análisis que realiza el Parlamento canadiense sobre la política exterior hacia Cuba y las posibles respuestas ante el agravamiento de la crisis humanitaria y de derechos humanos en el país.
#Cuba Ottawa’s inconsistent approach to Cuba is not harmless diplomacy.
Cuba is an operational hub for Russian recruitment, Chinese intelligence access, and Venezuelan regime survival in the Western Hemisphere.
Treating Havana as an exception undermines democracy in the Americas.
Policy coherence is not optional. It’s strategic.
https://t.co/DkSHLhWwwl
La política incoherente de Ottawa hacia Cuba no es diplomacia inocua.
Cuba es un nodo operativo del eje autoritario: reclutamiento para Rusia, inteligencia vinculada a China y sostén del régimen venezolano en el hemisferio occidental.
Tratar a La Habana como excepción debilita la democracia en las Américas.
La coherencia es estratégica.
#Canada #HumanRights @scoopercooper
We extend our sincere appreciation to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development for the invitation to provide testimony in this important forum, where independent civil society voices have been given the opportunity to be heard regarding the ongoing humanitarian and human rights crisis in Cuba. 🇨🇦🇨🇺
Ottawa, Canada – The @cccoalition_ca , @CiudadaniayL , the @observacuba , and the @cubacenter appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development (FAAE) to present testimony on the deepening humanitarian and human rights crisis in Cuba.
During the hearing, the organizations detailed the severe economic collapse affecting the population, the systematic repression against dissent, the continued imprisonment of political prisoners — including young people and peaceful demonstrators — and the growing despair driving mass migration. The testimony emphasized that Cuba’s crisis is fundamentally rooted in the absence of political freedoms, the lack of democratic institutions, and the criminalization of civic activism.
The organizations expressed their sincere gratitude to the Committee for the invitation and for providing a democratic forum where independent civil society voices could be heard.
At the same time, they respectfully urged Members of Parliament to take concrete steps to ensure that Canada’s foreign policy toward Cuba reflects a principled commitment to human rights, accountability, and support for the Cuban people — not the structures that perpetuate repression.
The full video of the testimony is being shared together with this publication to guarantee transparency and public access to the proceedings.
@CanadaFP@SenatorHousakos@SandraCobena_@shuvmajumdar@Lianne_Rood@CanadaFP@AnitaAnandMP@MarkJCarney@cccoalition_ca@CBCNews@CdnPressNews@ctvottawa@MarioJPenton@eltoquecom@CubanetNoticias@CamilaAcostaCu@EvanDyerCBC@ConsensoDCubano@pasosdecambio@MundoDarwin@ernestomoralesx
https://t.co/Eg0a7hd75Q
Thank you @Lianne_Rood for courageously highlighting the real human rights situation in Cuba and for standing in solidarity with the Cuban people. Your voice helps shine a light on repression and gives hope to those fighting peacefully for freedom and dignity 🇨🇺
Cuba has been ruled by an oppressive communist regime for 67 years. The people suffer from political violence, censorship, housing and hunger concerns.
The Cuban Ambassador says they share values with the Liberal government in Canada.
Is that why the Liberal MPs are trying to stall and block my pro-democracy and human rights record questions?
#cdnpolitics #HumanitarianCrisis #Cuba
Thank you, @MichaelChongMP, for this important statement and for your continued attention to the unfolding political and humanitarian crisis, as well as the ongoing human rights violations in Cuba. We truly appreciate your support and engagement on this urgent matter.
Thank you to the Cuban Canadians Coalition. We had a productive meeting discussing the unfolding humanitarian crisis and human rights in Cuba.
#cdnpoli
Thank you to the Cuban Canadians Coalition. We had a productive meeting discussing the unfolding humanitarian crisis and human rights in Cuba.
#cdnpoli